Pest Control and Bug Exterminator Blog

When most people have any type of pest control problem, they simple call the exterminator.

When Elin Nordegren, former wife of golfer Tiger Woods, has a pest control problem, she demolishes her house.

Nordegren decided to level her 17,000 square foot, beach front home in North Palm Beach, FL after it was discovered to be infested with termites and carpenter ants.  Aside from that, the home is not up to Florida’s hurricane code.  Her home builder advised her it would be easier to level the house and start from scratch.

Elin Nordegren's Florda home before being demolished for temites and carpenter ants. (Yahoo News)

Before the take-down, Habitat For Humanity was allowed to take as many cabinets, hardware and fixtures as possible before the wrecking crews were sent in.

We only wish we could have been the ones to make the recommendation.

Elin: “So I have termites and ants.  What do you recommend?”

Bulwark: “Well we’ve never seen it this bad before.  We recommend you completely destroy your house to the ground, rebuild it again, and then sign up for our regular every-other-month service.  We also do free call-backs in between services if your issue continues.”

Elin: “Hmmm. That’s sounds like a good idea. Let me call a wrecking crew, let them level this baby, spend another 12 mil to build it back up and then I’ll have you guys come back out….You guys don’t do the human-type pest control on ex-husbands do you?!”

Bulwark: “Uhh…We take care of the bugs that eat wood, not Woods himself.”

Nordegren's property after her $12 million home was demolished. (Yahoo News)

Did you ever see the movie Snakes On A Plane? C’mon, be honest.

I have to confess (or gloat) that I never did.

I know Samuel L. Jackson usually delivers, but snakes on an airplane? Really? Like…really?!

“Excuse me, stewardess, can I get another Diet Coke….SNAAAAAKE!!!”

Or, “Hey, I’ll meet you in the lav. Don’t be late! SNAAAAAKE!!!

Snakes On A Plane (2006 New Line Cinema)

Well apparently Karel Abelovsky from the Czech Republic didn’t get the memo that that sort of thing should only happens in the movies. And bad movies at that. Abelovsky was detained in Argentina after 247 exotic snakes, reptiles and other critters were found in his luggage. Airport security even said the activity inside his luggage resembled an animated cartoon during the scanning process.

Authorities believe that Abelovsky was smuggling the snakes as a courier for a criminal organization because the reptile find included boa constrictors, pit vipers and coral snakes: all considered extremely dangerous…and of course coveted by world villains alike.

Every bad guy has to have their obligatory poisonous snake, right?!

Abelovsky was released by local authorities on $2,500 bail, but surrendered his passport and is refusing to talk (or in this case, snitch) even though he faces up to 10 years in prison.  We’re not sure if Argentina has the equivalent of the Witness Protection Program, but we think that might be a good option for him.

AP story here.

“…But do you recall? The most famous reindeer of all…Shooter The Good Deed Reindeer!”

Err!

OK, so he may not be the most famous, but he certainly is the most thoughtful and service oriented toward rodent-kind.

Shooter the Good Deer Reindeer

Shooter, resident of the Pocatello Zoo in Idaho, was seen by zoo staff awkwardly handling his water trough. The large animal, which at times can be a bit overbearing for many of the staffers, eventually was able to dip his head and gently retrieve a rat from his barrel. Shooter then laid the distressed rodent on the floor and proceeded to nudge him with his hoof until he had the strength to scurry away into the bushes on his own power.

Shooter The Good Deed Reindeer helps his nameless friend from near death (Caters News Agency)

Shooter in the midst of his harrowing rescue (Caters News Agency)

The unknown rescuee scurried into the bushes before he could be reached for comment (Caters News Agency)

So while Dancer and Prancer and all those other reindeer are chauffeuring around the Man Up North, reindeer like Shooter are down here in more warmer climates doing the little deeds that make the difference all year round.

We salute you, Shooter The Good Deed Reindeer. We salute you.

Related articles

• Are reindeer real? I’ve never seen one in real life before… (cassiefairy.wordpress.com)
• Rudolph the social outcast and those judgmental reindeer (cindyh85.wordpress.com)
• Santa’s Reindeer Get “OK” To Enter California (todayinchildsafety.com)

A woman was stung by a scorpion while unpacking box.

Gee!  That doesn’t sound outside the realm of possibility now does it?

Yeah, well, it happened in Lockport, NY, where there are no native species of scorpions.

First, a look at the culprit…

This scorpion stung a 23-year-old female in Lockport, NY.

So how did it happen?

The woman was a 23-year-old employee at Johnson-Rose Corp in Niagara County, and was stung while opening a cardboard box at work.  It sounds like maybe the box came in the mail.  That would be our easiest speculation, and was that of the Buffalo Zoo President, Donna Fernandez.  Fernandez also admitted that scorpions in their area are either kept as unique pets or travel in on cargo from scorpion-known regions like Arizona. Residents and businesses in the area would surely see no need for preventive scorpion control.

While the scorpion, and its stingy punch, was deemed non-life threatening, the young employee was admitted to the hospital to recover.

Cuban scientists believe they have discovered a major breakthrough in the fight against Cancer.  Vidatox, a homeopathic product derived from the venom of “Red Scorpions” (Rhopalurus junceus), has shown promising results from 15 years of research.  The medication is designed to be an anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent, and has been effective as such on more than 15 various cancer cell lines.  Over 5,000 Red Scorpions have been used to develop and produce Vidatox.  Now that manipulation of the natural scorpion venom has been perfected, researchers plan to explore synthetic versions of the toxin.

The Rhopalurus junceus or “Red Scorpions” are indigenous to Cuba and known to have moderate toxicity levels.  While people are regularly stung in Cuba and Haiti, very few deaths have been reported due to negative, allergic reactions.  The Red Scorpion is also one of the few scorpion species that is known to make an audible sound when disturbed.

Vidatox Medicine Made of Scorpion Venom

Where to buy Scorpion Venom as Medicine AKA Vidatox?

We haven’t quite discovered this out yet, but Vidatox is already a registered product and shipments are set to go out to countries in Europe and South America.

Can I Sell Scorpion Venom?

Maybe.  Considering that the market price of scorpion venom is at $38 million per gallon, it would certainly be nice.

The most venomous and dangerous scorpion in the United States is the Bark Scorpion and is primarily found in the southwestern, desert regions of the country.  The Bark Scorpions is also commonly known as the Arizona Bark Scorpion.  Because of the extreme heat, Phoenix scorpion control companies battle numerous scorpion cases for the better part of six months every year.  Maybe these little critters can start working for us from now on.

Scientists are also exploring various ways scorpion venom can be used in common, every day life.  For example, venom is being altered and tested as an actual pesticide to combat household pests.  Venom is also being developed into variations of morphine that may potentially be used in the medical field.  That almost makes a trip to ER worth it.

“Nurse!  I need 50 CCs of scorpion venom, STAT!”

Scientists have uncovered the oldest spider fossil on earth, dating back 165 million years.  The specimen measures about two square inches and was unearthed near the Daohugou village in northeastern China.

The new discovery, dating back to the Middle Jurassic period, has been dubbed Nephila jurassica.  Until now, the oldest Nephila spider only dated back 34 million years.  While this newly discovered species is considered extinct, descendants include the golden orb-weaver spiders.  Golden Orb-weavers are known for spinning elaborate, gold-colored webs strong enough to trap bats and small birds.

This new discovery is also leading scientists to reconsider the former geographic location and conditions of northeastern China.  Modern golden orb spiders are typically found in more warmer, tropical climates.  This now leads researchers to believe that the northeastern region of China may have been apart of Pangaea, the super-continent that existed prehistorically that was believed to contain all seven modern-day continents.  The region that now includes the Daohugou village is suspected to have been in the warm and humid regions of Pangaea.

While prehistoric science may not be Bulwark Exterminating’s strength, we can safely conclude that spiders have been man’s pest control problem for millions and millions of years.  We here at Bulwark also conclude that spiders will continue to be man’s pest control problem for millions of years to come.

Due to recent changes in pest control laws about “leaving a service ticket at the door” pest control services can now go digital.  Going digital is going green. Digital will save over 58,000 sheets of paper per month!

Bulwark Exterminating is testing new proprietary software in its Mesa, AZ branch office that uses smart phone technology to aid in service routing and customer satisfaction, and plans to implement its new software in all 11 branches nationwide within a month’s time.

Each morning, technicians receive an email on their smart phones, with which they are able to access their routes, customer contact information and custom service notes for those customers. This eliminates the need to receive their daily routes via fax or personally stop at the office before work to clock in.

“We wanted to make sure our technicians and staff are completely happy with the new system before we take all the offices live.” said Adam Seever, Owner and CEO of Bulwark. “Mesa is one of our larger markets, so it was a natural place to start.”

Each service truck will also be installed with a wireless printer, where the technicians will be able to print the customer’s invoice at the time of service. The nature of the software also minimizes any input errors which normally might occur by hand.

One invoice sheet is typically given to the customer and another is taken back to the office for filing. The new printers will print an invoice that measures about one-third the size of a regular sheet of paper. That sheet will be given to the customer and a digital copy will be uploaded to the company’s database. This will save 1 2/3 sheets of paper per service visit. During a month like October when Bulwark serviced 35,000 customers nationwide, this will save over 58,000 sheets. Customers will also be able to have their invoice emailed directly to them, saving paper all together.

“Our software will serve two very important purposes”, Seever said. “We will be able to streamline the service routes of our technicians as well as spare costly resources such as thousands of reams of paper.”

About Bulwark Exterminating

Bulwark Exterminating LLC has a location based in Mesa, AZ and is an industry leader in providing high quality pest control service. Bulwark is fully operational in 7 states, including 11 major cities. While Bulwark provides pest extermination for common insects such as ants, roaches, crickets and spiders, the company’s differentiating specialty is scorpion control. To do this, Bulwark uses the finest and most effective products in the world to solve common pest problems. Bulwark is privately and family owned, has approximately 250 employees and services over 50,000 customers nationwide.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/11/prweb4814444.htm

Wayne Bryant - Bulwark Exterminating Branch Manager

Our hard working branch manager, Wayne, made a little cameo at Career Day at Triggs Elementary School in North Las Vegas.  He spent some time with the kindergarten kids explaining his duties as a pest control exterminator.  Or, a “bug guy”, as the kids preferred.

Wayne took a couple sidekicks with him to meet the class.  What better critters to show to a class of 5 and 6 year-olds than a tarantula and desert hairy scorpion, who shall both remain nameless.  The desert hairy is a much larger scorpion than your average bark scorpion and was perfect for pointing out body parts and features.  Both creatures were fan favorites.

Wayne also presented some important points to the class.  1. All bugs are important to life.  For example, termite may bother at times, but they keep soil fertile and they break down trees when needed.  All insects have a role in nature.  2. If you are bitten or stung, tell an adult immediately.  This is an excellent piece of advice.  Hopefully it is nothing more than a bite or sting, but now the parent can monitor any oncoming reactions and act accordingly.  And 3. Having a pest free home is important to your health.  Cats and dogs are pets.  Roaches and spiders are pests. Roaches carry pathogens that can lead to respiratory and other allergy related problems.

Wayne Bryant - Bulwark Exterminating Branch Manager at Triggs Elementary

We want to thank Triggs Elementary School for allowing Wayne to come and share some fun and interesting bug facts about Las Vegas Pest Control.

This was my first SMAZ event, so I didn’t really know what to expect.  Besides, I work for a pest control company, so how much is really applicable to killing crickets and scorpions, right?  Sure, we posted our “Black Widow vs. 27 Scorpions” video on YouTube last week, but even I understand that’s barely a drop in an enormous ocean.  For me, the SMAZ event was tremendously fascinating and motivating.  Here are the five most interesting ideas on my notepad. (A notepad! I know…ghetto huh? Next year I’ll be the guy next to me yesterday tweeting on the iPad in one hand, and tweeting from a different handle on the iPhone in the other hand.)

1.  96% of Y Generation interacts with social media.  Think about that.  That’s amazing!  The presenter immediately followed that stat up with “that’s more than Boomers watched television.”  Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare.  Didn’t blogging just come out like 6 years ago?!?  That’s an incredible statistic. Social media isn’t just some fad or popular wave.  It’s now a lifestyle.  My 12 and 14 year old nephews both have Facebook accounts.  My wife, both sister-in-laws, sister, brother-in-law and both brothers all have accounts.  As I think about it, other than our family relationship, that’s probably the one feature that we all commonly share.

2. Complete strangers are interested in my life. Take Twitter for example.  Some people follow 5,000 people, and may be followed themselves by 7,000 others.  Obviously your Ashton Kutchers and Paris Hiltons of the world are going to have hundreds of thousands of followers, but even Joe Shmo can build quite a crowd of listeners.  And I haven’t even specified if his tweets are anything of significance or value.  Maybe he’s tweeting what cereal he’s having in the morning.  Jane Nobody, who lives 1,500 miles away, might actually tweet back regarding his bowl of Cinnamon Life (which I had this morning, by the way). Seeing people connect is cool.

3. Keep your social mediums, company website and newsletters separate. This was a great point!  Keep in mind that while many people tend to gravitate towards one particular medium, there are many others that want all of them.  It’s possible, and likely, that one of your customers is also your Twitter follower, Facebook fan, website visitor, newsletter recipient, rewards member, VIP customers and your free walking billboard when they wear your company t-shirt.  Not everything that appears on your website needs to be a tweet or status update.  You also don’t need to re-post all your tweets and updates back into your monthly newsletter.  While there is a time and place to repeat things, your content should vary from one medium to another.  This reminds me of being a kid, and not wanting my food to invade each other on the dinner plate.  It may all be going to the same place, but I’d at least like to enjoy the flavors individually. Broccoli and hot-dogs shouldn’t be blended together.

4. The press release is still alive. I’ll admit, this was my inner-PR degree speaking from the shadows.  It’s fascinating to think how much the press release has changed and evolved in the last 5 years.  Before we had our list of media contacts, email bombed everyone, and followed up a few days later.  While this is still one way of doing it, the online press release has really changed the game in more ways than one.  Services like PRNewswire can get your release looked at by thousands of gatekeepers.  On top of that, it’s already online, which makes it searchable and viewable by potentially millions more.  On top of THAT, it’s great for SEO, given the fact that once it’s reposted it’s given your website a friendly backlink.  It’s like the gift that keeps on giving.

Shown by Sheila Kloefkorn of KEO Marketing (Phoenix, AZ)

And 5. Optimize EVERYTHING! I’ve even seen this work in pest control.  Last month we had sales close via the company blog.  We also closed sales via Facebook.  And, my boss even brought in a trackable sale via Twitter.  Whether it’s a Facebook post, a blog entry, a tweet, a video or even a photo, make sure all those items are properly optimized with the appropriate keywords.  Photos might be at the bottom of everyone’s “Need to Optimize” list, but just as important as your blog post.  Do This: Go to SERP, type in the name of your company, hit “search”, then hit the “images” option.  What’s on the first page?  I just did this for my favorite Mexican grill, Costa Vida.  All but two images on the first page belong to the Costa Vida restaurant.  (I’m all about the sweet pork salad. Do yourself a favor this weekend and try it out.)  Simply put, you never know how your next loyal customer is going to find you.  So it’s vitally important to make sure that they actually find you.  Imagine that!

Special thanks to everyone that made the SMAZ event a success.  Breakfast and lunch were great, the speakers were all great and it was fun to meet other locals within the same industry.  I even want to give a shout out to the parking garage guy that let us out of the garage for free.  See you all next year.

Steve Bitter
@stevebitter
Bulwark Exterminating