Even The Owner of a Pest Control Company - Rats!

Yes, even an owner of Cascade Pest Control can have persistent rat problems. Here I am holding my crawlspace access door, obviously gnawed on by rats. I had heard--late at night--a chewing sound under the house. Being well versed in pest control I did a thorough inspection of the house. I found 6 access points on the roof that, thankfully, rodents--rats, mice or squirrels--hadn't yet found. Then came the crawlspace. I did notice that the crawl access door didn't fit well and their were rat "grease marks" or "rubbings" aright around a gap in the crawlspace access door. It is a 9 year old home and I'd never found rodent droppings in the crawlspace before...but now they were here. They'd found a gap in the crawlspace access door, had created a maze of tunnels in the subfloor insulation--which compromises my subfloor insulation, and gnawing on some wood in the subfloor support area. At first I thought I'd sealed the door. But eventually I had to go the whole route, the way we at Cascade recommend and with the combination of specially placed baits and traps they are just about all gone. And I learned that "hardy board" is NOT rodent proof! And, much to my chagrin, my technicians already knew it. Last but not least is ongoing rodent control to periodically check for activity and new entry points. Also establishing a perimeter defense with bait/trap stations is important. But, just the same, it can and does happen to everyone, even the owner of the pest control company!

Don Leland

Wasps Around your Home -new Cascade video

We are happy to announce our new video on wasps. It can be viewed on our website or on vimeo. The new video takes the homeowner on a tour showing all the places in or around a home that Yelow Jackets might nest. The video also discusses the hazards of wasps and how they can sometimes break through sheetrock into the home's ilving space! Yellow Jacket gound nests, tree or bush branch and ground nests occur in or near yards. Wall void, eave and attic wasp nests occur on or in the house structure. If you suspect a Yellow Jacket nest contact Cascade immediately at 1-888-989-8979 Don Leland