I have been doing pest control in southern Maine for 16 years, and I can tell you the biggest factor in whether a bed bug treatment works is not the product, the equipment, or even the size of the infestation. It is how well the home was prepared before I walked in the door. That
How to Prepare for Bed Bug Treatment (and the Mistakes That Ruin It) Read More »
Chipmunks are one of those animals people tend to tolerate right up until they don’t. They’re small, they’re quick, and for most of the year they mind their own business. Then one day you notice the walkway settling, holes appearing along the foundation, or tulip bulbs vanishing from the garden bed, and suddenly that cute
If you’ve got a raccoon in the chimney, a woodchuck under the shed, a chipmunk tunneling under the patio, or squirrels running laps in the attic, the first instinct is usually to handle it yourself. Buy a live trap, catch the animal, drive it somewhere and let it go. It sounds simple. In Maine, it
What Maine Law Actually Says About Trapping Nuisance Wildlife Yourself Read More »
A bed bug report in a multi-unit building is never just a one-unit problem. By the time a tenant calls it in, the question is no longer whether you have bed bugs. The question is how many units are involved, how long it has been going on, and whether the treatment is going to actually
A Property Manager’s Guide to Bed Bug Treatment in Multi-Unit Buildings Read More »
Squirrels are one of the most common wildlife problems I deal with across Cumberland and York Counties, and they are also one of the most misidentified. As an Associate Certified Entomologist and licensed Animal Damage Control agent with more than 16 years of experience, I can tell you that the first question worth answering is
Raccoons are one of the most common and most misunderstood wildlife problems I get called about across Cumberland and York Counties. As an Associate Certified Entomologist and licensed Animal Damage Control agent with more than 16 years of experience, I have pulled raccoons out of attics, chimneys, and crawl spaces all over southern Maine. The
Raccoon Removal in Maine: Signs, Risks, and the Right Way to Handle Them Read More »
Ticks are one of the most significant public health concerns in southern Maine and the problem is getting worse, not better. Tick populations have expanded steadily across the state over the past several decades, and the range of diseases they carry has expanded along with them. As an Associate Certified Entomologist with more than 16
Ticks in Maine: Disease Risks, Proper Removal, and How to Get a Tick Tested Read More »
Hantavirus has been in the news lately, and the calls and questions have followed. As an Associate Certified Entomologist with more than 16 years of experience serving Cumberland and York Counties, I think the most useful thing I can do is separate what is actually happening from what people are afraid is happening. The headlines
Hantavirus in Maine: What the Headlines Mean, and What They Don’t Read More »
Yellow jackets are one of the most common calls I receive from late June through September in southern Maine. They are aggressive, they nest in locations that put people at risk, and they are frequently misidentified, which leads to the wrong response at the wrong time. As an Associate Certified Entomologist with more than 16
Fleas are one of the most frustrating pest problems to resolve without professional help. They are small, fast, and remarkably good at surviving in carpets, furniture, and floor cracks long after the animal that brought them in is gone. As an Associate Certified Entomologist with more than 16 years of experience serving Cumberland and York
Flea Control in Southern Maine: What Homeowners and Property Managers Need to Know Read More »