English: Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you’re like most people, you can easily identify a skunk at first glance (or at first smell!) Skunks are small to medium-sized black animals with a noticeable white strip of fur running down the middle of their bodies.

Even more famous than their coloring, however, is the intense odor that they give off when they feel threatened. In addition to being unpleasant, this odor can also cause damage and irritation when it comes into contact with a person’s skin or eyes – plus, the smell can be hard to get rid of once it’s made contact!

Skunks Aren’t All Bad

Though you might be tempted to view skunks as disgusting pests, these little animals are actually quite beneficial to the environment. According to the Humane Society of the United States, skunks perform a valuable service by commonly eating small rodents and bugs that can cause a nuisance. Also, these animals are not known for purposefully bothering humans or common household pets. When an unpleasant interaction does occur, it is usually accidental and only happens because the skunk has been startled or disrupted.

Signs of a Skunk Problem

Generally, you’ll know if a skunk is lurking around your property by the tell-tale musky odor. Other common signs of a skunk infestation include unexplained holes in grassy areas on your property and damage to the lower parts of plants and/or crops.

An Ounce of Prevention

To avoid skunk infestation, make sure not to leave garbage, particularly garbage containing food waste, or pet food out during the night. Investing in a strong garbage can with a reliable lid is an easy way to keep skunks at bay. You should also clear your yard of wood piles, rock piles, easily accessible sheds and other structures, and porch, basement, or crawl space openings, all of which make attractive homes for skunks.

A Pound of Cure

If it’s too late to prevent a skunk problem, then all you can do is take care of the problem at hand. The best way to do this is to invest in a humane skunk trap. Once you catch the skunk, you can contact your local animal control center or humane society for further instructions as to what to do with the animal.

How to Trap Skunks

You should read and carefully follow all the directions included with your skunk trap. Most traps use bait to attract the skunk. While there are many different types of bait, your best options include chicken intestines, insect larvae, cat food, canned fish, bacon, and cracknels. After you catch the skunk, minimize contact with the animal and the trap until you speak with animal control or the humane society.

Adrienne is a blogger and aspiring writer. When she’s not blogging about tech and social media, you might find her practicing her French, whipping up some recipes she found on Pinterest, or obsessing over vintage postcards and stamps.

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Thomas Ballantyne

Coyotes Battle Chicago Rat Infestation

Chicago’s municipality has found some new employees, about 250 of them, to help keep the city clean—and without the need to dole out any expensive pensions, either.  So who makes up this new hiring push in Chicago?  Coyotes, of course.

WGN-TV aired a news story showing a video, presumably captured on someone’s phone, of a coyote running down the Loop’s State Street at around 3am.  An inquiry was made to the city’s police, asking them if they were aware of the predator or coyote problems in the city.

The police stated they had no knowledge of why the animal might be there; however, a supervisor at the Chicago Commission on Animal Care and Control, Brad Block, stated that he knew the real reason the coyote was spotted: he was working.

According to Block, this coyote and a number like it, each fitted with a GPS collar, are used to help the city lower its pest problems.  The coyotes feast on rats, mice and rabbits—veritably, the greenest pest control available as it fits right in with the ecological food chain.  Block goes on to say that these coyotes are not a problem: “He’s not a threat…He’s not going to pick up your children…His job is to deal with all of the nuisance problems, like mice, rats and rabbits” (Chicago Breaking News).

These coyotes are not a source of concern for citizens, Block affirms, they’re let loose only to control the pest population.  However, since this news story broke, there have been several other ideas put out there as to the real reason Chicagoans are seeing coyotes in their city.

Treehugger.com, the popular green blog, believes the coyotes are part of the 250 coyotes radio-tagged for the Urban Coyote Ecology and Management program, a research project run by Cook County to see how coyotes fare in large urban areas.  Coyotes, a natural part of the plains geography and ecological system, have been pushed out of the city and had to redefine their role within the dynamics of the human presence.

What’s become remarkable is that these coyotes have risen to the top of the food chain in many metropolitan areas where coyotes are present.  This means that the coyotes have become more brazen and bold, venturing outwards into the cities where years ago they would never have been found.

Is Coyote Pest Control Safe?

Many cities in the Southwest have already learned first-hand what happens when the coyotes move in to the metropolitan area.  In California and Arizona, people have taken to feeding the coyotes, giving them handouts, making them more comfortable with people and counting on people as a source of food.

Many coyotes have had to be removed from those areas as the coyotes start to take advantage of the comfort afforded to them: often times attacking and eating pets and, in very small cases, attacking children. The coyotes had become a pest.

While it isn’t certain exactly if the coyote caught on video was part of the Urban Coyote program, or if it was in fact “let loose” for the purposes of pest control, what is certain is the rising number of coyote sightings (and road-kill) in Chicago and the very real fact that they’re figuring out how to return to their indigent plains habitat and reclaim their role as top predator.

About the author: Thomas dedicates himself to environmental issues including humane bird and pest control. When he’s not reviewing companies like www.bird-x.com, you can find him training for his first marathon.

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Thomas Ballantyne

Inventory-Control-Q-IC da (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Four Points of Inventory Control

Do you operate a business where products must be stored and distributed in multiple locations? If so, then you are aware of how important it is to keep an updated inventory control system. Several factors function within this system, wherein each transition and distribution point must be supervised and documented. Keeping management connected with each division of the company is key. Here are four points to discuss at your next managerial meeting, to help tighten inventory data and maximize efficiency.

• Product Analysis: A crucial part of strong inventory management is a thorough knowledge and documentation of the services and goods at hand. Make sure that each division of the company knows how to evaluate and input product information into your system so that information remains current. If you are operating a small business, you may overlook smaller details related to product data. This can be easily remedied. Small business must keep records of product data, even if the information does not seem to directly affect sales. The statistics of your business will increase your knowledge about sales trends and enlighten you about possible overhead that may have an impact on your budget.
• Site Representation: If your products are traveling to multiple locations or distributed among warehouses and store sites, it is essential to keep close contact with personnel at these locations. This may seem like an obvious point to address, but many key players are easily overlooked. Communication with those in control of the items that create your business should be frequent. On a basic level, your factory, showroom and warehouse
  representatives handle your materials, which you rely upon for business growth.
• System Cohesion: All positions of management should be familiar with your inventory control providers and be able to navigate within the system with ease. A firm command of data entry protocol is necessary. In addition to this, management must have the ability to translate a body of information, including thorough product evaluation, into the data system. This way, all areas of the company will be abreast of new developments and all progress. Making data cohesive throughout your organization will serve to eliminate many financial errors.
• Employee Training: Some inventory companies provide on-site employee training for businesses with fast-growing product and client bases. Inventory system companies can bring each element of your business together to function as a better whole. The most successful businesses put an emphasis on the importance of each employee being familiar with the system. This means understanding each person’s tasks within the system, but more importantly, the system as a whole. The team of people that comprises your business is only as intelligent as the most ignorant individual. Make inventory knowledge and management a priority.

Gabriella only writes about topics that interest her and one of those happens to be moving. If you would like more info regarding inventory system companies, please visit http://www.unigrouplogistics.com/

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Pest Control Held to New Standards

New legislation has been passed in Annapolis, MD banning toxic pesticides within 25 feet of schools, daycares, government buildings, and waterways. Starting July 1, 2013 pesticides will only be used in emergency infestations. This new legislation is following the same pest control approach of other cities like nearby Washington, DC.

http://annapolis.patch.com/articles/pest-control-held-to-new-standards-by-council

Parasites and Products

Here is a great blog on what the pest control industry is using to treat tick and fleas. Some Pyrethroids like Permethrin are working well for fleas as well as ticks. The article emphasizes customer preparation and education.

http://brownpestcontrol.com/aug-21-2012-parasites-and-products/

Tips For Cleaner, More Energy Efficient Living

McDonald Pest Control offers some great tips on how all of us pest control operators can live more energy-efficient, cleaner, greener lives.

http://www.mcdonaldpestcontrol.com/st-petersburg-pest/tips-for-cleaner-more-energy-efficient-living/

Don’t Let Bedbugs Ruin Your Vacation

Our Pest Control Atlanta friends give us some great pointers on the steps we need to take to prevent bringing those pesky bedbugs home with us while on vacation.

http://pestcontrolatlantaga.com/2012/08/dont-let-bedbugs-ruin-your-vacation/

Flea Prevention Tips For Families

Here is a good read on the life-cycle of fleas, and how they can be prevented.

http://www.modernpest.com/blog/flea-prevention-tips-for-new-england-families/

West Nile Cases Surge in Mississippi, Pest Control Companies Prepare For More

Great information on how Pest Control Operators can cope with the surge of business due to all theses outbreaks. 78 people have contracted West Nile in the state of Mississippi.

http://www.fieldaware.com/2012/08/21/west-nile-cases-surge-in-mississippi-pest-control-companies-prepare-for-more/

Brown Recluse Spiders In The News

The drought and heat are forcing spiders, like the poisonous Brown Recluse, into our homes. We don’t need to be afraid of this home invasion, but the article does offer some helpful preventative measures we all can take.

http://lennyspestcontrol.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/brown-recluse-spiders-in-the-news/

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Top 10 Financial Mistakes Made By Pest Control Companies

Finance (Photo credit: Tax Credits)

Administering to all aspects of your pest control company is never simple. As an owner or manager you must manage workflow, cash flow, sales, overhead, inventory, and your employee’s needs, all while not neglecting customer service. With every one of these responsibilities it can be easy to make mistakes in your businesses accounting and bookkeeping.

Here are some of the most frequent accounting mistakes compiled from current and former PCO’s:

1. Not separating personal finances from your business. Mixing up business and personal money can cause bookkeeping and legal problems.

2. Turning over your financials to someone else. Without an intimate knowledge of your company’s finances, you can’t make successful business decisions. Even if you don’t want to deal with the daily bookkeeping tasks, look at your financial statements every month to help you plan for profits and prevent potential problems.

3. Setting prices too low. Know your costs before you set product or service prices, or you run the risk of losing money on every sale. A simple break-even analysis can help you set prices at a profitable level.

4. Mistaking profits for cash. When you have a lot of credit sales, your company can post big profits without seeing any cash.

5. Not knowing your true cash balance. Due to things like automatic payments and bank charges, money that appears on your bank statement and your checking account may already be spent.

6. Extending credit without checking credit. Until you collect some basic credit information about that new large account, don’t make on-account sales. A sale won’t do you much good if your company never gets paid.

7. Paying bills too soon. If your vendors give you 30 days to pay them, take it! Unless you get a discount for paying early, paying your bills only when they’re due improves your company’s cash flow.

8. Avoiding bookkeeping tasks. Not recording and posting transactions regularly leaves you with a mountain of bookkeeping to deal with instead of a molehill. Plus, the time lag can act like a vacuum, where transactions disappear and never are recorded.

9. Not hiring a payroll service. The minor cost of hiring out this task provides a huge benefit for your company. It can free up your time and help avoid the financial penalties that go along with late and incorrect filings.

10. Spending too much during pest season and not planning for the winter. The winter months are usually slower in most markets, but overheard must still be paid. Look at setting a little aside for this less profitable season.

As with almost every piece of advice, there are some situations that the advice would be inaccurate. I feel that most most of these rules apply to the small business owners of the pest control industry. I hope a few of these financial tips will help in keeping your pest control company thriving.

What other financial advice have you found to be critical in running a successful pest control company? Please comment below!

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And if you need Charlotte Pest Control call Bulwark Exterminating.

Did you know that there are scorpions in the State of Washington?

Well this information came as a real surprise when Matt McGee, editor of Search Engine Land, found one in his home! The Northern Scorpion rarely invades homes and is actually a very rare find, but yes, Washington has scorpions.

Northern Scorpion found in Washington

Matt’s Email:

Last night, we were shocked to find a small scorpion inside our house. It was no more than 1.5 or maybe 2 inches. Might’ve been a baby. It was sitting in the glass portion of a picture frame that was at the bottom of a small pile of frames.

We didn’t even think scorpions live up here, but sure enough:

http://www.bentler.us/eastern-washington/animals/arachnids/northern-scorpion.aspx

We killed it and we’re having pest control come next week, but they’re not even sure they have chemicals to keep scorpions away. They were as shocked as us to hear about a scorpion in this area.

My questions:

* Are these things fast? Do they jump? I know nothing about them.

* Can they kill you?

* Do they bite or sting? Do they use the tail or the claws? Both?

* What do we do if we see another one?

* What if someone gets bit/stung? Do we go to the hospital?

Any help appreciated.

-Matt McGee

Are these scorpions fast? Do they jump? I know nothing about them.

They can be very fast. They don’t jump. They are pretty good climbers. In fact you can see one make it about 10 feet in a mere second or two here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29vayDJ49RQ

But really you need not fear a scorpion chasing after you. They don’t hunt humans.

Can scorpions kill you?

Yes, scorpions can cause death, but it’s very rare. In your particular case, the Northern Scorpion does not have the appearance of a highly toxic species. I don’t imagine that this species sting would do much more damage than a bee sting. However, people have different allergic reactions.

Do scorpions bite or sting? Do they use the tail or the claws? Both?

They don’t bite people. They can pinch but not likely. Watch out for the stinger. They will sting. I am not familiar with how aggressive the Northern Scorpion is but I can assure you that their stinger works. They most likely won’t sting you unless you aggravate it. ..or unless you are Mat S. in which case it might just walk up and poke your foot for no apparent reason.

What if someone gets bit/stung? Do we go to the hospital?

No need to go to the hospital for most stings. Some stings cause severe allergic reactions. If foaming at the mouth, uncontrollable eye movement, or seizures occur then go to the hospital. There isn’t much you can do to treat a scorpion sting. For sting treatment you can ice the area of the sting. You can take pain medication such as Aspirin or Tylenol. If sever reactions do occur you will want to keep the victim calm. Elevated heart rates will only cause the toxins to spread faster.

Can an exterminator get rid of scorpions? How do I get rid of scorpions?

Yes you can kill them and control them. Scorpions are very difficult to control because of their grooming habits and they walk on their toes. Cy-Kick is the best low risk product available. It’s less toxic than table salt to mammals. And grab glue traps and place them by entrance ways. http://www.pestprojoe.com/home.php?cat=285&rootcat=Scorpions

What do we do if we see another one?

Catch it!
Option 1- Paint Stick with tape. Take a paint stir stick, wrap the end with tape leaving sticky side facing out. Make the sticky portion 2 to 3 inches wide. Then you stick it on the scorpion. Pick it up. Put it in a plastic container. Make it now so that you have it ready. http://www.azcentral.com/video/#/Scorpion+hunting+in+Mesa/1680903532001

Option 2: Use a glass jar. Put it over the top of the scorpion. Then slide a piece of paper under the jar. Then flip it over. The scorpion won’t be able to climb out.

Then you are going to mail it to me. I will gladly pay the shipping. =)

…Or you can squash it with a shoe.

I will take them dead or alive.

Black Lighting Scorpions

Oh my gosh! Black light ‘em! ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME??????????

Never in a million years would I actively seek them out. I prefer to pretend they don’t exist. That’s how I got to sleep last night.

Sheesh.

Actually it’s a good idea. It will help you know if you even have a need to be worried. And I suspect that for the Northern Scorpion you won’t have to be worried at all. If you blacklight and don’t find any in your yard then you will sleep better. I don’t think your species infests homes, and don’t think they are common at all… also evidenced by the fact that your local pest control guys didn’t even know if they had products that worked for scorpions. Honestly, you may want to just buy the cy-kick and spray yourselves. At least email me what products they are going to use and I can tell you if it will help.

What black light should I buy to go scorpion hunting?

Do you have a recommendation for a UV flashlight? There are a ton on Amazon and elsewhere and I don’t quite know what I’m looking for. Was checking out these two:

http://www.amazon.com/LEDwholesalers-Ultraviolet-LED-flashlight-7202UV395/

http://www.amazon.com/UV-Blacklight-Flashlight-Ultra-Light/dp/B004S6JFWQ/

I’m interested in getting one for the amusement factor now as much as the scorpion hunting. Don’t expect to find many/any critters, but like the idea of having a flashlight around just in case.

I did find a plug-in UV light strip at Walmart today and used it in a couple rooms tonight. No scorpions, but DAMN is it fun to light up rooms with UV light!!!

Funny that Walmart actually took on that idea. I thought of buying the domain “Scorpion Nightlights” and selling them a few years back, but after discovering that UV lights are bad for your eyes I opted not to do that. So I would advise not having UV lights for night lights. UV can damage your eyes. A little exposure isn’t going to hurt you, but prolonged exposure, night after night, could cause some real eye problems.

As for the Blacklight Flashlights, I’d recommend a LED one. The LED blacklights are very bright and work well. You don’t need anything huge or fancy or extra powerful. The glowing scorpions jump out at you when see them. Scorpion hunting is a great nighttime adventure. I’d advise wearing closed toed shoes. A pair of gloves is useful if you plan on handling the scorpions.

Additional Scorpion Questions?

Feel free to ask me your additional scorpion questions. I am happy to help. Thanks.

Scorpion Control Resources:
http://scorpionreport.org
http://entomology.wsu.edu/outreach/bug-info/northern-scorpion/
http://www.bulwarkpestcontrol.com/science-scorpion-control.php

Me: It’s Star Wars day! May the Fourth be with you!

Co-Worker: Ha, that’s funny. :\

Why is today Star Wars day? Why not June Fourth?

Me: …. ? .. May the Fourth…

 

 

And that is the reason behind Star Wars day, because of the pun, “May the fourth be with you.” Some of the credit goes to the London press who put this now infamous quote into ink with “May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations.” On May 4th, 1979, Margret Thatcher was elected as Britian’s Prime Minister. In 2005, an interviewer of George Lucas misinterpeted the saying “May the force be with you.” into “We shall be with you on May Fourth”. The first ever huge organization of a May 4th, Star Wars party was held last year, in Toronto Canada by the Toronto Underground Cinema. And today May 4, 2012 will be the 2nd edition of the Underground’s Star Wars Party, with the claim “IT WILL BE THE BEST PARTY IN THE GALAXY!” I must admit, I am just a little jealous.

NEVER SEEN STAR WAR?!!!!!

Really? So blogger, whyevolutionistrue, has never seen star wars. Yes, it’s true there are a few people that have never seen Star Wars. I myself could claim that I had never seen a full episode of “Friends” during it’s first four seasons… But that was only 3 hail Mary’s, Star Wars would have to be at least 30 Hail Mary’s and 6 Confessions.

Bulwark’s Pest Control Jedi Skillz

 As a side not, May 25th, 1977 was the release date of Star Wars.

What do you know, just a few short weeks after my birthday. Star Wars and I are the same age! We are getting old.

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Yes. The cockroach can jump… well at lest the Leaproach can jump, and up to 50 times it’s own length!

But this unique roach is the only 1 of ~4000 known roach species that can jump. While a few roach cousins like the American Cockroach are equipped with wings and do fly, the Leaproach has no wings. The secret to the roach jumpers success lies in it’s knees, modified with rubber-band-like resilin. Other differences from most cockroach species are in the antennae and eyes. The antennae also have an additional fixation point to apparently help with navigation. The eye’s are more rounded, perhaps an aerodynamic feature, and larger, possibly helping in sight for better landing. Oh one more distinction of honor for this particular roach…

Leapingroach wins Award for New Species 2011

Leaproach Awarded Top 10 New Species of 2011

According to the local Phoenix school of Arizona State University, the Jumping Roach made the top 10 New Species list for 2011! Who would of ever thought that cockroach would win a popularity contest? Hats off the this modern bug who is setting a new precedents for roaches everywhere.

And if you need Phoenix Roach Control then try Bulwark Exterminating… Shameless I know.

Make it a great day!

Related articles

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Thomas Ballantyne ( @Thos003 ) interviewing Griffen Pest Solutions ( @griffinpest )

US Bed Bug Reports | InstectReport.org & bedbugregistry.com

Bed bugs are a hot topic for many U.S. cities. Fortunately most of the metro areas Bulwark Exterminating covers have not been red zones. But I understand Griffin is experiencing a lot of bed bug requests.

Where is Griffin located?

Griffin: Griffin Pest Solutions corporate headquarters is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, plus we have service branches in Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor as well. We service most of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and Northwest Indiana. Cities in our service area include: Detroit, Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Flint and South Bend, IN.

Thos003: New York has had several retail outlets like Abercrombie and Hollister close down for bed bugs. What areas/properties are targets for bed bugs?

Griffin: We have seen a significant amount of bed bug business from the greater Detroit and Ann Arbor areas. This is no surprise as Detroit has been listed by several national pest control companies as one of the top 5 most infested bed bug cities in the U.S. Our bed bug heat treatment service teams are booked two to three weeks in advance. As business continues to grow, we are anticipating adding a 3rd shift.

Our biggest customers for bed bugs this year have been apartment communities and hotels. However, we have also treated college dorms, homeless shelters, hospitals, assisted living centers, recreational facilities, housing commissions and a good number of residential homes. Clearly bed bugs are spreading, with no end in sight.

Thos003: There is a lot of doom and gloom around the whole bed bug topic. The products that nearly made bed bugs extinct 30 years ago are no longer allowed by the EPA. So controlling bed bugs now is a whole new ball game. We are having to re-invent a solution.

How do bed bugs spread from property to property? And from city to city?

Griffin: Bed bugs are known as hitch-hikers. They are easily transported on people and their belongings. Some of the most common ways of getting bed bugs include picking them up while traveling. By simply putting your luggage on the bed in a hotel, bed bugs could latch on, or crawl in your luggage and you can bring them home with you.

Thos003: Are there other ways for them to spread beyond them being carried by their hosts?

Griffin: If you live in multi-unit housing, such as apartments or dorms, where you share a common wall, you may get bed bugs from your neighbor. Bed bugs only have to travel about 6 inches, through your walls, ceiling, or floors to reach you. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to prevent this from happening.

Adult Bed Bugs grow to 3/8 inch

Another common way to get bed bugs is to buy used furniture at garage sales, antique shops or resale shops. Furniture is rarely inspected and bed bugs can easily hide in furniture cracks. Once inside your house, the bed bugs will multiply. People need to understand that bed bugs are not a cleanliness issue. Bed bugs are a people issue.

Thos003: A lot of bugs go dormant during the cold seasons. What about bed bug?

Do you expect bed bugs to die down for the winter?

Griffin: Living in a cold weather climate, we typically see insect activity dramatically decline in the winter. However, with bed bugs we do not anticipate a drop in activity. Bed bugs are on the rise across the country and Michigan has just scratched the surface of the bed bug issue. With the cold weather, people will be spending more time indoors, where it’s warm. Bed bugs live where people live, so the cold weather does not affect them.

Thos003: Wow, Christmas coming up soon and a lot of travelers.  How will this affect bed bugs?

Kids are coming home from college; people are traveling to visit family and friends, and bringing bed bugs with them. We expect to see a spike in bed bug activity about 45-60 days after the holidays. This is about the amount of time it takes for bed bugs to multiply to a significant infestation level.

What can one do to protect themselves while traveling?

Griffin: When traveling, people need to be vigilant. If they’re staying in a hotel, inspect the room before you bring your luggage to the room. When doing an inspection, bring a bright flashlight. Look for insects the size, shape and color of an apple seed. Bed bugs also shed their skins as they grow, so you may see some casings. Pull back the bed sheets and check the mattress for small rust stains, bed bug excrement, about the side of a pencil eraser. Look under the mattress, inside the end tables and most importantly, behind the headboard. If you can take the headboard off the wall, do it. Hotels can change out bedding and mattress, but usually don’t switch the headboard. If there are no bed bugs behind the headboard, you can be reasonably sure your room does not have bed bugs. If you see any signs of bed bugs, ask for another room nowhere near the room you just came from…or check out of the hotel.

We also tell people not to place luggage on the bed or floor. Keep it as far away from the bed as possible. When traveling, our team puts luggage in the bathtub. We also travel with large zip-lock clothing bags and put all dirty and unworn clothes into the bag. When you get home, immediately dump the contents of the bag into your clothes dryer and turn it on the hottest setting for at least 30 minutes. Don’t overload the dryer though. You need the hot air to circulate. Vacuum your luggage and then store it in your garage or basement, away from where you sleep. Be sure to remove the vacuum bag, double bag it and throw it away. I know all of this seems excessive, but it is well worth the hassle. Getting rid of bed bugs can be very expensive.

Thos003: That is some great advice.  I’ve got some of my own precautions I use when traveling.  The bit about keeping the luggage away from the bed and floor is priceless. But honestly never considered placing it in the tub. Thanks!  I am sure there are lot of people searching the internet right now for some tips on controlling bed bugs.  Lot of good and some bad advice online as well.  Are there some other resources people should use online for bed bug advice?

Griffin: Yes. Be proactive before you travel, check out www.bedbugregistry.com and www.tripadvisor.com. On these sites, consumers report bed bugs. BedBugRegistry is straight forward. However, on TripAdvisor, you will need to search by city name and key words “bed bugs”, and then read the consumer comments. If a property is listed or a consumer comments about bed bugs, you may want to stay somewhere else.

Thos003: Awesome. And while these precautions may seem extreme, getting a bed bug infestation in my own home isn’t something I would ever want to experience. So again, great advice.  I would also add one more tidbit for the holiday season, send all of your new clothes through a dry cycle when you bring them home from your Christmas Shopping.

Learn more about bedbugs on www.GriffinPestSolutions.com webpage about Bed Bugs.

Related Bed Bug Articles:

Don’t let the Bed Bugs Bite, or ruin your mattress

The Beginning of the Bed Bug Epidemic

Happy Thanksgiving wishes from your pest control guys at Bulwark Exterminating.

Thanksgiving Turkey from your pest control service.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year. It is very humbling to sit and ponder upon one’s fortune. From a guy that knows what it like to have the Helper without the Hamburger, no matter your situation there is always something to be thankful for.  Cliche, but “An attitude of gratitude will lift your altitude.”

So while I was rocking my baby girl in the wee hours of the morning, I realized despite  my body telling me that I would rather be sleeping, that this moment would create an endearing memory. Further, I am thankful for each and every smile my little on gives me. A smile, such a small act for us. But for her it takes almost all of her energy to find that muscle memory and curl those lips. Those smiles don’t last more than a brief moment. But the stamp it leaves is timeless.

And so it is that many of the mundane things of the world get overlooked. A simple smile, a kind word, a thank you. At the risk of loosing some of the macho “We toy with bugs” perception, Bulwark Exterminating would like to take the time to thank so many of our technicians for the little things they do. Things they believe go unnoticed. But these small things, we as a company hold to be monumental acts of service. Things our customers have expressed their gratitude for. We would like to echo those customers in their thanks with our Thanksgiving list.

Bulwark’s 2010 Thanksgiving List: