Don Leland
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Boy Dies from Rat-Bite Fever. Could it happen in Seattle?
A boy died from a bacterial infection recently in San Diego, apparenly from his pet rat. The Rat was purchased from Petco by his grandmother as a gift. The San Diego County medical examiner's office ruled that the cause of death was streptobacillus moniliformis infection, commonly known as rat-bite fever, after exposure to an infected rat.
What's important here is the fact that, while rat-bite fever is less common from a pet store bought rat, it is far more likely from the wild rats that live here in the greater Seattle area. Cascade Pest Control has long warned residents in King and Snohomish county about the hazards associated with rat infestations, including rat-bit fever and more. Unfortunately, it may take a tragidy like what happened in San Diego for many to pay heed to warnings about real risks from diseases rats carry.
There are high rat populations througout Seattle, Everett, Tacoma, Mercer Island and other cities...and rat bite fever is carried within the rat populations. "Most anywhere amongst the urban and suburban areas of the Puget Sound region we have an abundance of rats, and the diseases they carry are a real hazard," says Kurt Treftz of Cascade Pest Control.
If you or someone you know has a home that may be encountering rodents call Cascade. If you're already on service be sure to follow recommendations, if any, that your technician provides you to reducse likelihood of rats.
Don Leland
Don Leland
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
In Praise of Environmental Protection Agency's PESP Program
Image Copyright EPA PESP
The EPA's Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) promotes pest control efforts that are ecologically aware and also less toxic for people. The history of Cascade Pest Control as a pioneer in environmentally friendly pest management services spans from the early 1990's. In those days there were few
groups or agencies that would work with a conscienscious pest management company. In fact, in those days most of the pest control industry had a lot of animosity toward environmentalists in general.
Today things have changed significantly and the EPA has sponsered the PESP program to encourage and promote companies for their efforts in environmental care and the use of safer products and methods. Cascade is a proud member of PESP and our owner, Kurt Treftz, and our IPM Laison Person, Maxine Luna, wrote articles for the PESP newsletter Pestwire. See article.
Don Leland
The EPA's Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) promotes pest control efforts that are ecologically aware and also less toxic for people. The history of Cascade Pest Control as a pioneer in environmentally friendly pest management services spans from the early 1990's. In those days there were few
groups or agencies that would work with a conscienscious pest management company. In fact, in those days most of the pest control industry had a lot of animosity toward environmentalists in general.
Today things have changed significantly and the EPA has sponsered the PESP program to encourage and promote companies for their efforts in environmental care and the use of safer products and methods. Cascade is a proud member of PESP and our owner, Kurt Treftz, and our IPM Laison Person, Maxine Luna, wrote articles for the PESP newsletter Pestwire. See article.
Don Leland
Northwest Entomological Research Center certifies Cascade Pest Control
(Image Copyright Northwest Entomological Research Center)
Cascade Pest Control was certified to provide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) services by the Norhwest Entomological Research Center (NWERC).
NWERC describes themselves as haveing been, "...founded with the mission to provide high-quality entomological expertise to the industry and the general public by integrating research, service and education. Our research and service activities to date have supported academic, government and non-profit research endeavors in the areas of endangered species conservation, biodiversity and environmental monitoring in the Pacific Northwest. We are also working toward the education and promotion of “green” technology for pest management in homes and, integrating management techniques to soften environmental impacts and to enhance efficacy and cost efficiency."
Cascade is proud to earn NWERC recognition for IPM certification.
Don Leland
Cascade Pest Control was certified to provide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) services by the Norhwest Entomological Research Center (NWERC).
NWERC describes themselves as haveing been, "...founded with the mission to provide high-quality entomological expertise to the industry and the general public by integrating research, service and education. Our research and service activities to date have supported academic, government and non-profit research endeavors in the areas of endangered species conservation, biodiversity and environmental monitoring in the Pacific Northwest. We are also working toward the education and promotion of “green” technology for pest management in homes and, integrating management techniques to soften environmental impacts and to enhance efficacy and cost efficiency."
Cascade is proud to earn NWERC recognition for IPM certification.
Don Leland
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Poultry Plant Closes Again After Cockroach Cleanup
Source: ABC News
While we in the northwest may enjoy relative freedom from cockroaches compared to many other parts of the country, cockroaches are found here and do present a problem in the greater Seattle area from time to time. What's more is the health issues they present...which is why a chicken growing facility was recently closed due to high cockroach populations:
A California chicken farm that reopened over the weekend after it was shut because of a cockroach infestation says it's "voluntarily and temporarily" suspending operations again.
Foster Farms said Sunday it was closing the plant in Livingston for several days so it can properly implement new food safety measures. The company said in a statement that it is "exercising vigilance" and dedicating additional time to ensure its preventative plan is realized.
Work had resumed Saturday after Foster Farms announced that it met the demands of the U.S. Department of Agriculture by performing a thorough cleanup and treatment of the plant. The company says no chicken product was affected.
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As far as protection from cockroaches in your home or business in the greater Seattle area (Bellevue, Redmond, Everett, Federal Way and more) contact Cascade Pest Control. We care about your health and your property!
Click here to go to our Google+ Page
Don Leland
While we in the northwest may enjoy relative freedom from cockroaches compared to many other parts of the country, cockroaches are found here and do present a problem in the greater Seattle area from time to time. What's more is the health issues they present...which is why a chicken growing facility was recently closed due to high cockroach populations:
A California chicken farm that reopened over the weekend after it was shut because of a cockroach infestation says it's "voluntarily and temporarily" suspending operations again.
Foster Farms said Sunday it was closing the plant in Livingston for several days so it can properly implement new food safety measures. The company said in a statement that it is "exercising vigilance" and dedicating additional time to ensure its preventative plan is realized.
Work had resumed Saturday after Foster Farms announced that it met the demands of the U.S. Department of Agriculture by performing a thorough cleanup and treatment of the plant. The company says no chicken product was affected.
---
As far as protection from cockroaches in your home or business in the greater Seattle area (Bellevue, Redmond, Everett, Federal Way and more) contact Cascade Pest Control. We care about your health and your property!
Click here to go to our Google+ Page
Don Leland
Bed Bugs a Little More Active in Summer
A study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology looked at reports on bed bugs over a four year period in the Philadelphia area and found both that overall populations are increasing and that the highest incidents of calls were in August and the lowest in February.
“There is surprisingly very little known about seasonal trends among bed bug populations,” said Michael Z. Levy, PhD, assistant professor in the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB), who mapped the bed bug hotspots in Philadelphia in an effort to find more effective ways to control them. “We found a steep and significant seasonal cycle in bed bug reporting, and suspect that bed bugs have different levels of mobility depending on the season, and that their population size may fluctuate throughout the year.”
Although some conclusions have been infered about bed bug populations this study was based on reports, so it could point to activity rather than populations. It could be that bed bug populations do not "go down" in the winter, but are not as active, not biting people as much. Either way bed bugs are a an issue that wasn't present through most of the U.S. from around 1950 to about 2005 and now they are back!
"While bed bugs likely migrate actively over short distances, perhaps between adjacent rooms or houses, we think they are starting new infestation hotspots throughout the city by riding on people or personal effects over longer distances," said Mabud.
For more information see http://esa.publisher.ingentaconnect.com/content/esa/jme/2014/00000051/00000001/art00006
Click here to go to our Google+ Page
Don Leland
“There is surprisingly very little known about seasonal trends among bed bug populations,” said Michael Z. Levy, PhD, assistant professor in the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB), who mapped the bed bug hotspots in Philadelphia in an effort to find more effective ways to control them. “We found a steep and significant seasonal cycle in bed bug reporting, and suspect that bed bugs have different levels of mobility depending on the season, and that their population size may fluctuate throughout the year.”
Although some conclusions have been infered about bed bug populations this study was based on reports, so it could point to activity rather than populations. It could be that bed bug populations do not "go down" in the winter, but are not as active, not biting people as much. Either way bed bugs are a an issue that wasn't present through most of the U.S. from around 1950 to about 2005 and now they are back!
"While bed bugs likely migrate actively over short distances, perhaps between adjacent rooms or houses, we think they are starting new infestation hotspots throughout the city by riding on people or personal effects over longer distances," said Mabud.
For more information see http://esa.publisher.ingentaconnect.com/content/esa/jme/2014/00000051/00000001/art00006
Click here to go to our Google+ Page
Don Leland
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Research Shows Spider Webs Electrostatic Force in Webs
According to researchers at Oxford University, spiders’ webs electrostatically reach out and ‘grab’ airborne particles, droplets and even insects. Electrically conductive glue spread over the threads of the web enables the web to spring out at passing charged particles (including insects), regardless of whether they are positively or negatively charged. This helps to explain how webs are able to efficiently collect airborne particles and why they actively reach out to passing insects.
Full article from Oxford Student newspaper.
Cascade Pest Control offers a fully developed spider control program, see www.Cascadepest.com
today!
Cascade Pest Control offers a fully developed spider control program, see www.Cascadepest.com
today!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Bed Bugs Coming? Landlords Liable?
With their re-entry into American life, bed bugs have hit hardest on the east-coast as of yet. We have them here in the Northwest alright, but the numbers back east have resulted in new landlord laws for when tenants move in to find bed bugs...but how do you know who brought them in? NewHampshire law makes landlords liable in some cases...
read full article
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