Avoiding Rodents: Tips for Homeowner’s

Posted on November 22, 2011 with No Comments

Wintertime can bring more than just cold weather and snow, it is also the time when rodents like mice and rats that are seeking shelter.

Following are some preventative tips for rodent control that you can do yourself:

• Store items in boxes and sealed plastic containers, rather than cardboard boxes.
• Keep food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly.
• Install screens over chimney vents and openings.
• Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home, including areas where utilities and pipes enter the home.
• Replace loose weather stripping around basement foundation and windows.
• Install gutters or diverts to channel water away from your home.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home.
• Inspect wires, insulation and walls for any signs of gnaw marks.

If you find rodent feces, hear sounds of scurrying in the walls or observe other signs of an infestation, contact a licensed pest professional.

The Ways of a Poisonous Rat Uncovered

Posted on August 3, 2011 with No Comments

A rodent commonly known as the African crested rat has always been understood to be poisonous, but until recently, the reasoning was unknown. It turns out this rat is much more intelligent than it is credited for; it slathers poison from tree bark onto its specially designed hairs to protect itself from predators.

The African crested rat has hairs on certain areas of its body which predators are inclined to attack first, based on coloring. These areas are ones in which the rat lathers up with the poison from the bark!

These tactics are sure to work; if the predator is not killed, it is harmed enough that it will be sure to remember the incident an steer clear of future encounters!

Click here to read the entire story, and be sure to watch the video of the African crested rat in action!

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Prairie Dog Makes Home at Golf Course

Posted on June 16, 2011 with No Comments

The Sarasota Golf Course in Sarasota, Florida reported a non-native rodent making a home for itself on one of their courses.

The Prairie Dog is native to the west side of the Mississippi and usually inhabits grassland areas. The visitors of the golf course were pleasantly surprised by the new tenant, and he has won them over with his friendly personality.

The golf course has no plan to relocate the rodent, and has decided to name him…Mulligan and Putter are the top two choices! The workers have stated that they will not uproot their friend unless they suspect his safety to be in danger.

We hope he is cozy down there at his new residence!

Have you come across any wildlife at your preferred golf course? Share your stories with us!

JP McHale Pest Management services for [unwanted!] rodents at a number of golf courses in the area.

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NYC’s restaurants graded for the second time

Posted on August 9, 2010 with No Comments

Yesterday the NY Post published an article about the second round grades for New York City’s top restaurants.  Last week, 24,000 of New York City’s finest restaurants were graded on a new scale to judge the cleanliness of the dining area.  If a restaurant gets a low grade, they have two more inspections to improve or else their grade will be open to the public.  The second inspections were conducted this past week.  The final inspections will be conducted in the following week and then that’s it. Restaurants will be required to show the grade they are given right at the front door or window for the public to see.  The following violations will earn restaurants points:

-          Keeping cold foods at a temperature higher than 41 degrees

-          Evidence of pests or rodents

-          Employees not wearing hair nets

-          Eggs are cracks

-          Food is left uncovered

-          Not vermin-proof

-          Plumbing issues

-          Light bulbs not shielding

These are just of the few violations that can make restaurants earn a C.  The article lists some of the finest restaurants in the city that are struggling to make the cut.  If you are struggling with a pest or rodent problem in your home or business, JP McHale can help.  We are the leading pest control company in New York that will solve your pest problems! Contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, twitter, or facebook for an inspection!

Be careful what you put down the food disposal, it could attract rats!

Posted on August 6, 2010 with No Comments

BBC.com published an article this morning about the growing rat population in cities.  The article focuses on the city of Bradford in the UK, but the information is relevant for homes and cities everywhere.  Researches have learned that cities with bad rat problems are caused by two major factors: litter on streets and fatty food disposal.  Rats love food; fatty, greasy food in particularly.  After people cook on the stove, they usually leave the pan in the sink still with grease and fat in it and then wash it down the drain with some residue from the prepared food.  The fat will harden and be left in the sewers, which is a nice treat for rats.  Pouring fat down the drain also cause drains and sewers to clog, which is not good either.  Rat are a very unpleasant rodent to have in and around your house. JP McHale is a rat exterminator in New York and would love to help with your problem. Contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, twitter, or facebook.

Common mice found in the Northeast

Posted on August 5, 2010 with 2 Comments

Here are a list of common mice you will see in woods, meadows, lawns, and hopefully not your home.

Grasshopper mouse:

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Deer mouse:

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White-footed mouse:

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Woodland jumping mouse:

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House mouse:

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If you have found any other type of mouse, tell us!  If mice enter your home or are constantly on your lawn, JP McHale can help.  We are the leading mouse and rat exterminator in New York. Contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, twitter, or facebook for an inspection!

Keep your cats indoors! They can become prey!

Posted on August 5, 2010 with No Comments

Yesterday Boston.com published an article that warns residents in and around the Boston area to keep their house cats indoors. The fisher, a close relative to the weasel, has been spotted in neighborhoods and shortly after residents cats have gone mission.  The fisher, which can grow up to 3 feet long from nose to tail, weighs approximately 8 to 16 lbs is known to feed on rodents and cats.  One woman who was interview said she said she saw this creature then went inside because the sight of the creature startled her.  Then later that day her cat went missing.   She said the fisher looked like a raccoon, but three times larger.  In 2006 the fisher was first spotted in Cape Cod and last year there were two reported cases.   MassWildlife suggests residents to keep their pets indoors, especially cats.  If you have a rodent issue, JP McHale can help.  Contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, twitter, or facebook.

Sport arenas food vendors in NYC cited for health violations

Posted on July 27, 2010 with 3 Comments

Earlier today the NY Post published an article that talks about the vendors in sports areas and how they are not up to the health code.  ESPN surveyed 107 sports areas across the county and the results they found are disturbing.  The Version Center in Washington, DC topped the list.  100% of the vendors inside the arena were cited with health violations.  Madison Square Garden rated the worst among the New York stadiums with 61% of their vendors being cited.  Yankee Stadium and Citi Field rated above MGS, but not by much.  Yankee Stadium had 48% of their vendors cited and Citi Field had 45%. The health violations include inspectors finding mouse droppings and roaches in the area where food is being prepared. Many spectators were interviewed and most of them had the same response.  They are going to continue to go to the sporting events, just going to think twice about getting a hot dog.  The spectators are also angry at the fact that they pay good money to see the sporting event and feel the least that the stadium could do is provide them with a healthy food vendor.  If you have dropping or cockroaches in your home or business, JP McHale can help. We are a Pest Control Company in Westchester New York that serves the tri-state area.  Contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, twitter, or facebook for an inspection!

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Rats have taken over an apartment building in the East Village

Posted on July 19, 2010 with No Comments

Yesterday New York 1 reported that an apartment building in the East Village has been infested with rats.  There are rats in the windows, halls, and even ceilings.  The tenants are not happy at all with the issue but have got very little attention from state and city officials that they have tried to reach out to.  They claim the conditions are not sanitary and this can pose as a threat to the tenants.  When the news station visited the building there were two dead rats outside the building and one dead rat in the hallway.  The rats will even eat through walls.  In just one apartment exterminators found 2 dozen dead rats.  Rats can carry diseases so if you find a rat or rodent in your home, please contact a pest control company immediately.  JP McHale is a Westchester Pest Control company.  We are licensed in rat extermination and would love to help you with your rat problem! Contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, twitter, or facebook.

Studies show walnuts improve learning and memory in mice

Posted on July 14, 2010 with No Comments

A few days ago the Alzheimer’s Society published an article about a recent study between walnuts and mice.  Scientists conducted an experiment where they fed a group of mice walnuts as part of their diet.  After over a year, the scientists compared the health of the mice who ate walnuts and the mice that did not.  They found that the mice that ate the walnuts had better learning, memory, emotional regulation and motor coordination skills compared with the mice that did not eat the walnuts.  Researchers cannot say that this study can be applied to humans just yet, but there could be a chance that the symptoms displayed in the mice can be mimic in humans.  JP McHale is a Westchester pest control company that can conduct an inspection for your home or building to check for mice. Simply contact us by phone 800-479-2284, email, live chat, facebook, or twitter.

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