There are simple measures to keep squirrels away. Check out our tips below to prevent squirrels from calling your home, “home.” 

• Keep animal dishes and food inside. If you feed your pets outside, make sure to clean up behind them or bring in remaining uneaten food.
• Clean up spilt bird seed in and around bird feeders.
• Cap your chimney to prevent squirrels from enter into your chimney or even making a nest.
• Trim you tree branches at least 10 feet from the roof of your house. This will prevent squirrels from getting onto your roof and creating damage.
• Inspect your home from the outside and look for entry points or ways insects and wildlife and can get inside. Begin around where utilities and pipes enter the home. If you find entrance ways, seal with caulk and hardware cloth to prevent them from re-entering.

If you are a homeowner in Woodstock looking for squirrel removal, contact a licensed wildlife company. Removing wildlife requires a license, knowledge and expertise. Do not let scratching or gnawing keep you up at night; allow Craig Thomas Pest Control to trap and remove these critters. Contact us for a free estimate or call for wildlife removal today.

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Dangers of rodents: 

• Mice are prolific breeders. A mouse can have 5-10 litters a year with 3–14 young at a time. Mice populations can increase very quickly.
• Rodents continuously gnaw to keep their teeth short. Gnawing can be on wood, trim and even wires causing fires. 
• Mice spread disease through their urine, leaving trails everywhere they go.
• A single mouse drops an estimated 25,000 rice-sized droppings a year, or about 70 per day. 
• Rodents in your structure exposes you and your family to Salmonella, tapeworms, infectious jaundice, plague & Hantavirus. 

Effective rodent control in Rhinebeck, Fishkill, Gardiner and surrounding areas requires exclusion, satiation and population reduction. 

1. Exclusion is another word for sealing or preventing entry ways. Using a combination of materials, Craig Thomas Pest Control performs exclusion work from the interior and exterior around windows/doors, pipes, wires, ducts and other areas to reduce rodent’s mobility.  As stated above, rodents are dangerous. 
2. If a rodent problem has gone unattended for a period of time, sanitizing the areas where rodents have nested will reduce the risk of health concerns associated with mice and rats.
3. Reducing rodent populations is accomplished through strategically placed traps and bait. Rodent control requires follow up visits to ensure they program is working properly. On these visits, Craig Thomas Pest Control re-positions rodent equipment, replenishes bait stations and performs exclusion where necessary.

While every customers needs are different, every structure and infestation level are unique. Craig Thomas Pest Control, a local pest management professional performs free evlautions to develop the best solution of your home and property. Contact us today online, Facebook, Twitter or at 845-471-9111. 

It has been estimated that rodents cause up to 20 percent of undetermined fires in the United States each year. Why is that? 

• Mice and rats chew constantly because their teeth are always growing.  They will chew through soft concrete, aluminum, wallboards, and plastic pipes.  
• Field mice move undercover in the winter months and prefer to live near the warmth of electrical components.
• Rodent nests located next to a furnace, can be ignited by the hot surface.

With warmer temperatures many insects and animals are coming out of their hibernation states prematurely in search of food. With this, some Pleasant Valley homeowners, homes in New Paltz and surrounding areas are hearing sounds and noises coming from the attic, ceiling, walls, crawl spaces, etc. As animals and rodents move around, they can scratch, thumps, scurry and pitter-patter.  

Let’s help you determine that noise in your attic, ceiling or wall:

Daytime Noises: Grey Squirrel

The gray squirrel is active during the daytime, particularly early morning and early evening. Squirrels make fast, scurrying noises running. 

 Sometimes raccoons can make noises during the day, but  make heavier and slower noises. 

Vocal growls or chattering, can indicate raccoons.

What is a feral cat?

Feral cat is a term that has been used to describe a homeless cat that is undomesticated.  We consider “feral” to describe a particular behavior a cat expresses when it is not used to people or feels frightened. 

What is a cat colony?

A cat colony is a group of free-roaming cats that live in close proximity to each other.  Colonies are often formed around shelter and a food source.

Where do free-roaming cats come from?

Free-roaming cats come from shelters, pet stores, rescuers, hoarders, newspaper ads, etc.  All free roaming cats are the descendants of unaltered tame cats somewhere in their ancestry line.

What happens to feral-behaving cats in a shelter?

Sadly, each year shelters receive more cats than they are able to adopt.  As a result shelter employees must assess each cat to determine the probability of it being adopted.  Cats who express feral behavior are consider poor prospects and are euthanized.  In most cases it is impossible to determine if a cat is simply frightened in a shelter environment or if it has lived without humane interaction.  As a result it is a sad fact that many frightened tame cats are euthanized under the label of “feral”.

What is the best thing I can do for free-roaming cats?

Consider implementing a Trap, Neuter Return (TNR) program.  By implementing a TNR program these free roaming cats can continue to live out their lives without adding to the homeless cat population.  After spay/neuter surgery cat’s live healthier lives and many of the unpopular behavioral problems associated with unaltered cats will dissipate.

The Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project’s mission is to save the lives of homeless cats by providing access to high volume spay/neuter surgery in a safe and humane environment, collaborating with others and mentoring like-minded organizations to increase spay/neuter in their regions.

If you have or know of a feral cat issue, contact your local ASPCA for assistance. Unfortunately, Domestic animals, such as dogs and cats are still considered domestic species, therefore Craig Thomas Pest Control does not trap feral cats. If you have issues with raccoons, skunks, squirrels or other wildlife, we can certainty assist you. 

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Why choose K9 Inspections for bed bugs?

Accurate. Bed bug dogs have proven to be much more accurate in determining locations of adult bed bugs, nymphs and eggs than humans

Effective. Bed bug dogs can quickly and efficiently inspect a structure for bed bugs, providing peace of mind for parties involved. K9′s can detect bed bugs inside furniture/walls/objects where humans cannot.

Green. Bed bug dogs provide a green solution to a problem. They save time and money by only detecting areas needing treatment. This reduces unnecessary treatments and chemical usage.

Hard Workers. Dogs have the ability to perform a search 80% faster than a human, saving high labor costs.

Honest. Our canine, Promise is trained to work for food, love and her ball. Once Promise alerts on an area, we take the time to check the alert with a visual inspection.

Proven. Dogs have been used for years in military and law enforcement agencies in detection drugs, persons and other things. Promise was raised at Green Collar K9, where canines of this caliber are raised and trained.

Creditable. Our goal is to maintain an efficient and reputable bed bug K9 scent detection program. Our team never stops learning about the latest techniques in canine handling and necessary information to help our Canine Pest Inspectors remain proficient. Promise and her handlers work together several times a day to remain 100% accurate.

Technology. The “nose” is the latest trend in the pest management industry to find bed bugs. Dogs have the ability to smell a scent like a three dimensional image, much more detailed than a human.

We at Craig Thomas Pest Control are proud to be members of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and New York State Pest Management Association. NPMA an organization including many pest management companies, whose many goals is to protect the health, home and/or property from pest. We are a licensed and trained in bed bug control and would like the opportunity to protect your health, home and property in the near future. Servicing Hyde Park, Fishkill, Cornwall, Monroe, New Paltz, Leeds and surrounding areas. For questions, contact us by phone 1-800-255-6777, info@callcraig.com, twitter or facebook.

The USA Today  reports, this morning at 7:20am, Punxsutawney Phil’s shadow proclaimed another six weeks of winter. How is that so?

For many this year, especially here in the Hudson Valley, this year’s mild weather feels like spring is already in the air. Yesterday’s temperatures in Albany reached a high of 58 degrees. Wow!

Today on our Facebook and Twitter Pages, we are discussing Groundhog facts. Here are some:

• The National Climatic Data Center reports the groundhogs prediction accuracy rate is around 39%.
• The groundhog is one of the few mammals that are true winter hibernators. Their breathing slows and heart rate falls to 4 beats per minute.
• Thegroundhog is in the Sciuridae family, which embraces all tree squirrels, ground squirrels, prairie dogs and marmots.
• Groundhogs are most active during daylight hours. During the warmer months they forage for grasses, flowers and cultivated crops.
• If disturbed groundhogs will stand erect and motionless for to identify the danger and may emit a shrill whistle when alarmed.
• Groundhogs can infest favorable habitats, especially alfalfa and clover hay fields, at a rate of as many as 10 chucks per acre. 

How do bed bugs get into schools?

Bed bugs can be transported easily to other places like schools via clothing, belongings and on individuals.  Bed bugs are often referred to as “hitchhikers” because of this.

As a parent, below are some proactive tips:

• Backpacks, lunchboxes and other items that travel to and from school should be inspected daily.  During inspection look for physical bedbugs, black stains created by fecal droppings and eggs which are pearly white and 1 mm in length.
• When your child returns home from school, place their belongings (jacket, clothing, lunch box, book bags) in the dryer for 45 minutes at 140 degrees F. This will kill all life stages of bed bugs. 
• Encourage your child to hang their beginnings up so that they don’t touch the coat of another child, as this is an excellent way for bed bugs to jump ship.
• If you find anything suspicious, notify the school immediately. 

The Ritz-Carlton can confirm bed bugs do not care about your social or economic status nor are they are result of uncleanliness. A Ritz-Carlton employee in New York City was told by a pest management professional to, “Be careful. There are a lot of bed bugs in there.”

With the media presence surrounding bed bugs, reading the internet there are many informative sites, but not all reliable. Below are some bed bug myths:

Myth #1: You can’t see bed bugs. Adult bed bugs are the size, shape and color of an apple seed. Younger bed bugs (nymphs) and bed bug eggs can be difficult to see.

Myth #2: Bed bugs are found in unsanitary and low income areas. Bed bugs can be found in clean and unclean facilities from five star hotels, shelters, residential homes, commercial buildings and schools.

Myth #3: Throwing away the mattress will get rid of bed bugs. Bed bugs are not contained to bed areas and can live within 10 ft of sleeping areas.

Myth #4: I don’t have any bug bites, so I don’t have bed bugs. Everyone reacts to bed bug bites differently – some react, while others don’t.

Myth #5: Bed bugs cause diseases. There is no evidence proving bed bugs cause disease.

When traveling it is important to take steps to avoid bringing bed bugs home. As your Hudson Valley bed bug exterminator, we are a licensed and trained in bedbug control. We have the experience; tools and knowledge to help get rid of bed bugs fast from Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Monroe, Hudson and surrounding areas. For more information on bed bugs or bed bug treatments, contact us by phone 800-255-6777, email, twitter or facebook.

The National Pest Mangment Assocaitons states, “dangers posed to roads and airports, the winter weather trifecta of ice, snow and wind also poses a threat to homes.”  A combination of these elements can cause new cracks and openings in foundations and roofs, leaving the house vulnerable to spring rains and unexpected pests. Unfortuantely winter storm damage may not be noticeable until pests are already in and infesting your home. Moisture from ice and snow can lead to damaged walls, ceilings, insulation and drywall attreacting wood destroying insects like termites and carpenter ants. 

NPMA recommends the following tips for homeowners to ensure their homes are and remain pest-free:

• Look for missing roof shingles, ripped window screens and clogged gutters, all of which are entry points for pests.
• Seal cracks and holes including entry points for utilities and pipes.
• Replace weather-stripping and repair loose mortar around basement foundations and windows.
• Keep basements, attics and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.
• Vacuum around doors and windows. Frequent vacuuming can catch invaders like spiders, silverfish, earwigs and beetles.
• Inspect garages and outbuildings for rodents or signs of a rodent infestation. organzie cluttered debris, boxes and random items along the walls where mice may hide or nest.
• If you suspect an infestation, contact a licensed pest professional.

For more information about pest maintenance and tips on identifying an infestation, contact Craig Thomas Pest Control. Serving the Hudson Valley with local, 3rd Generation Experience you can TRUST! 

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