Chicago Transit Authority to Sterilize Rats for Control

The Chicago Transit Authority plans to test new technology that would make female and male rats infertile, the Chicago Tribune reported. A pilot program is expected to start in the spring, though the CTA is still working out details including negotiating the price with the bait maker and deciding where the traps will be placed, CTA spokeswoman Tammy Chase said. click here to read original Chicago Tribune article.http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/redeye-cta-to-put-rats-on-birth-control-20141222-story.html Don Leland

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

Seattle Ranked 6th Most Rat Infested City

Huffington post published a list of the 12 most rat infested cities and Seattle came in at #6, Chicago ranks as the "rattiest" city in the nation. But rating number six is no small thing. According to the article 21 million homes are invaded by rats every year. And the fall/winter season is when rats and other rodents infest homes the most as they move in finding shelter from the cold.

Cascade Pest Control delivers solid rat and rodent control throughout the greater Seattle area. We provide a rodent inspection or assessment, rat elimination, and ongoing rodent protection. Cascade Pest Control also provides rodent-proofing, or "pest exclusion." Call Cascade today to protect your home from rats and other rodents. 1-888-989-8979 Don Leland

New York Restaurant Features Ants in Menu!

The Black Ant, is a restaurant in New York where insects garnish corn cocktails and ceviche. But are they any good? Surprisingly, the menu sounds and looks delicious--if only they had disguised the dead black ants. They--the ants--are sprinkled on top of and sometimes throughout the otherwise beautiful food creations.

Although somewhat strange, I have to admit that the dishes they prepare look delicious...even delicious enough to have me trying them with tiny crunchy black ants included. Check out this video to learn the flavor of ants. 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

Cascade's Video Approach Headlines Industry Newsletter

Cascade Pest Control was honored by the leading industry newsletter, Pest Control Technology. This is an honor as PCT is the nations leading source for pest control news and information. Pest Control Technology found that Cascade's efforts (thank you, Scott Bouwens) were exemplary in our approach to help the public understand the problem of rodent infestations, especially rats. The video demonstrates how many points there are where rats can enter a house structure and what professional pest control can do to control rats, including exclusion efforts. Technician performing rodent inspection for rats and/or mice. Don Leland

Rats, Mice: What is a Rodent?

We throw around these terms but a "rodent" is a particular animal that seems to have plagued humanity for eons. But what is a rodent? Rodents are mammals, so they are covered by hair, give birth to living young, the young are nourished on milk secreted by mammary glands, and besides molars with only an upper and lower pair of enlarged chisel-like teeth, rodents lack canine teeth. Rats and mice have 4 toed front feet and 5-toed hind feet. They both have skinny, almost naked tails. What's amazing is that rodents 2 pair of incisor teeth are enameled on the front only, the working of the upper pair against the lower ones wears down the large upper ones resulting in a sharpened edge. Rodents have the highest mammalian reproductive capacity. That's just a start when it comes to what constitutes "rodents" and what they can do. Call Cascade Pest Control is you suspect you have any problems with rats or mice...today. Rodents may eat or contaminate up to 20% of the world's human food supply! Don Leland