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What is the Hardest Household Pest to Get Rid of in Port St. Lucie?

Home / What is the Hardest Household Pest to Get Rid of in Port St. Lucie?

ghost ants port st lucie

Living in the Port St. Lucie area of Florida, we are fortunate to experience sunshine, beaches, and outdoor living. Unfortunately, household pests like this weather, too. We’re all too familiar with the various pests and bugs that can infest our homes. From termites to bed bugs, pests can carry diseases, cause damage, and are generally a nuisance.

Want to learn about other pests common to Port St Lucie? Check out our complete pest control guide:

Port St. lucie Pest Control Guide

Pest control in Port St. Lucie can be a challenging task. Although there are several pests that are challenging for exterminators to control, there’s one pest we will focus on today –the adaptable ghost ant. As you may know, ants are a common nuisance pest and their activity increases during the warmer months.

Ants are one of the most common household pests, and for good reason. They are small, live in relatively large colonies, and incredibly difficult to get rid of once they have established a foothold in your home. But when it comes to the hardest pests to eliminate in Port St. Lucie, Florida, one ant species stands out in particular: the ghost ant.

These tiny, nearly translucent ants are notoriously difficult to detect and even more challenging to eradicate. They can invade your home in large numbers, and because they are so small and elusive, they can be challenging to track down and eliminate. But don’t despair – with the right tools and strategies, it is possible to get rid of ghost ants and other stubborn pests once and for all. In this blog post, we will explore the hardest pests to eliminate in Port St. Lucie, and offer tips and tricks for keeping your home pest-free.

The Ghost Ant – The Persistent Forager

Ghost ants (a.k.a. Tapinoma melanocephalum) are small ants that are commonly found in warm and humid environments, particularly in the Port St. Lucie area of Florida. Ghost ants have a unique appearance, with a pale or translucent body and a darker head and thorax, which makes them look “ghost-like”; hence their name.

What do ghost ants feed on?

Like some of us, ghost ants have a “sweet tooth” and prefer to feed on sugary foods such as honey, syrup, and fruit juices. They also feed on other insects and small animals such as spiders, aphids, and termites. Ghost ants will often form a trail to a food source, allowing the entire colony to access the food source.

Where do ghost ants live?

Since they love warm and humid environments, ghost ants are commonly found living indoors in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Ghost ants are attracted to these areas because they provide easy access to food and water sources. They can also be found living outdoors in soil, debris, or under rocks.

Where do ghost ants’ nest?

Ghost ants have small nests typically located in cracks and crevices, under rocks, and in soil. They are known to nest in walls, attics, where moisture collects, and other indoor areas where they can remain hidden. They often form multiple nests in one area, which can make it difficult to control an infestation.

Are ghost ants dangerous?

Ghost ants are not considered to be dangerous pests to humans or pets. However, they can become a nuisance when they infest your Port St Lucie home, especially since they can contaminate food and surfaces. If you are allergic to ants or have a severe reaction to ant bites or stings, it is important to avoid contact.

What does it feel like to be bitten by a ghost ant?

If you do encounter a ghost ant, you may feel a slight pinch or tickle. Also, they tend to release a strong odor when disturbed, which can be unpleasant. The odor is produced by the ant’s defensive glands and is used to deter predators and protect the colony.

How do ghost ants reproduce?

Ghost ants reproduce through a process called budding. This means that when the colony reaches a certain size, the queen will produce new queens and workers, forming a new colony nearby.

This process can lead to multiple colonies in a single area, which can make exterminating an infestation more difficult. Ghost ants can also be inadvertently transported to new areas through infested plants or other materials.

How do they appear and disappear so quickly?

Due to their small size, they can move easily through cracks and crevices, and enter and exit a room through microscopic openings that might not be visible to the naked eye. They are highly adaptable and have a unique behavior pattern that makes them difficult to control. Known for their rapid movement and ability to appear and disappear seemingly out of nowhere, they are difficult for exterminators in Port St. Lucie to track and control them.

Ghost ants use pheromones to create a trail between their nest and a food source. This trail leads many ants to a food source, allowing them to collect food and transport it back to their nest in a very efficient and quick manner. Once the food source is depleted, the ants will disperse, and the trail will disappear.

Ghost ants are highly sensitive to disturbances and will quickly retreat into their nest if they sense danger. This makes it challenging for Port St. Lucie exterminators to track and control the nest, especially if it is in a hard-to-reach area such as inside a wall.

How to prevent ghost ant infestations

To control pests in your Port St. Lucie home, it is important to eliminate potential food and water sources and seal any cracks or crevices. Regular cleaning and proper food storage can also deter ghost ants. If an infestation occurs, contact a Port St. Lucie pest control professional or exterminator to eliminate the colony.

Expert Port St. Lucie Pest Control

When you work with Turner for pest control for your Port St. Lucie home, we treat the inside and outside of your home thoroughly. No crack is left untreated. No crevice is left untouched. In fact, we inspect your home with a fine-tooth comb to examine and treat every penetration point, even under your appliances.

Get started with pest control in Port St. Lucie today! Contact us online or call (772) 223-9891 for a free quote. We’ll send the best professionally trained technicians to use the latest, safest, and most environmentally friendly products available today. Count on us for complimentary follow-ups and easy payment plans.

Contact Turner Pest Control

What are the Different Types of Pest Control Available in Port St. Lucie?

Home / What are the Different Types of Pest Control Available in Port St. Lucie?

Pest Control Services Available in Port St. Lucie

As a homeowner in Port St. Lucie, Florida, pest control is an essential part of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for you and your family. We will delve into the various pests commonly found in Port St. Lucie, effective pest control methods, and how Turner Pest Control is leading the way for pest management in the area.

Need more info? Check out our Port St. Lucie Pest Control Guide

Let’s get started!

Ant Pest Control

Ants are very social insects that live in colonies. They are attracted to food and water sources which is why you will find them gathering in the kitchen, bath, and laundry room. Although most ants are harmless and mostly a nuisance, some species, like fire ants can sting and cause severe allergic reactions in humans and pets.

Pest Control For Roaches

Typically, you will find four types of cockroaches in the Port St. Lucie area, but the most common is the American cockroach, a.k.a. Palmetto bug. Most Port St. Lucie homeowners find these pests hanging around the kitchen or bath since they live in warm, humid environments.

These unsightly creatures can carry pathogens, which can result in serious illness, respiratory problems, allergies, and asthma attacks. Plus, they can contaminate food and surfaces in your home.

Spider pest control service in Port St. Lucie, FL

Pest Control For Spiders

Spotting a spider can cause some homeowners to run for cover! In Port St. Lucie, there are numerous species, some of which can be venomous. The most common include Wolf, Brown Recluse, and Black Widow. While most spiders are harmless, they may bite when threatened.

Bed Bug Pest Control

Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers carrying infestations from one place to another. These parasites are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on human blood. These pesky critters are known for their ability to hide in mattresses, bedding, and furniture. As its name suggests, bedbugs bite at night, causing itching, skin rashes, allergic reactions, and psychological distress. If you spot these little critters, contact Turner Pest Control in Port St. Lucie right away for bed bug treatment.

Mosquito Control

Mosquitoes are more than just a pain in the neck (literally) in Port St. Lucie, FL. In fact, a mosquito infestation should not be taken lightly. These annoying pests need to be controlled since they can transmit serious diseases like West Nile virus, dengue fever, and Zika virus. Most love to hang out in standing water, while others prefer saturated soil. You will notice mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, during the rainy and hurricane seasons in Port St. Lucie.

Pest Control For Flies

Flies love the climate in Port St. Lucie. Biting flies are a common pest problem in Port St. Lucie since they can carry disease-causing bacteria. These irritating creatures are attracted to food waste and other organic materials and can lay eggs in garbage cans and compost bins.

Rodent Control

Rodents like mice and rats can be found in Port St. Lucie chewing through walls, insulation, and electrical wires, leading to costly repairs, and potential fires. And that’s not all. These unwanted guests can spread diseases directly through their droppings and urine, and indirectly through insects that have fed on them. Pest control for rodents is a must!

Termite Treatment

Florida is home to more than 20 termite species. These wood-destroying insects are very resourceful in finding their way into your home through cracks and other not-so-obvious entry points.

Subterranean termites love the Port St. Lucie area. These pests live in underground colonies and travel through mud tubes to access wood in your home. They can cause extensive damage to your home’s structure, leading to expensive repairs.

If you need termite control, termite inspection, or a free quote contact our office today.

Call Turner Pest Control

Tick Pest Control

Often found in tall grasses and wooded areas, ticks are excellent at hitching rides on fur (your pets) and clothing until they can find real-live flesh. After they bite, you will notice a large red bump that is itchy. In addition, ticks are known to transmit diseases, including Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Tularemia.

Lawn pest control in Port St. Lucie, FL

Lawn Pest Control

Keeping your lawn lush and green is important. Chinch bugs, armyworms, and sod webworms are some of the pests that can be found in Port St. Lucie. These critters can damage your lawn, leaving brown patches and dead grass. Signs of a lawn pest infestation include chewed grass blades, discolored patches, and visible insects.

Port St. Lucie Pest Control Options

When it comes to pest control services in Port St. Lucie, Florida, there are several options available.

Chemical treatments involve the use of pesticides to control pests. This is a common and effective way to control pest infestation.
Organic pest control is a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative that does not use human-made chemicals. Organic treatments use natural methods and substances to control pests.
Traps and baits are used to capture and kill pests. This method is safe for humans and pets, and there is no risk of chemical exposure.
Exclusion and prevention techniques involve identifying and blocking the entry points that pests use to get into your Port St. Lucie home. This method can be very effective in controlling pests from entering your home in the first place. However, it may not be effective in controlling an existing infestation.

Now that we’ve covered the different types of pest control methods, let’s discuss Turner Pest Control, the hero of pest control in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) by Turner Pest Control: IPM is a holistic approach to pest control Turner utilizes that involves identifying and addressing the underlying causes of a pest infestation. Using a combination of methods and a 3-step process, IPM is designed to be a long-term solution to pest control, as it focuses on preventing future infestations.

This is not a “one size fits all” approach. It is based on each homeowner’s unique needs. Working with your licensed pest professional, you can achieve peace of mind your loved ones and property will be protected against pest-related health and property threats.

Our pest control experts understand these pesky critters better than anyone in the market. We know their hiding spots inside and outside your home. Count on us to track down these pests and apply the right treatment to exterminate them and keep them under control. For more information on pest control in Port St. Lucie, contact us.

Contact Turner Pest Control

Cockroaches Linked to Increased Asthma and Allergy Attacks

Home / Cockroaches Linked to Increased Asthma and Allergy Attacks

In recognition of National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, celebrated in May, Turner Pest Control is reminding people that cockroaches can trigger bug allergy and asthma attacks, along with other pertinent diseases.

“Cockroach droppings, saliva, shed skin and other body parts contain potent allergen proteins known to cause allergic reactions and exacerbate asthma symptoms, especially in children,” says Wade Wilson, VP of Technical Services at Turner. “Homeowners looking to protect their families from these allergens should take precautions around their home and call a pest professional if they suspect an infestation.”

In addition to being a culprit behind running noses, itchy eyes and wheezing, cockroaches also spread disease. According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), cockroaches spread nearly 33 kinds of bacteria including E. coli and Salmonella, six parasitic worms and more than seven other types of human pathogens. They pick up germs on the spines of their legs as they crawl through decaying matter, which may be transferred to humans on hard surfaces and through food contamination.

The NPMA offers the following tips to prevent cockroach infestations:

Seal cracks and holes around the outside of the home including utility pipes.
Properly ventilate basements and crawl spaces to prevent moisture buildup.
Keep counters free of crumbs and vacuum the floors often to reduce the accumulation of cockroach allergens.
Keep garbage in a sealed container and dispose of it regularly to avoid attracting pests.
Pay extra attention to kitchens and bathrooms – especially under appliances and sinks – as these areas are particularly vulnerable to cockroach infestations.

If you suspect you have an infestation, give us a call at (800)225-5305 or schedule a FREE inspection here.

What it’s like to be an intern at Turner Pest Control

Home / What it’s like to be an intern at Turner Pest Control

Earlier in 2023, Turner Pest Control launched its first ever internship program, inviting a local college student, Jared Burch, to work in the finance and billing department at our corporate headquarters in Jacksonville. Jared has done an amazing job and provided a summary of his experience interning at Turner:

“During my Finance Internship at Turner Pest Control, I had the pleasure of working with an amazing and talented team. From day one, the company’s dedication to providing exceptional service and providing a positive culture was excellent, and it was truly inspiring to be a part of such a dynamic organization.

The company provided me with all the resources and support I needed to excel in my role. Whenever I had questions or needed feedback to improve, my colleagues were always willing to help. Their guidance and support helped me grow as a young professional, and I am truly grateful for their assistance.

One of the things that stood out to me was the importance the company placed on collaboration and teamwork. Everyone worked together towards achieving our shared goals, and I learned so much from my colleagues through our shared efforts.

The company’s commitment to excellence was also evident in their approach to decision-making. They were always seeking ways to improve processes and provide the best service to their clients. Their attention to detail and expertise were impressive, and I learned a lot from working alongside them.

Overall, my experience at Turner Pest Control was incredibly valuable, and I feel fortunate to have been a part of a growing and great organization. I would highly recommend them to anyone seeking a rewarding internship experience in accounting or finance.”

If you’re interested in interning at Turner Pest Control, you can learn more here. We will be offering internships in the following departments:

Human Resources
Finance and Accounting
Marketing

Official recruiting for the Fall 2023 semester will begin in June 2023.

Turner Pest Control’s Leadership Development Program

Home / Turner Pest Control’s Leadership Development Program

Turner Pest Control employees

We’re thrilled by the success of our first ever leadership development program and look forward to seeing how the class of 2022 grows in their careers.

“The Turner Leadership Program has been an exciting new opportunity for Turner to develop our talent and connect our people for enhanced communication across the organization. 2022 was the first year of the program, and watching the participants’ journey through the program was incredible. The participants met the challenges set by the Senior Leadership Team and presented new and exciting ideas for our organization at their graduation. I am excited to see the program continue in 2023 as Turner works towards investing in our people, their career growth, and their future in the pest control industry.”

– Amanda Kinney, Director of Human Resources

Chad Deppen | Fumigation Operations Manager, Tampa

Before starting the Leadership Class I was always in the dark about how hard other departments in Turner work and what it takes to do their jobs. Now I have a better understanding of what each department does and who to contact if I need help in those areas. In addition, we as a class developed very strong relationships with each other and are willing to help one another in our respective fields. This was one of the most impactful experiences I have ever had and if someone gets the chance to go through the Leadership Development Program at Turner, don’t hesitate.

Angelina Robbins | Sales Analyst, Orlando

The Leadership Development Program was engaging and informative. I made many valuable connections, personally and professionally. I truly enjoyed participating in this endeavor and look forward to taking advantage of the information and tools provided to me by my peers. If I could give advice to the incoming class I would say, ask questions, be present, establish connections, participate fully, and have fun! Your time is precious so utilize it to its full potential.

Matt Urban | Commercial Pest Control Supervisor, Jacksonville

During this program, I really did not know what to expect being part of the first class. Throughout this program you’re given in-depth training about all aspects of the Turner business and how it pertains to you. You’re paired with mentors who have worked their way up through the company and you work closely with people from other departments all over the state. I used my time in this program to network with people from other departments and sit with people on the senior leadership team who have been where I am before. Getting to look at day-to-day operations from a different outlook, whether it be from someone who has been in my position or someone who looks at things from the perspective of a different department, really made me see things in a new light and become a different type of manger. I am grateful I used my time in this class the way I did. I now have a new set of tools to use, network connections and a better understanding of Turner as a whole.

Angelik Fontanez | Accounts Receivable Manager, Jacksonville

Throughout Turner’s first leadership program, I learned a lot about the different ways in which we are all motivated and how the culture in an organization plays a key role. Most importantly, I learned how to contribute to creating a workplace of choice where goals are achieved, peoples’ talents are invested in, and everyone’s contribution is valued. This is at the heart of inspirational and effective leadership. One-on-one coaching helped me to focus on personal leadership challenges within my work environment and to plan and become aware of the leadership journey that I have embarked on. It has not only added value to me personally but also to the business by virtue of leadership interactions with colleagues as well as my team.

Madeline Cole | Business Systems Analyst, Sarasota

I have thoroughly enjoyed the leadership development program. It allowed me to learn all aspects of the business – from marketing to operations and everything in between. My leadership skill set has expanded and improved greatly. The program allowed me to challenge myself to expand my knowledge, gain a better understanding of what it means to be a leader and engage with my co-workers on a deeper level.

Same / Next Day Appointments Available on Select Services

Home / Same / Next Day Appointments Available on Select Services

Now offering same and next day service appointments

When you have a pest or lawn problem, we know it’s important to take action quickly. Turner Pest Control is excited to now offer same and next day appointments on select services including:
– Pest Control
– SMART Pest Control
– Lawn + Outdoor
– Mosquito
– Commercial Pest Control

For Same Day service, customer must call by noon (Monday – Friday only) and a premium charge will be added on top of the initial cost.

For Next Day service, customer must call by 4 pm the day prior to schedule the service. No premium charge for next day service.

Contact us at the first sign of pest problems. Call 800-225-5305 today for your free, no-obligation quote and to schedule your service.

What Animals Like to Live in a Crawl Space?

Home / What Animals Like to Live in a Crawl Space?

A crawl space is an attractive home to many forms of wildlife, especially in densely populated areas. When the weather is rough or there isn’t much left of a critter’s natural habitat, animals in crawl spaces are to be expected. Sometimes, they will even choose a crawl space when the weather is good and there are plenty of natural homes around. It’s hard to say why an animal has chosen your crawl space. However, just because they made a home under your home doesn’t mean they have to move in permanently, or that you need to deal with the issue alone. In fact, attempting to remove animals without a professional can put you in danger of disease or injury! Wildlife removal services can extract these creatures from your home and keep them out.

Animals That Can Get Into Your House Via Crawl Spaces

Animals that can get into your house through a crawl space include rodents, reptiles, and mammals. In part, it depends on how big your crawl space is and the size of opening available for the animal to enter through. Here’s a list of some of the most common animals Turner Pest Control sees in crawl spaces.

Mice: Mice can enter your house through a gap the size of a pencil, only ¼ of an inch, and once they are in the crawl space, they can usually find access to the whole house.
Rats: Rats can enter your house through a ½ inch wide hole. Since they tend to live in communities, if you see one, it means you likely have even more out of sight.
Squirrels: Squirrels can nest in your crawl space, and may also use it to store food and chew on things to file down their teeth.
Bats: Bats can colonize a crawl space just like a cave or under a bridge. Because they are a protected species, their exclusion needs to be carefully managed.
Snakes: Since snakes are cold-blooded, the warmth of your home that extends into the crawl space can be quite attractive. Even if they are not venomous, they are still unpredictable and should be removed by an expert.
Opossums: Opossums love dark and damp burrows, which is a great description of many crawl spaces. They are most active at night, meaning you might not notice them until you’re trying to sleep.
Armadillos: If your house is surrounded by heavy vegetation or a garden, it will be very appealing to armadillos.
Racoons: Racoons are one of the boldest creatures you might have in your crawl space. If you’re trying to figure out how to tell what animal is in a wall, racoons are the ones who ignore you even when you knock on the wall right next to them. Every other animal on the list, like mice and squirrels, will get quiet if they hear you.

Should I Let a Possum Live Under My House? Or Any Other Animal?

If you’re an animal lover, it can feel wrong to exclude an animal from under your home. But you really shouldn’t let wildlife live there. Remember, the animal is not just settling down in one corner of your crawl space. They are digging, chewing, breeding, and leaving behind waste. Not only that, but the urine and feces of many wild animals contains bacteria and germs that can get you sick just by breathing it. In fact, the smell or sight of these waste materials might be how you figured out there is an animal in the crawl space to begin with.

Mouse in a wall pipe If you want to see the animal evicted without causing it harm, that may very well be possible. But you won’t know unless you consult with an expert. If you try to catch and relocate the animal yourself…

It could harm you.
It will put both you and the animal through additional stress as you try to catch it.
It is highly likely to return unless follow-up steps are taken.

All these are great reasons to consult a wildlife removal specialist!

How Do I Keep Animals Out Of My Crawl Space?

Keeping animals out of your crawl space is a multi-step process. Physically removing the creature may be part of it, but it isn’t always that simple. With species like bats, they can only be removed during the approved exclusion season (which is from August 15th to April 15th for bats). Whenever the time is right for removal, the access to the crawl space also needs to be blocked so the animal (or their cousins) can’t return. Additionally, changes to your property like securing garbage cans and not putting out food for your pets might be required to keep animals out. Consulting with wildlife removal experts like Turner Pest Control means you get full perspective on all the steps necessary to keep wildlife in the wild where it belongs.

Florida: Reclaim Your Crawl Spaces Fast!

Turner Pest Control’s team of wildlife exclusion experts works locally across Florida to help owners preserve and protect their property. We are on call to come to you and help remedy your unique situation, removing the wildlife in question and consulting on how to keep them out. Whether the crawl space in question is under your home or on a commercial property, we have the experience and confidence to address your needs. We are proud to treat our customers like family and protect your property as though we owned it ourselves!

How Do Animals Get Into a Crawl Space?

Home / How Do Animals Get Into a Crawl Space?

Most often, animals enter crawl spaces through vents, pipes, gaps under doors, spaces between your foundation, and penetrations for wires. Crawl spaces are quiet shelters that people hardly ever enter, making them ideal spots for critters to set up shop. Because crawl spaces are generally overlooked by homeowners, various creatures can decide to take up residence for quite some time before anyone notices something is amiss. Some common crawl space stowaways include:

Mice, rats, and other rodents
Moles, gophers, and other burrowing animals
Opossums
Skunks
Raccoons
Rabbits
Snakes
Lizards

As cute as some of these wilderness friends may be, any animal in a crawl space is bad news. All types of creatures can bring additional pests into your living space, including fleas, ticks, and various other creepy crawlies. This exacerbates your existing pest problem—the longer these unwelcome visitors stay, the more pests will invade your home.

Dealing with animals in crawl spaces is a very frustrating—and dangerous—process. But, with help from wildlife removal services, any existing infestation will be taken care of, and future incidents can be prevented.

In the next few sections, we’ll answer some common questions and explain how to get rid of unwanted animals in your crawl space and home.

Is It OK to Seal off a Crawl Space?

Yes, to prevent animals from finding their way into your home, sealing off your crawl space is the right thing to do. As a best practice, all structural supports and foundation walls inside the crawl space should be covered. Additionally, any small openings leading inside the home or crawl space must be sealed.

Another thing to note is that if you have animals currently living in your crawl space, they must be removed before you seal anything. If you seal your crawl space with the animals inside, they will be trapped and die. This causes a stinky smell to rise from your crawl space and waft through your entire house.

However, trying to trap and remove animals from your crawl space is a very dangerous task. If you attempt to remove these pesky varmints on your own, you risk being attacked. Any attack from a wild creature can cause you to contract all sorts of nasty diseases. To stay safe and ensure the removal is done right, you should contact a wildlife removal service like Turner Pest Control.

Can Animals Get Into a House Through a Crawl Space?

Foraging Opossum Yes, unfortunately animals can enter your home through crawl spaces. Once they’ve entered your crawl space, animals can gain access to your pipes, electrical wiring, air ducts, and various other areas of your home. Remember, never underestimate animals and their determination to find a safe space to rest and raise their young. There are even animals that burrow under concrete—yikes!

Aside from the crawl space itself, animals can enter your home via:

Chimney flue
Roof joints
Attic vents
Pipes and conduit
Dryer vents
Foundation joints
Wood trim
Construction gaps
Fascia boards
Soffits
Roof vents
Eaves
Plumbing or electrical access points

Ultimately, where there is a will, there is a way, and critters in search of a safe home will find their way into your house if you let them.

How To Get Rid of Crawl Space Invaders

Every wildlife removal process varies, and it’s hard to keep up if you’re not an expert. A successful removal requires lots of special equipment and training. Additionally, you must follow all established wildlife removal laws and regulations, which are difficult to keep track of if this isn’t your area of expertise. Considering the complex and dangerous nature of wildlife removal, the best way to get animals out of your crawl space is to work with a crawl space pest control company.

Professionals like Turner Pest Control are able to quickly and effectively remove unwelcome wildlife from homes and businesses alike. Throughout Florida, our experienced team works diligently to safeguard communities from unwanted pests. If you need expert hands to banish uninvited animals ASAP, fill out our wildlife control request form, and we’ll be on our way!

How Do I Get Rid of an Animal Living Under My House?

Home / How Do I Get Rid of an Animal Living Under My House?

What is one to do when they hear a scratching sound under their house at night, or movement underneath the floorboards? Hearing that sound is never good news, but unfortunately, many Americans do each year. According to a 2014 study by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), 21 million homes are invaded annually by rats alone. And rats are just one of the many pests in Florida that like to live in crawl spaces, attics, or alongside the house foundation.

No one wants to find an unwanted guest living under their home. Thankfully, if that guest is a wild animal, there are steps you can take for not only wildlife removal, but hopefully to keep animals out from under the house. Read on to learn about different animals in crawl spaces, and when to call for help.

What Do You Do if You See an Animal Under Your House?

Ultimately, you should always call your local pest control if you spot something living in your crawl space. You may be tempted to handle it yourself, but this is never a good idea, for many reasons. Even if you’re able to accurately identify what kind of animal has set up shop in your house, attempting to remove it can result in any number of problems, such as:

Serious Injury: Animals don’t understand property laws, which means that if you try to remove them from your property, they’ll often see you as a threat. Sometimes, this means running away, but other times, well… let’s just say it can end badly. This goes not just for larger vermin like raccoons and moles, but also for rats. A single rat may not seem dangerous, but if you see one, chances are there are many more hiding in the shadows.
Disease: So, let’s say you decide to remove the raccoon on your own, and though you receive a few scratches and scrapes, you manage to survive. Unfortunately, those scratches and scrapes likely harbor any number of diseases. Rabies, salmonella, and various other parasites inhabit not just wild animals, but their droppings as well. This also means that even if you never see the animal, you’re still at risk of getting sick from its presence around the house.
Legal Troubles: Let’s say you somehow get the pest out of your house without incident, and you even manage to avoid getting sick. Do you have a permit for pest removal? Because if not, you may end up in an entirely different set of trouble. Some states—like Florida—require a specific permit to be able to remove nuisance wildlife from your property. A raccoon in your crawl space is scary, yes, but the government is scarier.

Let us remind you, all of the above negatives come with the assumption that you know what’s under your house. And the answer to that, isn’t always simple. You may be surprised to know just how many animals love living in crawl spaces. This, among other reasons, is what makes pest control so complex, and best left to a professional. But what animals live under a house? Let’s look at a few examples.

What Is Under My House?

Here are just a few common pests that might end up under your home:

Mice: This is likely the first thing people think about when they consider pests, and for good reason. Mice love to crawl in many more places than crawl spaces, using pipes and creating tunnels to navigate to different parts of the house. A single mouse may not be a massive problem on its own, but they reproduce rapidly. If left unchecked, getting rid of them can quickly become an insurmountable task.
Raccoons: A usual suspect for home invasion, raccoons are a challenge to get rid of for several reasons. Not only are they intelligent, but their paws are almost as dextrous as human hands. Those two traits combined make them difficult to remove, and the fact that they are nocturnal only adds to their elusiveness.
Moles: If you’re wondering “What is digging holes under my deck?” then moles are a likely answer. They are skilled enough at digging to get around your foundation and find themselves right inside your crawl space. Not only that, but because their diet consists of various insects and worms, their presence likely indicates that you have a lawn pest problem.

What Kind of Animal Is Living Under My House? Turner Pest Control Has the Answers

Regardless of what has taken shelter in your house, Turner Pest Control is here to help. Our team provides effective, fast wildlife removal services, including:

Free inspections to determine what got into your crawl space, and how
A customized plan that best suits you and your home’s situation
Continued monitoring of your home to ensure the problem does not return

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Animals in Crawl Spaces

Home / Animals in Crawl Spaces

When the weather is frightful or predators are near, animals seek shelter. Unfortunately, that shelter could be your crawl space, a common feature in Florida homes. This narrow space between the ground and the first floor of your house is the perfect spot for animals to nest and seek refuge. They can even grab a convenient bite to eat from your trash cans, pet food bowls, and bird feeders.

Getting rid of animals in a crawl space can be tricky, as there are many risks involved, like:

White and Gray Snake on Brown Wooden Table Top

Diseases – Wild animals in a house or crawl space can infect humans with harmful germs that can cause serious illness.
Injuries – Animals may bite and scratch if threatened when you try to remove them.
Legal Repercussions – Certain wildlife is protected federally by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission handles state-level conservation efforts. Improper removal could result in hefty fines and penalties from one or both of these regulatory agencies.

Each situation is unique, so it’s usually best to contact an experienced wildlife removal company. They can remove animals and safeguard your property against new and returning intruders. However, there are some actions you can take yourself to protect your crawl space against these uninvited guests. Keep reading for some insight into why wildlife might get in your crawl space and how to keep animals out from under your house in the first place.

What Kind of Animals Live In Crawl Spaces?

Opossums, moles, snakes, squirrels, bats, armadillos, raccoons, mice, and rats are all animals that might choose to live in a crawl space. If you’re wondering, “What animal is burrowing under my house?” consider the following signs of each creature.

Opossums – Dark, sheltered, and near ground level are the traits opossums look for in a potential home. These traits, unfortunately, describe most crawl spaces, too. Opossums also seek out moisture, so they will find your crawl space extra appealing if water is leaking in. They will eat almost anything—from bird seed to garbage—and are most active at night. You may hear scratching sounds beneath your floors from an opossum in your crawl space, accompanied by unpleasant smells from their waste.
Moles – These mammals can tear through your yard before you even realize they’re there. In fact, moles can tunnel up to 18 feet (5.4 meters) per hour. They are one of many animals that burrow under concrete and can even dig right into your crawl space. If you’re seeing raised mounds of dirt on your lawn or feel areas of extra-squishy soil under your feet, you may have a mole infestation. Moles like to eat insects, earthworms, and grubs, so their presence may indicate a high pest count in the soil surrounding your home.
Snakes – Like most reptiles, snakes are cold-blooded, meaning they must move to a warmer or colder environment to regulate their body temperature. If it’s too hot outside, a snake may seek out the cool darkness of a crawl space. The biggest concern with snakes is whether or not they are venomous, as venomous snake removal must be handled delicately. Stay knowledgeable of venomous snakes in your area to keep on your guard (Florida, for example, has six known species of venomous snakes).
Squirrels – Squirrels sometimes find that crawl spaces are excellent for food storage. You will likely see or hear them moving about when the sun first comes up and when it sets. Chew marks on wood, pipes, wiring, or even aluminum siding may indicate a squirrel has taken up residence nearby. Squirrels need to gnaw regularly to file their teeth down, as their teeth never stop growing.
Bats – You’ll spy bats leaving their home around dusk, as most species of bats hunt for food at night. Their urine has a distinct smell of ammonia, which is a common ingredient in many household cleaning products. These flying mammals like to roost in various places, but a crawl space is a prime underground choice.
Armadillos – Armadillos like to burrow to make dens and find food, like insects and earthworms. They tend to dig around heavy vegetation, like gardens and flower beds, in search of this food. Overturned dirt and shallow holes around your crawl space that are a few inches deep and three to five inches wide may be from an armadillo.
Raccoons – The raccoon is one of the more formidable opponents in wildlife removal. Studies have shown that raccoons are well-known for their intelligence and problem-solving abilities. Plus, their paws are pretty dexterous, which allows them to easily work their way into your crawl space with enough motivation. You’ll probably only see these ring-tailed rodents at night, as they are nocturnal animals. If you keep waking up to knocked-over trash cans in your yard, raccoons may be the culprit.
Mice – These tiny rodents can slip through a hole or crack no bigger than ¼ inch. They like to take up residence in crawl spaces, as this gives them easy access to all kinds of pipes and tunnels to the rest of the house. Mice produce a lot of waste, so their small droppings are usually the first noticeable sign of an infestation. They can also reproduce very quickly with short gestation periods of 21 days or less, so prompt removal is crucial before a mouse problem becomes a mice problem.
Rats – Rats are larger than mice, but they can still squeeze through small cracks and holes around ½ inch. To tell the difference between rats and mice, if you spot one, remember that adult rats can get up to between nine and 11 inches in length (not including tail length), while mice usually only grow to about four inches long. Rats tend to live in groups, so if you see one going into your crawl space, others are likely residing there as well.

What Animals Make Scratching Noises?

Scratching sounds can come from any animal, but the most common offenders are rats, mice, squirrels, bats, raccoons, and opossums. Along with scratching noises, you may hear other sounds coming from the intruders in your crawl space. These may include:

Chittering and trilling accompanied by screeching similar to an owl, which is likely a raccoon.
High-pitched squeaking, which is likely a mouse or rat.
Flapping noises with softer clicking and chirping, which is likely a bat.
A wide variety of chirps, screams, teeth chattering, and barks, which is likely a squirrel.
Hissing, scratchy sandpaper noises, or rattling, which is likely a snake.
High-pitched squeals combined with other chirps and guttural noises, which is likely a mole.
Low growling, hissing, and clicking sounds, which is likely an opossum.

How Do I Keep Animals Out From Under My House?

You can take several measures to keep animals from entering your crawl space in the first place. However, be careful with some of the DIY recommendations out there, as they might not be effective and may even involve illegal activities.

For example, placing mothballs around the perimeter of your house is a common preventive action, but using these is dangerous for many reasons. Mothballs are registered pesticides, and humans and animals can sustain organ damage from breathing in these vapors. Many folks use mothballs in ways not specified on the packing label, which is illegal in most states because they are a pesticide. In Florida, for example, you can face up to a $10,000 fine per violation. So if someone suggests throwing a few mothballs under your house to keep nuisance wildlife at bay—don’t do it.

Instead, here are some safer ideas on what to use instead of mothballs and ways to protect your crawl space from intruders.

Secure Your Garbage – The smell of trash is a homing beacon for nearby rodents, so you must keep your garbage cans secure. Use heavy-duty, tear-resistant trash bags with odor control, and consider buying a lock for your trash can lid or building a garbage can enclosure. Sometimes a heavy brick on top of your garbage can lid is enough to keep wildlife at bay.
Consider Moving Pet Food Indoors – Leaving pet food bowls outside is like setting up a small banquet for hungry rodents. Pet food typically has a strong odor, which will easily attract unwanted animals.
Seal Cracks and Holes – Your crawl space will likely develop cracks and holes over time as your house settles. Cracks in the crawl space foundation are a common place for wildlife to enter. If you have ducts and pipes going in and out of your crawl space, check the caulking around these entry points to ensure it’s still sealed properly. Any crack or hole wider than ¼ inch should be fixed promptly.
Clear Yard Debris – Yard debris, like grass clippings, leaves and branches, fallen fruit, compost piles, and dense ground cover, can attract all kinds of animals. This debris provides excellent hiding places from predators, and it also supplies ample material for nest-building. Keep your yard clean of debris, and trim your trees and shrubs regularly to avoid this.
Move Your Firewood Storage – Firewood is another form of yard debris, but you may also need it to warm your home in the colder months. Keep your firewood pile at least 20 feet away from your home, and consider enclosing your firewood in a shed. If you don’t have a shed or other enclosed space to store firewood, it’s also advisable to consider keeping it raised off the ground and covered with a tarp to make it more difficult for critters to build nests amongst the stacked wood. This will also assist with insect infestation prevention.
Check Your Fence – If you have a fence enclosing your yard, check to make sure there are no entry points along the fence. Some rodents can tunnel under fences, but others cannot, so having a solid fence in place is a good preventive step. You might even consider installing an in-ground fence to protect further against digging animals.
Cover Any Vents – Crawl space vents are easy wildlife access points and should be covered. You can find vent and exhaust fan covers for sale for most sizes of openings in a crawl space.
Keep Your Crawl Space Dry – Many rodents are attracted to standing water and moisture, both of which can easily happen in crawl spaces. Check your crawl space regularly to ensure there is no standing water. If there is, it could be from a plumbing issue, groundwater, surface water, or even intense humidity, and should be addressed as soon as possible.

How Do I Get Rid of Wild Animals Under My House?

Every instance of wildlife removal will be different—the instructions for how to get rid of mice in a crawl space versus removing a colony of bats will vary greatly. So really, there is no one way to get rid of wild animals under a house. This is why it’s best to contact a wildlife removal company, especially when that wildlife is in your crawl space. Crawl spaces are difficult to access, and removing a cornered animal that wants to be left alone—well, you can see how that might end badly.

Instead, contact our professionals at Turner Pest Control. We provide fast and effective wildlife removal services to our neighbors and communities throughout Florida. Our team comes prepared with the proper equipment, experience, and training to remove any wildlife and keep them from coming back. We also have strict, company-wide measures in place to ensure we abide by all the laws and regulations surrounding wild animal removal.

When you contact Turner Pest Control for wildlife removal, here’s what you can expect:

A free inspection to identify the unwanted animals and determine how they may have entered your crawl space.
A tailored plan that is entirely unique to your property and infestation severity.
Options for different treatments so you can have the wildlife removed in the way that works best for you and your family.
Continued monitoring efforts after the initial treatment using SMART equipment to make sure the animals do not return and take necessary steps if they do.

What’s the Best Way to Get Rid of Rodents?

Home / What’s the Best Way to Get Rid of Rodents?

Your home is your sanctuary, a safe and comfortable place to spend time with family and friends, or in solitude if you choose. Even if you’re unabashedly extroverted, the last thing you want is uninvited guests making themselves at home. That’s especially true if we’re talking about rodents like mice, which are considered nuisance wildlife.

The reality is that rodents can be sneaky and persistent, and if you happen to see one, it’s highly likely that you’ve got multiple. As a homeowner in Florida, what are your wildlife removal options?

In this blog, we’ll explain what you need to know about nuisance wildlife removal in Florida—specifically, what you can do to get (and keep) mice, rats, and similar critters away from your home.

My House Is Clean, Why Do I Have Mice?

Unfortunately, mice and rats don’t really care if you make a conscious effort to keep your home tidy or what kind of inconvenience their presence might cause. While less clean houses tend to attract more mice, that is not the only factor. And mice and rats are not overly complicated creatures.

In fact, they are attracted to your home for two reasons: food and shelter. That’s why the first two things you should do to protect your home from rodents are to remove any accessible food sources (like unattended pet food) and seal off any entry points in your home’s walls or foundation.

If You See One Mouse, How Many Do You Have?

Mice and other rodents don’t tend to travel solo, so if you see a single mouse or rat, it’s safe to estimate that you have multiple—5 or 6, or more. And that’s not even accounting for the fact that they are rather prolific from a reproduction standpoint. A female mouse can have between 5 and 10 litters per year (peaking in fall and winter), with each litter typically consisting of 2 to 4 (in some cases as many as 12) mouse pups each.

What Is the Best Home Remedy to Get Rid of Mice?

Like anything else, if you search for home remedies online you’re likely to find a mixture of helpful and unhelpful information. Some of the suggestions you’ll find range from the peculiar (killing mice with toothpaste) to the flat-out dangerous (homemade mouse poison with bleach or seeking out human drugs that kill rats, etc.). Chances are, if you have rodents in your home, you’re not going to want to experiment with a bunch of questionable methods—you want them gone, now. That being said, there are a few low-cost repellents that there’s no harm in trying.

One of the most common home remedy recommendations is to appeal to the critters’ sense of smell. What smell will keep mice away? For starters, mice hate smells like peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, and cloves, so you may have success with any of those. Consider soaking cotton balls with one of these scents and leave them somewhere the mice are likely to discover them. Rather than experimenting with these remedies, if you want the problem fully assessed and addressed, it’s best to call in a professional. What many people don’t realize is how difficult it really is to solve pest control problems completely, but professional pest control services will offer comprehensive solutions tailored to your unique situation.

Do Mothballs Keep Mice Away?

While mothballs do contain a potential deterrent (in the form of naphthalene), it only tends to work in relatively huge quantities (which is also toxic for humans), making them an impractical and ineffective method. It is illegal to use mothballs outside of their prescribed purpose.

In other words, the idea that mothballs keep mice away is a misconception or myth. It should also be noted that mothballs cannot be placed outside of your home or used in any other way that is not specifically outlined on the label.

Will Keeping Lights on Keep Mice Away?

The reasoning here is that since mice and other rodents prefer to stay hidden in dark spaces, bright light must keep them away. This, too, is largely a misconception. Yes, it’s true that mice aren’t likely to spend extended periods of time in brightly-lit areas; however, they’d still have plenty of refuge in other areas like attics, crawlspaces, and walls.

Does Apple Cider Vinegar Keep Mice Away?

Because of its pungent smell, apple cider vinegar can be used as a safe, low-cost, somewhat effective repellent. As with smells like peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, and cloves, simply soak some cotton balls in a vinegar solution and place them wherever you’ve seen mice—or, more likely, their droppings. This will not prevent them from scurrying away to other areas of your home, but it might help in the areas with the deterrents.

What Is the Best Way to Get Rid of Mice in Walls?

Mice in the walls is a tricky problem for homeowners to deal with, but their incessant scratching is not easy to ignore. So, what can you do to get them out, and keep them out?

It’s not easy, but there are some steps you can attempt if you’re feeling especially brave. One essential step is to assess the extent of the problem. You’ll need to figure out where/how they’re entering your home (look for cracks/openings in your walls and foundation), and you’ll need to determine how many you have (via visual inspection or assessing the number of droppings they’re leaving behind). Of course, these tasks are not for the squeamish. Working with a professional pest control service helps to ensure that your rodent problem is quickly addressed and fully mitigated.

What Keeps Mice Away Permanently?

For virtually any sort of nuisance wildlife, the closest you can really come to keeping rodents away permanently is to create, and stick to, a comprehensive pest control plan. This is where professional pest control and nuisance wildlife removal services become essential. Turner Pest Control offers complete residential rodent control solutions that take a four-pillared approach:

Our team will perform a free inspection, to assess the extent of the problem and identify any vulnerabilities in your home or its foundation.
We’ll design a tailored rodent control plan fully customized to your needs.
We’ll offer treatment choices, like our SMART rodent control system, rodenticide bait or snap traps.
After bait and/or traps have been deployed, we’ll monitor the situation, returning at regular intervals to empty and relocate used traps and continue with further recommendations if needed.

Ultimately, we can help ensure the two key things you’ll need for peace of mind, which requires knowing that:

All of the mice are out of—and away from—your house.
Reliable measures are in place to keep them out of and away from your house.

Turner Pest Control: Your Friendly Florida Rodent Removal Specialists

At Turner Pest Control, we offer a wide range of nuisance wildlife removal services and have been in business for over 50 years. You can learn more about our full service offerings here, or fill out this form to schedule a free inspection today.

How Do I Permanently Get Rid of Raccoons?

Home / How Do I Permanently Get Rid of Raccoons?

While they have a reputation for being cute, raccoons are also known for their intelligence, agility, and curious nature. All of these attributes make it hard to get rid of them once they’re on your property. Raccoons can damage your lawn or garden, dig through the garbage, break into your home, and spread diseases that are harmful to both people and household pets. They also pose a threat to your siding, roofs, ductwork, and wiring if they enter your house in search of food or a protected spot to give birth.

You can take a few steps to prevent raccoons from nesting in your home, but once they’ve entered your attic or crawl space, you should not take action without consulting a professional wildlife removal service. The Humane Society suggests bright lights, loud music, and wire mesh as ways to discourage raccoons from nesting in your attic or crawl space. Some additional preventative steps you can take include:

Cover and secure your trash cans so raccoons cannot access the contents.
Remove any possible food sources like cat or dog food, compost piles, and trash.
Treat your lawn to remove grubs.
Block access to hiding places like under a deck or entrances to the crawl space and attic.
Deter raccoons from hiding in dark spaces using motion-activated lights.

These preventative steps won’t guarantee that raccoons will avoid your home, but they address a few attractions and vulnerabilities. While these measures can help keep your property safe, if a raccoon makes your crawl space or attic its new home, nuisance wildlife removal is the safest and fastest way to get rid of raccoons.

In this blog, we explore how to get rid of raccoons for good to keep you, your family, and your home safe.

How to Get Rid of Raccoons on Your Property

Once raccoons are on your property, the best step to take is to call a wildlife removal professional. You should not take action on your own against a raccoon infestation. Without trained experts, it can be difficult to assess the situation, which could lead to dangerous encounters. For example, a mother will be more protective if there are newborns, making safety concerns especially noteworthy.

In some cases, it may be necessary to trap the raccoons and remove them from the property. This should only be done by a professional animal control expert, as it is very dangerous to handle wild animals on your own. If the raccoons have taken up residence inside your home, it may also be necessary to remove them while repairing any damage. The best person to physically remove a raccoon is a professional who knows how to handle the animal properly and transport it to a more suitable habitat.

Do Mothballs Keep Raccoons Away?

If you live in Florida, you likely already know that improper use of mothballs is illegal and can be very dangerous. For example, you cannot place them outside. Additionally, mothballs are neither a safe nor a long-lasting solution to keep raccoons off your property. Not only are they ineffective, but mothballs are poisonous to both people and pets because of the substances they contain. The compounds included in mothballs have been shown to have temporary negative health effects, including headaches, nausea, eye and nose irritation, and coughing. Hemolytic anemia and harm to your liver and kidney are more severe symptoms of mothball exposure. Naphthalene is also carcinogenic and can lead to severe health concerns. If you use mothballs outside, they can cause toxic runoff in water, making it a health concern not only for you but for everyone around you.

Are Raccoons Hard to Get Rid Of?

Once they’ve moved into or near your home, it can be difficult to remove raccoons. According to Florida Rule 68A-9.010, a raccoon may be considered a nuisance animal if it damages property, threatens public safety, or causes annoyance within, outside, or near a structure. Although raccoons can carry diseases and cause property damage, they are also protected by law in some areas, like those laid out by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. That means it is important to approach control measures humanely and legally. If raccoons have nested in your attic or crawl space, you should call a professional to physically remove them and repair any damage they have caused.

How Long Does It Take for a Raccoon to Leave?

The amount of time a raccoon spends living on a property might change based on several factors, such as the accessibility of food and shelter and presence of other raccoons nearby. Raccoons will investigate their environment for resources that make an area more habitable. They may be hesitant to leave a property if they have discovered a consistent food supply. If you take steps to remove food and shelter sources, raccoons will sometimes leave within a few days to a week.

In Florida, in particular, large bodies of water like the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico might make an area more suitable for raccoons. The warm weather could make it possible for raccoons to scavenge all year round, resulting in a larger population density in some locations.

But will raccoons leave on their own? In most cases, raccoons do not leave on their own, and you should not expect them to. In these instances, calling a professional animal removal service is the safest option.

Rid Your Residence of Raccoons the Right Way

Are raccoons causing damage to your property or posing a threat to your family and pets? If you need skilled raccoon removal services in Florida, look no further—Turner Pest Control is here to help! Our team of certified technicians has years of experience dealing with raccoons and will ensure that they are removed safely from your property. You can choose the individual services you need right now or pick from comprehensive plans like SMART TurnerGuard, our top-tier protection program, which includes complimentary follow-up service calls should you need them. Visit our website today to request service to your home.

What Is Considered a Nuisance Animal in Florida?

Home / What Is Considered a Nuisance Animal in Florida?

With many massive, diverse populations calling it home, the state of Florida is absolutely teeming with life. At the time of this writing, the state is home to over 22 million humans—who are obviously not alone. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the state is also home to “over 700 terrestrial animals, more than 200 freshwater fish, more than 1,000 marine fish, numerous other aquatic and marine vertebrates, and many thousands of terrestrial insects and other invertebrates.”

Neat, right? Sure, until you’re faced with the very-real problem of wildlife removal. What constitutes a nuisance, and what species pose the greatest threats? Where do you turn for nuisance wildlife removal? Keep reading for a brief overview that will provide the answers.

What Are Examples of Nuisance Wildlife?

You might be surprised by the number of nuisance animals in Florida, which are governed by specific laws and regulations.

What animals do you consider a nuisance? Many people might think about their neighbor’s barking dog or maybe an aggressively affectionate housecat. In reality, “nuisance animal” is a technical term with a strict definition. As outlined by the FWC, here’s the official definition, which is less about specific species and more about the type(s) of threat their presence or actions may pose.

Nuisance wildlife refers to an animal or animals exhibiting behavior that:

Causes (or is about to cause) property damage,
Presents a threat to public safety, or
Causes an annoyance within, under, or upon a building.

What Kinds of Nuisance Animals Call Florida Home?

With the FWC’s straightforward criteria in mind, here’s a partial list of nuisance animals in Florida:

Armadillos: An armadillo’s search for food can lead them to uproot plants, yards, and gardens. They also tend to burrow into safe places, like beneath a patio, porch, or driveway. This behavior can cause an incredible amount of destruction (and it can happen literally overnight).
Bats: Most people prefer not to deal much with bats. They’re usually thought of as being loud, ugly, and unpredictable (though they’re not all bad, as they do enjoy snacking on nuisance insects). The biggest threat they pose is to human health since bats are notorious carriers of diseases—including rabies.
Birds: Woodpeckers are one of the first nuisance birds many people think of due to their famous tendency for, well, pecking at wood to establish territory and find insects to eat. When geese congregate, they can be loud, messy, and destructive to the landscape. Other nuisance birds in Florida can include crows, ducks, egrets, pigeons, vultures, and more.
Coyotes: While humans and domesticated or farm animals might react to a coyote sighting with fear, not all coyotes are nuisance animals. For the most part, they mind their own business, but if they’re sighted and seem like a threat, they can be removed. Many people take a proactive approach, banishing them before they have a chance to threaten any people, pets, or livestock.
Moles: These diligent burrowers can drive homeowners, landscapers, and farmers mad with the networks of tunnels they create in their search for food (or just general travel). That’s largely the extent of their threat, though, as most don’t want to eat your garden bulbs or crops. They prefer tasty treats such as insects, grubs, earthworms, and the like.
Opossums: Like raccoons and skunks, opossums will seek out food in places like vegetable gardens, flower beds, garbage cans, attics, and crawl spaces, leaving messes behind. They’re not particularly afraid of humans or urban environments, so they are more widespread than you might expect. Worse than their messes, opossums can transmit diseases like tuberculosis, spotted fever, and more.
Raccoons: Similar to Opossums, above. An additional threat racoons pose is that they are a “major rabies carrier in Florida,” according to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Studies (IFAS).
Rats: Several types of rats call Florida home, including Palm, Wood, and Norway varieties. If you ever wonder what makes them so bold around humans, their confidence likely arises from strength in numbers. Rats are seemingly all over the place, with two Florida cities ranking among the most rat-infested in the nation. Rats are a nuisance because they are messy, transmit disease, and can chew through a range of materials (like wires, wood, and more).
Skunks: Similar to Opossums and Raccoons, above.
Snakes: According to the FWC, there are at least 44 snake species slithering around the Sunshine State, only 6 of which are venomous (potentially a nuisance). For the most part, non-venomous snakes don’t pose much threat, aside from possibly making your skin crawl. They’re at least as afraid of us as we are of them, though if one makes its way into your home in search of warmth or shelter, it can be considered a nuisance animal at that point.
Squirrels: Homeowners, especially those who enjoy feeding the birds and/or cultivating vegetable gardens, might consider squirrels a nuisance animal. They can eat from bird feeders, making messes and driving birds away. They’re also known hoarders, so you can bet they won’t be leaving your property—especially hideouts like attics, barns, and the like—any nicer than they found it.
Woodchucks: Like moles, woodchucks can disrupt the ground and consume or destroy gardens/crops. They’re also adept climbers, meaning they can climb trees to steal future harvests and broach fences to enter new properties.

What Are My Options for Nuisance Wildlife Removal?

mouse in house dryer vent The FWC notes that “trapping and relocating or killing native wildlife should be a last resort and only when all other proactive measures have failed and an animal meets the nuisance criteria.”

That being said, their recommendations continue by noting that “before removing nuisance native wildlife,” you should “be familiar with the nuisance wildlife regulations.” If you’re looking for in-depth information about what animals are legal to kill in Florida, you can access and review specific regulations and Florida nuisance animal laws (including those that govern FWC prohibited species) online.

What Is a Nuisance Wildlife Removal Permit, and Should I Get One?

If you’re thinking about handling nuisance wildlife removal on your own, you’ll want to make sure you understand what is legal and what’s not. There are several different nuisance wildlife permits available to Florida residents that apply to different wildlife species and situations; you can review them here.

For each permit type, you can see details like what they allow versus what they prohibit, how to apply, and more. If you have questions about a specific permit type or application process, it’s recommended that you connect with your local FWC office.

For the average Florida resident, the best approach to nuisance wildlife is to play it safe and consult with professionals. Whatever’s causing trouble on your property, they’ve probably seen it before, hundreds if not thousands of times before!

Where Can I Find Professional Nuisance Wildlife Removal Near Me?

Whether you’re dealing with a single nuisance or a horde of invaders, the team of pros at Turner Pest Control is just a call or click away. Contact us with general questions, or complete our simple web form to schedule a free inspection for your residence or commercial property in Florida. We’ve been providing a top-tier customer experience for over 50 years and offer a wide range of services related to pest control and nuisance wildlife removal. We look forward to hearing from you!

How Do Professionals Get Rid of Squirrels?

Home / How Do Professionals Get Rid of Squirrels?

From a distance squirrels might seem harmless, but that quickly changes once they’re in your home. Then, it becomes very clear why they’re often referred to as a nuisance—they can harbor pathogens or cause damage to your home and property. For these reasons, it’s important to act quickly if you think you have a squirrel in your home.

Keep reading to find out common signs of a squirrel infestation and how professional pest control companies perform wildlife removal and exclusion services to keep your home safe and worry-free.

How Do I Know If I Have a Squirrel Infestation in My House or on My Property?

Squirrels, like most critters, often leave tell-tale signs of their presence. If you notice any of the following, it may be an indication that a squirrel or another animal has taken up residence in your house or yard:

Strange noises like chewing, scratching, or scurrying coming from your attic or walls.
Interior damages like chewed electrical cables or teeth marks located on wood, flooring, or walls.
Exterior damages on the roof or shingles as well as chewed bark, outdoor furniture, or siding.
Animal droppings in your attic, garage, crawl space, or near potential entry points to your home.
Odd smells coming from your air vents, which might be from decaying animals, urine, or feces.
Signs of water damage on your walls or ceiling, which may be a result of chewing or damaged wood or shingles.

Should I Be Worried About Squirrels in My Attic or Other Areas of My Home?

Squirrel standing on the grass

Squirrels have been known to cause damage to homes and carry pathogens that may be harmful to you or your pets. Examples of potential dangers include:

Chewed electrical wires that can lead to house fires.
Cracks or holes in your walls or foundation, which can cause structural damage over time.
Cracks or holes in your insulation or drywall, which can let the elements into your home.
Exposure to Salmonella or rabies, which squirrels have been known to carry.

For these reasons—and many others—it’s important to leave wildlife removal to the professionals. Sure, there are plenty of internet articles on how to get rid of squirrels in the attic and walls. You might even read about scents or noises that are home remedies to remove squirrels from your attic or home. But at the end of the day, safety should be your number one priority.

Instead of searching online for DIY approaches, simply search for “pest control for squirrels near me” to connect with companies like Turner Pest Control. Professionals can assess the situation, remove the animal(s) from your home, and even provide exclusion services to seal entry points around your house.

How Does Pest Control Get Rid Of Squirrels?

Professionals take a multi-step approach when it comes to how to get rid of squirrels in your roof, attic, walls, or any other area they’ve gotten into. Here’s how it works:

Evaluate the Situation: Before anything else, it’s critical to understand the full scope of the situation. Are there still animals in your home? Do you need services to seal off potential entry points? Most pest control companies, including Turner Pest Control, offer a free consultation where the pros will come out to your property, look around in places where animals commonly enter and live, and determine exactly what needs to be done.

Remove the Squirrels: If squirrels are present in your home, the best method is usually to remove them using one-way traps, which allow the squirrel to exit but not re-enter. During your consultation, your experts will determine the best way to safely remove the critters from your home.

Perform Exclusion Services: In most cases, squirrels enter your home through something other than the front door. Exclusion services locate potential entry points in your home and seal them off to help prevent animals from entering your house again.

Advise You on Steps to Keep Critters Out: In addition to exclusion services, experienced pest control experts can also advise you on strategies you can take to help keep squirrels and other critters out. Depending on your property, examples might include:

Fix exterior cracks or holes.
Install chimney caps or vent covers.
Cut back any branches that hang over your roof.
Remove shrubs, bushes, or trees too close to your home.

Turner Pest Control: Who to Call to Get Squirrels Out of the Attic

If you’ve noticed some or all of the signs that a squirrel is in your home, it’s best to contact a pest control company as soon as possible. The faster you react, the faster we can take care of the situation to prevent further damage.

At Turner Pest Control, we pride ourselves on being Florida’s friendly, neighborhood pest control company. With locations throughout the state, we can offer wildlife removal services for squirrels, raccoons, armadillos, rats, bats, and most other critters that may get into your house.

If you need wildlife removal services in Jacksonville, Orlando or Tampa (or anywhere else in Florida we offer wildlife removal), contact us immediately. The more time critters are in your home, the more time they have to cause havoc.

Nuisance Wildlife Removal

Home / Nuisance Wildlife Removal

Home sweet home… It’s your safe and comfortable refuge from the outside world. That is, until you’re faced with the outside world—primarily, nuisance animals—coming into your home to see what the fuss is all about.

When this happens, what are your options for wildlife removal? Keep reading for an in-depth overview of nuisance wildlife removal, in which we’ll answer questions like:

What are examples of nuisance animals, and what problems can they cause?
What are Florida’s regulations relating to wildlife removal?
What are your options for nuisance wildlife removal in the state?

What Is Considered a Nuisance Animal in Florida?

Opossum Beside a Metal Railing

For many people, the phrase “nuisance animal” is used as a catch-all term for any number of threats to their safety, comfort, or property. In rural environments, this of course extends to the types of pests that interfere with livestock or crops.

For a more specific nuisance animal meaning, here’s how the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) defines it:

Nuisance wildlife refers to an animal or animals exhibiting behavior that:

Causes (or is about to cause) property damage,
Presents a threat to public safety, or
Causes an annoyance within, under, or upon a building.

It’s a little more nuanced than that, too. When determining what specific species or type of wildlife to consider a nuisance, the FWC states that “all of Florida’s native wildlife species serve important ecological roles.” They go on to explain that simply seeing one out of place critter—like wildlife appearing in an urban area—doesn’t always indicate a nuisance species or bring about the need for wildlife removal efforts.

What Animals Are Considered a Nuisance?

When it comes to your options for removing them from your property, it’s important to know which specific animals are classified as nuisance animals. Let’s explore a few of the most common nuisance species and the threats they pose. (Don’t worry, we’ll talk about your options for removing them next!)

Here’s a partial list of nuisance animals in Florida:

Armadillos

First appearing in Florida around 1920, armadillos are often considered to be a naturalized species in the state. Their classification as a nuisance species is a bit of a debate. On one hand, they can be beneficial since they eat nuisance insects and other small invertebrates (like grubs). At the same time, however, their appetites drive them to dig and burrow, leaving messes behind.

Bats

There probably aren’t too many things armadillos and bats have in common, but they at least have their shared appetite for insect species. Despite this, bats are considered nuisance animals since they travel in groups and leave unbelievable amounts of droppings and urine behind, which is toxic to humans.

Birds

For the most part, people don’t tend to consider birds to be nuisance animals until they become a nuisance. They’ll roost and build nests in public, urban areas—in some cases inspiring cities to install bird deterrent sound systems to output noises meant to drive them away. Like several other nuisance animal types, they might also move into an attic if it’s available.

Moles

Moles aren’t a particularly violent or aggressive species. They’re mostly content to dig tunnels and burrow around looking for worms, grubs, and insects to eat. They leave literal mole hills behind, though, wrecking lawns and gardens in the process.

Opossums

Opossums, best-known for their “playing possum” schtick, are nocturnal, which can make them a little tougher to detect. They’re usually looking for things to scavenge, like pet food or (literal) garbage. If you suspect you might be harboring an opossum, the first place to check is the attic. Learn more about Florida opossum laws.

Raccoons

Especially common in central Florida, raccoons can create a lot of messy mischief. They’re not exactly shy around humans, and they’ll make their way into your home, garage, porch, or even attic. And they definitely don’t leave these spaces any nicer than they found them! Learn more about Florida raccoon laws.

Rats

Rats are another nuisance animal you can find in homes across the entire state of Florida. And while they may be small, they tend to organize themselves into sizable colonies and reproduce at rates that would make your head spin. They’re nocturnal, always looking for food and shelter, and can invade your home through any small opening. And rodents can transmit as many as 35 different diseases to humans.

Skunks

While one skunk on the property might not necessarily seem like a nuisance, they’ll make themselves at home in dark, hidden places like under houses or sheds. There, they’ll almost certainly make messes, babies, or (probably) both.

Snakes

Of all the nuisance animals in this list, snakes likely pose the most imminent danger to humans. That being said, only 6 of Florida’s 44 snake species are actually venomous, according to the state’s FWC. Still, for many people, when it comes to snakes, it’s “better safe than sorry.”

Squirrels

Squirrels are big fans of attics—and they don’t care if they have to chew through walls, cords, and other materials to get there. Their destructive streak continues once they settle in, and they’ll often get stuck in a home’s walls, keeping homeowners on edge with the scratching and other sounds they make.

Woodchucks

Similar to moles, woodchucks love to dig and burrow, creating expansive tunnel systems that are partially below ground (usually above, as well), disrupting the terrain. As they seek out food sources, they can leave damage to yards, gardens, and other outdoor areas in their wake.

What Are the Options for Nuisance Wildlife Removal in Florida?

There are a few different ways to approach nuisance wildlife removal, but it’s usually best to leave it to the pros. At Turner Pest Control, we’ve been solving residential and commercial pest control problems for over 50 years and use the latest and most environmentally-friendly products on the market. Learn more about who we are and what we do.

Can You Shoot a Wild Animal on Your Property in Florida?

This is a bit of a loaded question, but it’s one a lot of people are asking. Especially in the heat of the moment, when you first spot a particular pest, your mind might go straight to a hasty, reactive solution. There are a few reasons why this approach isn’t ideal:

It only addresses a single animal, not their colonies.
It can be inhumane and even dangerous.
You might violate Florida nuisance animal laws (like the need for a nuisance permit).
Within some cities and residential areas, discharge of a firearm may be prohibited.

Is It Legal to Trap Animals on Your Property in Florida?

According to the FWC and in alignment with Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) 68A-9.010, nuisance wildlife generally “may be taken using live traps or snares, or, where allowed, firearms,” but only during daylight hours. It’s also a requirement that “all traps and snares must be inspected at least once every 24 hours.”

You’ll also need a specific permit if you’re thinking about using steel traps or a firearm and light to deal with certain (but not all) nocturnal nuisance animals like beavers, opossums, and raccoons.

Is It Legal to Kill Animals on Your Property?

According to the FWC‘s regulations, “live-captured nuisance wildlife must be released legally or euthanized humanely within 24 hours of capture or trap inspection” (though bobcats are an exception, and must be released instead of euthanized). Additionally, any “non-target wildlife” must be released immediately once trapped.

You can learn more about specific recommendations for handling captured nuisance wildlife in this FAQ, as well as specific instructions for disposing of carcasses in a safe, legal manner.

How Do You Get a Nuisance Wildlife Removal Permit in Florida?

There are various different types of permits that may be issued for specific circumstances. In Florida, a few of the most common include permits for the transport or possession of:

Additional permits are defined via the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website— in very specific terms—and include:

Gun/Light at Night Permit: Authorizes landowners to “take depredating wildlife (beaver, bobcat, fox, possum, rabbit, raccoon, otter, skunk or nutria) at night with a gun and light.”

Deer Depredation Permit: Authorizes “the killing of deer that are causing damage to crops where less lethal means of control are either ineffective or not feasible.”

Bear Depredation Permit: Authorizes “the lethal take of black bears that are causing property damage where less-lethal means to control the damage are either ineffective or not feasible and the FWC is unable to capture and remove the bear.”

Steel Trap Permit: Authorizes “the holder to use padded jaw steel traps for the purpose of taking nuisance coyote, fox, bobcat, beaver, raccoon, opossum and otter.”

Protected Wildlife Bird Permit: Prohibits “activities that may have a negative effect on protected fish and wildlife,” meaning species that have been identified as either endangered, threatened, or otherwise of special concern.

Mallard Control Permit: Authorizes permit-holders “to lethally control and trap feral mallards” from May through August and to destroy feral mallards’ nests (year-round).
Canada Goose Depredation Permit: Authorizes landowners to “take birds and nests to reduce depredation to commercial agricultural operations” in accordance with detailed provisions outlined within the permit itself.

You can learn more about each of these permits, and a few others, on the FWC website. We also recommend visiting their Living with Wildlife and Preventing Wildlife Conflicts page to learn more about establishing a balanced relationship between humans and wildlife. Their suggestions include some very simple resolutions, noting that “most wildlife conflicts can be resolved by making simple changes such as removing attractants.” For example, some of the things that attract raccoons—one of the most common nuisance animals in Florida—can include pet food, unsecured garbage, compost piles, and even vegetable gardens.

What Are the Advantages of Working with a Nuisance Wildlife Removal Professional?

There are several compelling reasons to leave nuisance wildlife removal services to the pros, including personal safety and potential fines when the proper permits haven’t been issued, or their terms have been violated.

You avoid making a potentially dangerous situation more dangerous. Wild animals, especially the types we consider “nuisance animals” or “pests” can be unpredictable. They can also carry disease, so it’s best to let professionals handle the situation. Those who specialize in nuisance wildlife removal will be more familiar with the finer details of how different species like to operate, putting them at a distinct advantage.
You avoid legal complications. Without the proper permits and a solid understanding of what interventions are—and are not—legally allowed, you run the risk of violating state/local regulations. Generally, it is prohibited for private individuals to take, remove, and kill nuisance wildlife without the necessary permits.
You might not successfully eradicate the nuisance species from your property. Many nuisance animals are nocturnal, and many are remarkably stealthy. Additionally, a large number of them tend to travel in large colonies and reproduce at pretty alarming rates. The risk here is that you might go to great lengths only to realize you haven’t solved your issue fully and may still need some expert support.

For these reasons and more, it’s generally not recommended that you attempt nuisance wildlife removal on your own. Instead, you should seek out professional services in your area.

Who Does Nuisance Wildlife Removal in Florida?

You could start your search by typing something like “nuisance wildlife removal near me” into a search engine—or you can start with Turner Pest Control. In the business for over 50 years, we offer a wide range of services, including:

It’s our demonstrated experience and innovative approaches to pest control that keep our customers coming back. Here’s what you can expect from the Turner Pest Control experience:

We’ll arrive on-time and maintain a professional appearance.
We’ll perform a thorough inspection of your home/property.
We’ll design and recommend a targeted treatment program tailored to your needs.
We’ll clearly explain what services we’ll be providing and what to expect.
We’ll respect your home and property, protecting your investment.
We’ll provide unparalleled customer service.

If you’re in of need wildlife removal services in Jacksonville, Orlando or Tampa (or anywhere else in Florida we offer wildlife removal), contact us immediately.

Ready to get started? So are we! Head to our website to find a location near you, schedule a free inspection, or learn more about our approach to residential pest control and wildlife removal.

Will Rodents Leave an Attic on their Own?

Home / Will Rodents Leave an Attic on their Own?

No, most rodents will not leave an attic on their own. Which is why the pitter patter of a rat running across the attic floor while you lay in bed is such a dreaded sound. When you hear it, you probably frantically search for a good wildlife removal option. Critter removal from your attic isn’t something that most people think about until they need it, but once you do, you need it fast.

In this blog we’ll look at:

The different types of rodents that are common in attics
How and why they use an attic space
If they can get into the house once they’ve moved into the attic
If they pose a threat when they live in an attic space

What Rodents Commonly Enter an Attic?

Three kinds of rodents are most commonly found in attics—squirrels, rats, and mice. These animals are all drawn to attics looking for dark, quiet, protected areas to nest and breed. Each of these types has their own clues that can help you figure out which animal you’re dealing with.

Squirrels are the most common animal found in attics. They are active during the day and quiet at night. They can be heard scratching, squeaking, and dropping off food that can roll across the floor or down walls. Their nests are made of twigs, leaves, and paper. While their droppings look like large brown grains of rice.
Rats are active at night. Signs of rats in the attic include hearing them quickly moving often up and down walls and chewing and scratching. They leave large amounts of droppings smaller than squirrels but larger than mice. They are very destructive, leaving tunnels through insulation and chewing on wires, wood, and pipes.
Mice are also active at night and are similar to rats in many ways. They are smaller and typically less destructive. You may hear them moving more quietly and chewing less aggressively.

Will Rats Leave an Attic on their Own? What About Mice and Squirrels?

None of the rodents that commonly get into home attics will leave on their own. They moved into the attic in the first place because it offers good protection from the elements and a safe place to nest. Although individual animals will leave periodically to search for food, they nearly always will return to the safety of the attic.

In many cases, several rodents will move into an attic space as a group or reproduce in an attic nest. When there are multiple animals, it is unlikely that all of them will leave simultaneously. In these situations, there will always be at least one rodent present.

It is important to remember this when you are thinking about blocking off the holes that allowed rodents access to the attic to begin with. You want to make sure that you do not trap animals already in the attic by closing off their exit. You need to have a plan to remove the animals already there before sealing the space. This is where exclusion work is the preferred tactic by our experts who deploy one-way traps in situations like the one we’ve described.

Do Rats Leave the Attic During the Day?

Rats and mice are nocturnal creatures, so if they nest in an attic, they usually stay and sleep there during the day. However, squirrels are active during the day and usually leave an attic nest to gather food.

Can Rats in an Attic Get into a House?

Yes, rodents in an attic can get into a house. In general, this is much more common for rats and mice than for squirrels. Once rats and mice become comfortable in an attic space, they will generally start exploring more and making it into other parts of the home. Rats tend to be a bit more clever in their sleuthing, but they’re usually more willing to go farther distances than mice to explore. While mice often stay within a tighter radius, they are not quite as clever as rats are.

Are Rats in the Attic Dangerous?

Any unwanted pest animal in a home can be dangerous, and rodents in the attic are no different. Rodent droppings can spread disease or be harmful to human lungs. Fleas or other parasites that travel in on the rodents can infest a home and the humans or pets living there. These animals can chew and dig through wires, pipes, and other important home parts and create fire risks, water damage, or structural concerns. Waiting on animals to leave your attic isn’t a good idea; they can still cause problems even if they’re confined to that space. Once you become aware that you have unwanted critters, it’s time to start searching for an animal in attic removal near me.

How to Get Rid of Rodents in the Attic and Walls?

Although there are a variety of traps and chemical deterrents available for dealing with rodents in your home, getting in a professional is often a better solution. This is especially true in cases where there is a large infestation or where you are concerned about health risks to your family.

Our team at Turner Pest Control has been helping homes and businesses safely deal with pests for over 50 years. We’re a dedicated team proud to have served more than 84,000 customers across Florida with SMART Pest Control and wildlife control.

How Do You Scare Critters Out of Your Attic?

Home / How Do You Scare Critters Out of Your Attic?

When an animal makes its way into your attic you might feel a few different emotions: fear at the potential health risks they pose for your family, frustration at having to deal with damages and noises coming from your ceiling, and determination to get those pests out quickly. Luckily, wildlife removal services can deal with critter removal from your attic.

Before you call the pros, though, there are a few ways to make sure that those noises you hear are, in fact, animals in your attic. We cover that and a few tips for getting animals out of your attic here.

How Do You Tell if You Have Critters in Your Attic?

Some signs that you have animals in your attic include:

Noises: Typically, you’ll hear scratching, scuttling, squeaking, or chewing if there is an animal in your attic. A scratching noise in your attic in the early morning may suggest squirrels or snakes. An animal in the attic scratching at night may be a mouse, rat, opossum, or raccoon. You might also hear chirping in the case of bats or thumping in the case of raccoons.

Droppings: You can tell the type of animal in your attic based on the droppings you find there.

- Mice, rats, and squirrels: Rice-shaped droppings that typically only vary by size or thickness
- Raccoons: Droppings that look more like those of a cat or small dog
- Bats: Dry and powdery droppings
- Snakes: Similar to bird poop with bones and hair in it

Damage: Animals may chew on doors or siding to enter your attic. Once inside, they often also chew wood, electrical wires, insulation, or anything else they find in your attic. Check for these signs of damage both inside and outside your home.

Odors: Animals can be stinky. Some, like rodents or snakes that feel threatened, emit these odors. Droppings will also smell, particularly droppings from opossums whose waste can soak into insulation.

Nests: If an animal is preparing to have young in your attic, then you will probably find a nest there. Typically, they will make it from twigs, weeds, leaves, and any other soft materials they may find, such as paper.
Openings: Not all animals will chew their way into your attic. Some may enter through other gaps or holes in your home. For example, they may crawl in through the chimney or soffit vents.

If you spot any of these signs in your house, it’s time to start looking for solutions to get them out.

How Do You Scare Critters Out of Your Attic?

Squirrel on metal roof You shouldn’t try to remove an animal from your attic on your own. Not only can it be dangerous if you aren’t professionally trained in animal removal, but you may also be breaking the law if you try to remove certain animals on your own. With that said, you can try a few home remedies to remove squirrels from your attic, and other critters for that matter, by scaring them out.

To start, it’s all about disrupting the animals’ comfort. That means taking away their quiet, cozy places. To do that, you can play loud music near the ceiling of your home to scare the animals out. Or, you can place a bright light in the attic as long as going up in the attic won’t pose an immediate danger to you. You may even try to put oil-soaked cotton balls or oil-filled cups filled with scents like mint or apple cider vinegar that bother the animals.

These steps might help get a single animal out of your house. However, if there’s a possibility of infestation, these efforts won’t solve your problems. To make sure you eliminate the chances of infestation in your home or to get even a single animal out of your home quickly and safely, turn to companies that remove animals from your attic like Turner Pest Control. We’ll create custom wildlife control plans to fit your needs, and we even offer exclusion, removal and monitoring services to keep animals out in the future.

How Do You Get Animals Out of Your Attic Right? With Turner Pest Control

If you live in Florida and find yourself searching online for “wildlife removal services near me,” then turn to Turner Pest Control. Our expert technicians know how wildlife behaves, so we’ll know what to look for to track the critters in your attic down and remove them. Once they’re out, we seal any entry points we discovered during inspection of your home. All our plans are tailored to fit:

Your home
The type of animal you have
How many animals you have
The damage the animal(s) caused

How Do You Tell If There Are Animals in Your Attic?

Home / How Do You Tell If There Are Animals in Your Attic?

Many of us have had that moment, when suddenly we hear a little scurrying sound coming from our ceiling and wonder what could be making it—only a moment later to realize a critter’s moved into the attic!

If you find yourself looking up at your ceiling with dread, you’ll likely become interested in wildlife removal very quickly. But how will you know for sure if it’s time to do a quick search for “critter removal from attic”? When can you roll over and go back to sleep in peace? Keep reading to find out!

What Is In My Attic that Scratches?

If you’re hearing an animal in your attic, it’s mostly likely to be one of the common attic pests: squirrels, mice, rats, bats, raccoons, or opossums. Depending on where you live, snakes and lizards are also common, but they tend to be quieter house guests.

One of the first things that makes people think they might have an uninvited animal in their home is sound. There are a surprising variety of animals in attic sounds you might hear, depending on what’s up there. Some commonly reported noises include:

Knocking sound in attic at night
Sounds like someone walking in my attic
Scratching noise in ceiling at night
Chewing noises in attic in early morning

What Are Other Signs There Are Animals in Your Attic?

Although hearing an animal is often your first clue that something has moved in, there are other clues you might notice too.

These include:

Seeing their droppings
Noticing the damage they caused
Seeing the animal itself
Smelling the creature
Observing other evidence

Let’s look at some of these in a little more detail.

Droppings

bat handing upside-down in a tree Depending on how much time you spend in your attic, you may start to see animal droppings as evidence of your unintentional new visitors. Mice, rat, and squirrel feces are all fairly similar and will look like brown grains of rice in various sizes. Bat guano can also look very similar, but crushes easily under pressure and often looks sparkly in the light (due to all the insect parts). Raccoon and opossum poop is much larger and harder to miss, looking more like dog poop.

If you suspect an animal might be living in your attic, looking for droppings can help confirm your suspicions or identify what type of animal you have.

Damage

Critters in the attic can cause a lot of damage. You may need to go into the attic and look for some of it, like scratching and chewing on wood. Other damage will be immediate cause for concern, like chewing on wire or ripping out pipes. In general, the larger the animal is, the more damage they cause, although rats can be surprisingly destructive for their size.

Here is some of the most common damage done by creatures in the attic:

Damaged wires by animal chewing or scratching. This can be the most dangerous problem, due to the fire hazard.
Insulation removal for making nests or moving for access.
Chewed wood by rodents especially who need to chew constantly to keep their teeth worn down to a manageable length.
Grease stains from bats and rodents. Oil on their fur often leaves dark stains in areas where they frequently travel. These are also commonly referred to as “rub marks.”
Wall and ceiling holes can be made by raccoons in particular, whose larger body size and strong claws can rip through many building materials.
Ripped ventilation ducts by chewing or scratching will mean that hot or cold air is no longer circulated through the house correctly.
Rot and mold caused by feces and urine piles.
Stored item damage when an animal chews or scratches anything that is being kept in the attic space.

Other Evidence

There can be other tell tale (or tell tail) signs of critters living in the attic. They may not be as big a problem as the animal droppings or damage, but can still clue you in to the bigger problem.

Snakeskin might be your clue that a snake is up there. Snakes are quiet and don’t normally cause visible damage. If you’re suspicious that you have an animal in the attic but you can’t find anything else, keep your eye out for the shed skin. While having a snake in your attic might sound highly surprising at first, roof pipes and plumbing vents are actually very common entry points for snakes (among other wildlife) into attics.

Nests built by the animals living in an attic will be another giveaway. Sometimes the animals cause damage to build their nests, like ripping out insulation. But other times an animal may bring in nesting materials from outside—like squirrels nesting with twigs and leaves from outside.

How to Get Rid of Animals in the Attic?

Call Turner Pest Control! If you’re in Florida and worried about an animal in your attic, Turner Pest Control is here to help you protect your family and your home. We know wildlife can cause major problems when they get inside the house, causing damage and spreading disease. We have decades of experience providing pest control services and take a no-nonsense approach to animal removal and exclusion services to get them out and keep them out.

We offer:

Free quotes with no obligation
Flexible solutions, since no two wildlife removal issues are alike
An expert team that know how to safely get animals out of your home
Personalized plans tailor made for your home

Critter Removal from the Attic

Home / Critter Removal from the Attic

Have you heard scratches and thumping coming from the attic? When unexpected noises like an animal in the attic scratching at night or a scratching noise in the attic early in the morning make their way down to you, it can be difficult to pinpoint what exactly is happening. In many cases, when there are animals in the attic, the sounds can be a scary problem to address. What pest could be in my attic? How many are there? What do you do to get rid of them? Sometimes the answer can be as simple as removing the pests under the instruction of a professional, but for more extensive wildlife removal issues you should consider hiring a pest control service.

If you’re looking for “critter removal near me,” Turner Pest Control is the premiere removal service in Florida. That’s why we’ve made this guide to critter removal from your attics to help you determine what is sneaking around and how to take care of the problem.

Is It Normal to Have Critters in Your Attic?

While it is not “normal” to have animals in your attic, it is a common occurrence that many people have to deal with in their homes. Because rats, squirrels, raccoons, birds, and other pests look for shelter—or a place to nest—a dry attic is an appealing place for them to stay safe from predators. But how do they get in? Even if security measures have been taken to keep pests out, some critters can squeeze into your attic through gaps as small as ¼”. It may be easy to get access to an unsecured grate, holes, pipe stacks, or tiny cracks in a vent if there are trees or tall shrubs that have grown close to your roof.

However, even without an entry point, animals may get inside your house. For example, raccoons may cause a lot of damage by using their hands to make an opening so they can take shelter in your house. Rodents, including squirrels, mice, and rats, can easily chew through wood, vinyl siding, shingles, metal, and masonry.

What Animals Typically Live In Attics?

Squirrels, raccoons, rats, mice, bats, opossums, and snakes are often found living in attic spaces. Let’s take a quick look at each of these critters:

Squirrels

One of the most common animals found in attics are squirrels, which are awake and active during the day and quiet during the night while they sleep. As rodents, squirrels can cause the same kinds of damage as rats and mice, who chew on pipes and cables. All day, they can be coming and going, dropping off food to be stored in your attic. Beyond the scratching, squeaking, or chewing noises, you could also hear nuts falling within your walls or rolling around on the floor. Surprisingly, for a squirrel to enter your home, they only need a hole with a 1 ½” diameter. Squirrel infestations can be identified by droppings that resemble large, brown rice grains and nests composed of paper, leaves, and twigs.

Common squirrel breeds in Florida include:

Eastern Gray Squirrel
Fox Squirrel
Southern Flying Squirrel

Raccoons

Raccoons are skilled climbers and can easily rip through screens and roofing to enter your home. They can fit through holes around 4″ in diameter and gaps in the eaves. They are larger animals that leave behind trails littered with debris and distinctive tracks. Raccoons also make loud noises, such as heavy thumps or destructive sounds. However, raccoons are nocturnal animals, so you won’t hear them until after sunset. They also have sizable droppings that are comparable to those of a cat or small dog. Another indication that you have raccoons in the attic is if you notice a large entry hole or ducts that are torn off.

Rats / Mice

Rats can climb almost any surface and squeeze through openings as tiny as ¼-½”. They can enter through any opening, but the attic is a popular location for them since it is dry and offers a lot of protection. In a relatively short period of time, they produce thousands of droppings all over the attic. Rats will leave behind brown, curved, tube-shaped droppings, which are the easiest way to identify if they’re living in your home. Additionally, they dig tunnels through gathered debris and insulation, and the oily covering on their hair frequently leaves discolored brown paths. At night, you’ll hear noises of rats scurrying quickly, frequently up and down walls, and occasionally scratching on wood or other materials. Rats are highly destructive creatures and they frequently chew on pipes, wood, and electrical wires.

Common rat breeds in Florida include:

Norway Rat
Roof Rat
Palm Rat
Wood Rat

Mice are similar to rats, but tend to be less destructive, with only light chewing on pipes, wood, and electrical wires. They can enter through openings as small as ¼”. You’ll often only hear a light scratching and pitter-patter movement in the ceiling or walls at night time.

Common mice breeds in Florida include:

Florida Mouse
House Mouse
Golden Mouse
Field Mouse
Cotton Mouse

Is it OK to Leave Rat Poop in the Attic?

No, it is not okay to leave any remaining rat poop in your attic, as rat droppings can contain a wide variety of diseases. If you want to clean up the droppings on your own, use rubber gloves and wear coveralls, put on a mask, and spray a homemade or store-bought disinfectant and let it sit for about 5 minutes. If possible, leave doors and windows open for at least a half hour before cleaning it, allowing for cross-ventilation. Do not vacuum or sweep the droppings, as it can kick up dust and particles. However, it’s always best to consider professional services to address rodents-in-attic removal

Bats

Your attic is an ideal place for bat colonies to nest since it is secure and dark. Bats typically enter through gaps close to the edge of the roofline and may fit through openings as small as ½”. One of the only ways to tell whether bats are in your attic is to observe them flying in and out because they are often quiet. However, before they leave the attic, you might hear some chirping sounds around dusk. They don’t usually cause any physical damage, but the urine and feces (guano), which quickly collect into sizable piles, are another indication of bats living in your attic. In fact, they can leave hazardous amounts of guano in most cases. This could lead to serious illness like histoplasmosis.

Common bat breeds in Florida include:

Brazilian (Mexican) Free-Tailed Bat
Southeastern Myotis
Evening Bat
Eastern Red Bat
Seminole Bat
Northern Yellow Bat

Opossums

Opossums will make their den wherever they can find a space that is secure, dry, and protected, which is why attics can be appealing to them. Opossums are a common problem, but they require a big hole to enter, such as an open vent or duct. As they construct their nest, they produce tearing, scraping, and scuttling noises. You could have several opossums residing indoors if you also hear hissing, screeching, clicking, or lip-smacking sounds. Additionally, the noises are frequently not concentrated in one place, so you will almost certainly hear them while they are moving around. Opossums urinate and produce large, odorous droppings that discolor wooden surfaces and attic insulation.

Snakes

Snakes must rely on outside sources to keep them warm since they are ectothermic, meaning they rely on external sources of heat. This means that in order to remain warm, they could look for shelter in your attic or other parts of the house. Snakes can climb trees, so any open area, even one as little as a ½” wide crack or hole, might allow them to enter your home. Rodents generate very distinct odors, and since snakes have an excellent sense of smell, it will be easy for them to track the mouse into your attic. Because they are exceptional at hiding behind walls and make minimal noise, it might be difficult to identify and find snakes in your attic. You might have a snake problem if you see nests, eggs, or shed skin.

Common snakes breeds in Florida include:

Pythons
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes
Coral Snakes
Pygmy Rattlesnake
Water Moccasin
Black Racer
Garter Snake
Red Rat Snake
Yellow Rat Snake

What to Do If You Hear Animals In Your Attic?

The first step after hearing an animal in your attic is to identify the pest. Depending on the animal, you can take steps to secure your attic like setting traps or repairing holes and cracks. However, it’s better to contact companies that remove animals from the attic. While rats and mice are less daunting than some other nuisance wildlife, infestations can’t be solved with simple traps, not to mention the intensive cleaning and repairs needed after they’re removed. Because bats, raccoons, and squirrels are prone to rabies, pest in attic removal services are the best option to keep you and your family safe.

However, under supervision of a professional, you can take a few steps to safely encourage pests to leave your attic without interacting with them:

Open windows and doors
Turn on the lights
Play loud music
Do not block the exits like holes or cracks

If the animals leave on their own, you can then safely repair the roof or siding, remove and replace insulation, and install other preventative measures. By opening the windows and turning on the lights, the attic will be less appealing to animals looking for a dark place to nest, but more appealing to any critters attracted to light. Pests like raccoons and opossums might find it uncomfortable to live in a bright space.

Will rodents leave an attic on their own? It’s important to keep in mind that rodents often don’t leave on their own and usually continue to infest your attic, which can have numerous negative effects like damaging your insulation, air ducts, and wiring.

When it comes to wildlife control and protective services, Turner Pest Control gives you protection with comprehensive plans like SMART TurnerGuard. Turner Pest Control also offers TurnerClean services to disinfect areas on your property where pests took shelter. With over 50 years of critter control services, Turner Pest Control can help clear your property of pests after you’ve noticed animals in your attic.

What Can I Put in My Attic to Keep Animals Out?

In most cases you can keep animals out of your attic by repairing any external damage and holes. You can also block off and cover certain entry points like vents or chimneys. Other measures you can take include trimming trees and bushes that provide easy access to your roof and eaves. For squirrels in particular, leaving a vinegar soaked rag can deter them due to the smell. You should avoid mothballs and ammonia as they rarely work and could be hazardous to your health—because mothballs are carcinogenic.

However, the main preventative measure you can take to keep animals out of your attic is routine inspection. Frequently checking your attic space and roof for signs of damage, especially any areas that contain known gaps, cracks, or holes, is essential to maintaining a pest-free environment.

It’s also important to consider prevention outside of the attic:

Remove food sources like trash cans, fruits and nuts in your yard, or any other accessible supplies like outdoor pet food.
Put up squirrel nesting boxes on your property, but as far away as possible from your home, to encourage them to live outside.
Setting traps near known or suspected entry points and checking them daily.

Once you secure your attic, it’s less likely you’ll have an unexpected guest.

Can an Animal Open an Attic Door?

No, an animal cannot open an attic door. However, it is possible for them to chew through drywall (and possibly wood) to gain access to your home. That said, it’s much more likely a pest will crawl under the door or through another gap. Depending on the way you access your attic—like a standard door, ceiling hatch, or knee-wall doors—you can deter pests from entering further into your home by sealing off any internal gaps.

Protect Your Home from Attic Pests

Turner Pest Control has been protecting homes, businesses, and communities since 1971. As a customer-focused business we’re focused on our ‘family’ of customers and employees. That means you can count on us to keep your family safe.

With our professionally trained technicians and the latest, safest, and most environmentally friendly products, we’re confident you’ll be satisfied with our services. In our 50-plus years of service, we have helped customers with pest control. We have now introduced wildlife control for all of your nuisance animal needs. If you have critter removal concerns in your attic or other areas of your home, we’re here to help. Visit our website for more information on SMART TurnerGuard and SMART Pest Control today!

How Do I Get Rid of Critters in My House?

Home / How Do I Get Rid of Critters in My House?

Following wildlife removal best practices is essential no matter where you live. As residential areas continue expanding into wildlife habitats, critters are becoming more comfortable around humans. Those creatures are also discovering the benefits of hanging around residential areas. Accessible pet food and warm, dark spaces that are protected from the environment are just a couple of reasons why wildlife may move into your home or yard.

When living in Florida, here are a few common examples of animals that can get into your house:

Mice
Rats
Snakes
Bats
Opossums
Raccoons
Squirrels

Depending on your experience with animals, seeing these critters in your home can be exciting, a nuisance, or downright terrifying. No matter what your personal feelings about different animals are, these animals pose significant health and safety hazards. For example, wildlife could expose your family to the following diseases:

These diseases aren’t just transmitted through bites, either. Exposure to animal droppings and parasites can cause a wide range of symptoms, including:

Flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, muscle aches)
Headaches
Blurred vision
Rashes
Pneumonia

If these animals take up residence in your home or yard, you should take immediate action. In this blog, we’ll cover what you can do to safely respond to wildlife encounters in your home and how to protect your property against future unwelcome critters. Let’s get to it!

How Do I Get Rid of Unwanted Critters Safely?

The safest and quickest way to get rid of unwanted critters is to hire a professional. By working with a team of wildlife control experts—like those at Turner Pest Control—you have a much greater chance of removing unwelcome guests without sustaining injury. Here are some do’s and don’ts of responding to evidence of a wild animal in your home:

Do’s

Do put distance between yourself and the animal.
Do take pictures of evidence of the infestation, including what the animal looks like, droppings, and any damage they’ve done to the home if able.
Call your local pest control service provider for instructions on what to do next.

Don’ts

Don’t try to scare off or trap the animal yourself; this increases the risk of injury for you, your family, and the animal. Removing certain species also requires a specific nuisance wildlife permit, so engaging the animal yourself could become a legal issue.
Don’t use flash photography when taking pictures of a wild animal—this could provoke it.
Don’t ignore the signs of animal infestation. The longer critters are in your home, the greater chance they will reproduce, cause structural damage, and be a health hazard.

Remember, when you see a critter in your home, it is still a wild animal that could turn unpredictable at any moment, whether it looks cute or not. The best course of action is to create space between you and the animal and call for professional help.

How To Tell What Animal Is in My Wall, in My Attic, or under My Home?

You won’t always encounter an unwelcome wild animal walking across your kitchen floor; instead, you may discover signs like:

Animal droppings (or their odorous smells)
Scratch or bite marks on your floor or wall
Chewed wires
Scurrying or hissing sounds from within your walls, in your attic, or under your floorboards
Discarded snake skin

If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to take action before those critters cause any more damage.

Squirrel making a nest in a house roof

How To Keep Unwanted Animals Out of Your Yard and How Do You Keep Wild Animals Away from Your House?

Whether you’re trying to prevent your first invasion or a repeat encounter, you can combine at-home and professional solutions like repairing barriers and making your living space less appealing for wild animals. Here are some of our top tips:

Patch up holes in your siding, attic, and crawl space to keep animals out.
Cut your grass short, so you can spot animals—like snakes—easily and discourage their presence. Animals like to be able to hide from predators, so removing leaf and wood piles can also attract fewer critters.
Use strong-smelling substances to drive away critters. You might be asking yourself: “Does ammonia keep animals away?” Yes, mixing ammonia with water can work to repel raccoons, deer, squirrels, and more. Other substances, like apple cider vinegar, can also keep away animals.
Options for the best animal repellent for your yard also include planting certain vegetation. For example, lavender can help repel deer, fleas, moths, and mosquitoes. Just be sure to research what’s safe for your pets to be around, if you have any dogs or other four-legged family members at home.

Turner Pest Control: Wildlife Management for Before, During, and After

For pest control and prevention that lasts, trust the experts. At Turner Pest Control, our goal is to make your home safer and more pleasant by removing unwelcome wildlife and minimizing their chances of returning.

Wildlife removal can be a daunting and dangerous task when handled by yourself. With our customizable plans, we can combine sprays, baits, and traps to safely and efficiently remove critters from your home. We can also seal up entry points as part of our exclusionary services, which helps protect your home from future infestations.

Is There a Humane Way to Get Rid of Rats?

Home / Is There a Humane Way to Get Rid of Rats?

Do you have rats in your house that you want out now? We get it. The thought of rats living in your safe space can make your skin crawl. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you want them tortured. It just means that you want them to leave and stay out of your home, especially if you want to avoid diseases spread by rats to humans. If you’ve been trying to figure out how to get rid of rats in a humane way, you’ve come to the right place. This blog will go into detail about wildlife removal for rats without using rat poison so that you can get them out of your house and yard—and keep them away.

How to Get Rid of Rats Outside

One humane way to get rid of rats outside is by introducing their natural predators into your backyard. For example, you could adopt an outdoor cat or install an owl nesting box to attract owls to your yard. These predators will scare rats away.

You can also make it more difficult for rats to scamper through your yard by filling in their burrows, which are typically holes in the ground a few inches wide. Simply place soil as far inside of them as you can and then press it down with a shovel. After you compact the soil, you might have to add more soil on top to make the ground level again. Doing so will make the earth in your yard firmer and harder for rats to burrow through.

You may also elect to add repellents to your yard to drive rats out. For example, placing wind chimes or whirligigs will make noises that can scare rats and other critters away. You can also grow plants in your yard that emit an odor that repels rats. Such plants include:

Black pepper
Catnip
Chrysanthemums
Daffodils
Garlic
Lavender
Marigolds
Onions
Rosemary
Tomatoes

Note that some of these plants are toxic to pets, so do not use the plant method if you have any that roam around outside. If these strategies don’t work and the rats get into your house, there are extra steps you’ll need to take to get them out.\

How to Get Rid of Rats in Your House Fast

Rat on the floor Like with your outdoor space, introducing a natural rat predator into your home can help encourage rats to leave your house. Adopting a cat will do the job. Not a cat person? No worries! There are other steps you can take, like cleaning out any clutter in your home, especially near walls, to reduce potential hiding spots. Also, put your food in sealed containers to eliminate the rats’ food sources within your home. Cleaning up any messes after snacking or meals helps, too.

You can use repellents inside your home, too. For example, rats hate the smell of mint oil. Put some of this oil on cotton balls around your home, particularly near areas where you think the rats spend the most time or enter your house. Just make sure to change out the cotton balls every few days for the best results.

If you try these methods and still can’t get those pests out of your house, call a pest control company like Turner Pest Control. Once the rats leave your yard or home, you’ll want to make sure to keep them away. There are a few steps you can take to do that.

How Do You Humanely Keep Rats Away?

To humanely keep rats away from your yard and house, start by cleaning up those spaces. For example, you could:

Sweep up food particles inside your house.
Pick up any that might fall on the ground during a cookout on the outside.
Place all trash or debris in a secure trash can once you’re done with it.
Wait as late as you can to put trash cans on the curb before garbage trucks arrive to pick up trash. Do not leave your cans out overnight.
If you have pets, keep their food in sealed, chew-proof containers so that it doesn’t attract rats to your yard.

Cleaning up doesn’t only refer to picking up trash and food scraps, but also to pulling up weeds and maintaining your yard. Rats like having places to hide, so if your grass is short and shrubs trimmed back, you’ll remove some of their common hiding spaces.

You’ll also want to close up any spaces where rats might be entering your home or shed. Close doors when not in use, and make sure windows have screens on them. Also repair holes in siding, doors, or your foundation. This process is called exclusion and is offered by pest control experts like Turner Pest Control.

Call Turner Pest Control: It’s the Best Way to Get Rid of Rats Fast

If you live in Florida, turn to Turner Pest Control for your rat problem. Our SMART Pest Control plan is unlike any other rodent control on the market right now. Here’s how it works:

We inspect your home and look over any blueprints of your home you might have to determine where rats are most likely entering and traveling through your home.
We create a customized rat control plan that fits your situation.
We install humane, non-toxic traps and smart devices around your home that detect rats through heat and motion sensors.
We monitor these devices 24/7 and empty and relocate traps as needed.

Get Rid of Drain Flies

Home / Get Rid of Drain Flies

Get-Rid-of-Drain-Flies

If you have been away on vacation or haven’t used a guest bathroom in many months, you may get freaked out when you see a swarm of tiny flies near your drain. These “drain flies” (also known as moth flies) are very small…about a sixth of an inch. They do have a slightly freaky appearance, and can look fuzzy.

Another clue that the bug you’re looking at is a drain fly is that it’s bad at flying. They won’t go more than a few feet, and it might seem as though they’re hopping rather than flying. They also don’t bite.

Nine times out of ten, a drain fly problem will go away on its own. Once you get rid of the drain flies that you see, start flushing toilets and running the water in your sinks. This eliminates the standing water in which they dwell.

In some cases, drain flies might be flying into your house through an open window or door. Because they are so small, they can slip through screens that other large insects can’t. In those instances, their breeding area may be a clogged gutter or other source of standing water outside. What if you’re still unable to get rid of drain flies?

If you have killed many sets of drain flies over the course of more than 2 weeks, your house many have a well-developed breeding site. In that case, you will probably need a professional to end the infestation.

Getting rid of drain flies is relatively easy when compared to let’s say, bed bugs or termites so don’t get too concerned with the issue. But if they simply refuse to go away with these simple tips above, get in touch with us and we’ll fix the problem. 🙂

The Top 5 Things You Should Know About Termites in Southwest Florida

Home / The Top 5 Things You Should Know About Termites in Southwest Florida

How much do you know about termites?

It’s easy to feel safe from termites, but just because you haven’t seen them, doesn’t mean they aren’t there. That’s why every year the third week of March is dedicated to building awareness about the devastating effects termites can have on your home and your life.

Here are the top 5 things you need to know about termites and termite control in Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and the surrounding Southwest Florida areas.

1. Termite Season is Year-Round

Termites are busy foraging for food and multiplying 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. So why is spring commonly referred to as termite season?

Well, it’s the only time of year when you might actually SEE these elusive creatures for yourself! Between February and April in Southwest Florida, when the temperature and humidity are just right, swarms of reproductive (winged) termites leave their colonies in search of new territory.

2. Not All Termites are Created Equal

The two most common types of termites found in Florida are subterranean and drywood.

From behavior to treatment methods, differences between these two species vary greatly, but the main thing you need to know is that subterranean termites, especially the Formosan kind, are by far the most destructive.

Subterranean colonies can grow to contain upwards of 1 million termites and, in the case of Formosan termites, can extend up to 3,000 feet.

3. Termites Cause More Damage than Floods, Fires and Hurricanes Combined

That seems like an unbelievable statistic, but when you think about the fact that here in Florida we have an average of 3-5 termite colonies per acre of land, it’s not surprising really.

Due to the fact that it’s very hard to detect termites within your walls until the damage has been done, many infestations go unnoticed until it’s too late. It’s estimated that termites cause over $5 billion in damage to homes annually… damage that insurance companies won’t cover in Florida.

4. Concrete Block (CBS) Homes Can Get Termites Just as Easily as Wood Framed Homes

It’s a common myth that, just because many of the homes in our area are built out of concrete, they don’t need to worry about termites. Unfortunately, that’s a false sense of security. Termites can enter the home through an opening as small as 1/32 of an inch. If there’s a settlement crack, loose mortar joint, a small space around a drain pipe, or a crack in your foundation, they’re in! And what are the walls and rafters of most homes made out of? That’s right, WOOD! Termites will eat through walls, moldings, windows and door frames.

5. Subterranean Termite Infestations are Preventable

After years of helping people, we’ve learned that the best way to deal with a subterranean termite infestation is to avoid one in the first place. Guarding your investment from subterranean termites not only increases your home’s value but also delivers peace of mind, knowing your family’s home is safe.

You can follow some basic recommendations for preventing termites from attacking your home, or you can go worry-free and get our Subterranean Termite Control program!

The Sentricon Colony Elimination System® with Always Active™ technology is a unique, highly-effective baiting system that offers continuous 24/7 protection for your home.

We care about your family’s well-being, so it’s important to us that you understand that the system we use is environmentally safe and responsible. It’s the only termite control product ever to win the Green Chemistry Challenge Award, a top federal environmental honor. Contact us today to learn more about how it works, and to get started with termite control in Fort Myers and the surrounding areas.

Plaster Bagworms – Florida Pests That Like to Hang Around Your Home

Home / Plaster Bagworms – Florida Pests That Like to Hang Around Your Home

Florida-Pest-plaster-bagworm

If you’re at home, thinking “what is this freaky small gray bag hanging from my wall?” then you might have a plaster bagworm.

The case of the plaster bagworm is somewhat similar to a watermelon or pumpkin seed in its shape, size and flatness. It can look like an empty case or shell. Slit-like openings are located at each end. The entire thing is about half an inch long. It’s made of silk fiber, sand, lint and other miscellaneous debris. The openings at the end allow the larvae to move and to eat.

Plaster bagworms are a close relative of the clothes moth. They eat spiderwebs, wool, and the discarded larval cases of members of its own species.

The reason plaster bagworms are common Florida pests is because they like the high humidity found here. A good way to keep them away is to keep your air conditioner on and your house cool.

It’s also important to keep a clean house. Obviously getting rid of spiderwebs is a #1 priority, since that is a favorite meal of the plaster bagworm. Don’t forget to knock down and sweep up any other bagworm cases you find too. They are usually easy to spot on walls, unless your paint color matches the bug’s case!

In its larval stage, the plaster bagworm has three set of legs as well as false legs. It’s believed that the real legs help it walk on floors, while the false legs with hooks on the ends allow it to walk inside its protective case.

A mature bagworm caterpillar is about a quarter of an inch long. Its body is mostly white, but its head is brown.

In its lifecycle, the bagworm eventually becomes a moth; it’s not surprising that controlling plaster bagworms is similar to how you would conquer their cousins – the clothes moths. For severe infestations, you will need to call a Fort Myers pest control professional.

Consider Turner Pest Control for your pest control needs. We’ve served the needs of Southwest Florida for 50 years, offering a complete line of services for both residential and commercial properties, including: pest control, mosquito control, and termite protection. For more information on plaster bagworms and other Florida pests contact us online or simply call (239) 334-0880.

Thank You Veterans

Home / Thank You Veterans

We want to give a special shoutout to the fantastic Veterans at Turner this Veterans Day. We are so grateful to all who have or are currently serving. Today and every day, Turner Pest Control is proud to support and hire veterans. We are incredibly honored to have 36 veterans on the Turner team who collectively have given over 220 years of service in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.

Air Force

Kailon Alexander

Shawn Svehla

Army

Herman Beach

Delnois Boyd

Mike Byrnes

Kevin Dirmann

Willie Downer

Charles Gibson

Christopher Hayslip

Richard “Mookie” Hernandez

Adam Hosein

Carl Hughley

David Jordan

Daniel Molina

Richard Nichols

Shawn Rivera

Justin Sparks

Tyler Strickland

Tim Taylor

Marines

Peter Bugge

Stephen Commorato

Patrick Helms

Richard “Mookie” Hernandez

Robert Malina

Ryan Wilson

Wade Wilson

Navy

Calvin Berrian

Gregory Catalfomo

Donald Cisson

Christopher Dalldorf

Diane DeCoy

Phil Gilson

Andre Lambiris

William Lee

Don Lightbody

Shaun Mathis

Mac McClerklin

Navy Reserves

Christopher Dalldorf

Diane DeCoy

National Guard

Christopher Hayslip

When asked why they joined the military, our Veterans had some awesome answers such as, “to serve our country,” “to better myself and see the world,” “to protect and help those who need it,” “to provide a better life for my family,” and “to follow in my family’s footsteps.” No matter the reason, we are grateful for your service.

The amazing Veterans who have joined us at Turner have served all over the world, from Yokosuka, Japan to Schweinfurt, Germany to Dongducheon, South Korea… all the way back to Mayport, Florida. We are so thankful to have them here on our team now and are so proud of our team. Thank you for your service.

LARUE PEST MANAGEMENT IS NOW TURNER PEST CONTROL

Home / LARUE PEST MANAGEMENT IS NOW TURNER PEST CONTROL

Turner Pest Control Acquires Larue Pest Management
To Our Valued Customers,

We’re very pleased to let you know about an exciting new partnership between Larue Pest Management and Turner Pest Control. Effective June 21, 2022, our teams merged and are currently working together to serve your lawn pest control, residential pest control, and termite control needs.

Let us assure you that although our trucks and uniforms say “Turner Pest Control” you’ll continue to have the high-quality service you’ve come to expect from Larue Pest Management:

• Your services will be provided in the same friendly, professional manner
• Normally scheduled visits, total client satisfaction, and access to customer service specialists will remain the same
• Local team members will continue to service your account. The team is staying in place — we are just part of a bigger family now!
• Your same local service team and communications specialists are available to answer any questions or concerns at 239-334-0880.

We hope you’ll be as pleased as we are about this new era for our company and customers. Turner and Larue Pest Management share the same unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality of services and products, and a focus on bringing the best innovations to our customers. All of us at Larue Pest Management believe we could not have asked for a better fit as we join the two families together. We feel confident you’ll agree.

Best regards,
Larue Pest Management
Keith Ruebeling, President & Owner

As President of Turner Pest Control, I’m pleased and excited to announce the combination of Larue Pest Management and Turner Pest Control! By uniting these two world-class organizations, it gives us the ability to better serve both of our customer bases by giving us increased density and the ability to quickly respond to any service needs you may have.

We look forward to continuing our relationship with you on the foundation of trust and respect that the Larue Pest Management team established over their years of excellent service. We’ll do all we can to continue to earn your business every day and with every service we perform.

Sincerely,
Cheri Michaels
President, Turner Pest Control

FAQ’s

When is the merger effective? Larue Pest Management and Turner Pest Control merged on June 21, 2022.

Will my service stay the same? Yes, any service you have with Larue Pest Management will stay the same.

I have my account set up for automatic payment. Will that continue? Yes, your regularly scheduled payments will continue on your normal schedule.

How do I contact you if I need service? You can reach us at 239-334-0880. You will likely reach one of the friendly Larue Pest Management Customer service representatives that you are used to speaking with!

I usually mail in payments for service. Where do I send payments now? All checks will need to be made out to Turner Pest Control LLC and mailed to P.O. Box 952503 Atlanta, GA 31192-2503.

Do you have a customer portal? You will continue to have access to your customer portal.

Most importantly, welcome to the Turner family.

Contact Information at your fingertips

Larue Pest Management
13881 Plantation Rd, Suite 11
Fort Myers, FL 33912

(239) 334-0880
Laruepest.com

VULCAN PEST CONTROL IS NOW TURNER PEST CONTROL

Home / VULCAN PEST CONTROL IS NOW TURNER PEST CONTROL

To Our Valued Customers,

We’re very pleased to let you know about an exciting new partnership between Vulcan Pest Control and Turner Pest Control. Effective September 27, 2022, our teams merged and started working together to serve your lawn, pest and termite control needs. As of February 14, 2023, Vulcan has now fully integrated to Turner Pest Control and going forward, everything will be under the Turner name.

Let us assure you that even though our trucks and uniforms now say “Turner Pest Control” you’ll continue to have the high-quality service you’ve come to expect from Vulcan Pest Control:

We hope you’ll be as pleased as we are about this new era for our company and customers. Turner and Vulcan Pest Control share the same unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality of services and products, and a focus on bringing the best innovations to our customers. All of us at Vulcan Pest Control believe we could not have asked for a better fit as we join the two families together. We feel confident you’ll agree.

Best regards,
Vulcan Pest Control
Joe Flynn, President & Owner

As President of Turner Pest Control, I’m pleased and excited to announce the combination of Vulcan Pest Control and Turner Pest Control! By uniting these two world-class organizations, it gives us the ability to better serve both of our customer bases by giving us increased density and the ability to quickly respond to any service needs you may have.

We look forward to continuing our relationship with you on the foundation of trust and respect that the Vulcan Pest Control team established over their years of excellent service. We’ll do all we can to continue to earn your business every day and with every service we perform.

Sincerely,
Cheri Michaels
President, Turner Pest Control

FAQ’s

When is the merger effective? Vulcan Pest Control and Turner Pest Control merged on September 27, 2022.

Will my service stay the same? Yes, any service you have with Vulcan Pest Control will stay the same.

I have my account set up for automatic payment. Will that continue? Yes, your regularly scheduled payments will continue on your normal schedule.

How do I contact you if I need service? You can reach us at (561) 791-2400. You will likely reach one of the friendly Vulcan Pest Control Customer service representatives that you are used to speaking with!

I usually mail in payments for service. Where do I send payments now? All checks will need to be made to Turner Pest Control, LLC and mailed to P.O. Box 952503, Atlanta, GA 31192-2503.

Do you have a customer portal? Yes, you now have access to a customer portal at:

https://turnerpest.myserviceaccount. com/login

An email will be sent the week of February 13 with your new Turner account number which you will need in order to gain access. Our secure, easy-to-use customer portal gives you 24/7 access to:
• Pay bills securely
• Manage credit cards
• Request service
• View upcoming service
• View account documents

Will I receive other benefits as a Turner Pest Control customer? Yes! You now have access to all of our services including our exclusive SMART TurnerGuard package which includes pest control, termite control and digital rodent control. You can also sign up for our customer loyalty program. You will receive 50 points for just signing up, you can also receive 25 points for adding on a new service and will receive points every six months for just being a customer. Once you hit 100 points you will receive $10 credit to your account. We also offer a customer referral program so use our form on our website and when your friend signs up, you will both receive a $25 credit to your account! Log on to www.turnerpest.com and go to the Contact tab to learn more. Once you receive your Turner account number in February you can sign up then.

Most importantly, welcome to the Turner family.

Contact Information at your fingertips:

Payment Mailing Address
Turner Pest Control, LLC
P.O. Box 952503
Atlanta, GA 31192-2503
561-791-2400
800-225-5305

www.turnerpest.com
customerservice@turnerpest.com

How to Prevent Pigeon Damage and Disease at Your Business

Home / How to Prevent Pigeon Damage and Disease at Your Business

We understand your business is your livelihood. You’ve dedicated many resources to ensuring your company is protected and the last thing you have time for is dealing with nuisance pigeons making their home on your building! Known for picking up breadcrumbs from animal lovers at the park, these dangerous and unhealthy birds will wreak havoc on your building structure, perhaps even deterring customers from patronizing your business.

PIGEON GATHERING PLACES

Pigeons can be found in cities, suburbs, and around farmland. These well-known birds use the day to forage for food, feed their chicks, and deface buildings and statues.

Pigeons gather together in a behavior known as roosting. Ideal perching and nest building areas include rooftops, eaves and sides of buildings, beams, ledges, rafters, HVAC systems, and any flat surface they can find.

DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS

There are several ways pigeons can cause damage to your property. Their acidic droppings can damage buildings, painted surfaces, limestone, etc. As a result, you will want pigeon removal services.

If unsightly pigeon excrement found on your building isn’t enough to contact us for pigeon removal services, then the damage they can cause might be. Pigeon droppings are acidic in nature and the excrement that builds up can damage the finish of your building, whether it be marble, limestone, or metal. As a result, you may be looking at extensive repairs that could be avoided.

Another significant concern to business owners is the integrity of their infrastructure. Pigeons’ nests and droppings are known for severely degrading roofs. Over time, the acid will eat away at tar-based roofing materials, leading to another problem – leaks and water damage which can result in mold and costly repairs. Another reason to contact us for pigeon removal services.

Pigeons can also find their way into ceilings, causing them to collapse. These pesky birds can destroy your mechanical systems, block ventilation systems leading to health issues, and can even enhance the possibility of a fire. Bird excrement is also very slippery causing someone to potentially slip and fall.

In addition, historic buildings are especially prone to damage if they’ve been constructed out of either sand or limestone. These softer stone surfaces can degrade easily from pigeon excrement, so it is in your best interest to call a professional for pigeon removal services.

FYI – Building owners have been known to spend millions of dollars every year just on roof repairs.

HEALTH ISSUES

Pigeons can carry a variety of parasites and diseases. In fact, their droppings have been linked to more than 60 diseases like Histoplasmosis, Candidiasis, Cryptococcosis, Salmonellosis, St. Louis Encephalitis, and many more. Exposure to these birds could cause severe illness, especially in those whose health is compromised.

Since pigeons build nests in chimneys and around rooftop ventilation systems, their disease-ridden feathers can spread through space much quicker, contributing to severe illness or even death. Airflow blockage can also be fatal.

In some cases, people have been known to die from carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of their fireplace exhaust system being blocked by bird nests.

The small twigs, feathers and dried droppings found in bird nests make excellent kindling for fires. Sadly, all it takes is a heated bulb or tiny spark to ignite a fire to destroy an entire building.

CONTACT US

If you have a pigeon problem, contact us for the proper tools and techniques to remove pigeons and keep them away. Some of the strategies we use include:

Displacement and control of nuisance birds such as pigeons and sea gulls
Baiting and trapping techniques
Eliminating roosting and perch areas
Disorientation of the flock causing them to move to a new area
Exclusionary tactics for prevention
Deterrents to keep them from returning

One of our expert technicians will inspect your property, seal all entry areas, and determine the appropriate strategy for effective removal and prevention.

If you are noticing even just one pigeon, this is the time to call before the rest of the gang makes their way to the party on your property.

Turner Pest Control has been doing business for over 50 years, serving home and business owners just like you. When you need help with pigeon control and removal for your home or business, contact us, 800-225-5305.

Professional Wildlife Exclusion and Removal Services

Home / Professional Wildlife Exclusion and Removal Services

WHY WILDLIFE EXCLUSION IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR HOME

As the weather cools down, wildlife such as rodents, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, and other critters tend to look for a cozy, warm place indoors to take shelter for the cooler months. That’s why it’s important now to set up defense against wildlife getting in your home.

WILDLIFE EXCLUSION AND TRAPPING PROVIDED BY TURNER PEST CONTROL

Turner Pest Control offers this prevention technique called “wildlife exclusion” and involves sealing off potential entry points to your home in a way that keeps critters from getting inside.

Once an animal has entered your home and nested, removal becomes a priority. Do not try this on your own – these critters may look cute and cuddly, but don’t let that fool you. Wild animals are dangerous and some carry diseases such as rabies, which can be fatal if left untreated. The best line of defense is to contact us. Turner offers wildlife exclusion and trapping services, so we can trap the animal first, then keep them out with our wildlife exclusion techniques.

Without wildlife exclusion for your home, animals will find their way back in and continue to use your home as their own. The exclusion process will serve as a long-term solution to any wildlife infestation.

WILDLIFE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS

Each species has its own set of challenges, but let’s look at a few to get an idea of the kind of damage these critters can do.

Raccoons are very aggressive and known for ripping up shingles on your roof, along with your soffits. They can even break attic vents. Inside, they gnaw through insulation to build nests, creating a mess. In addition, they are one of the most common carriers of rabies.

Rodents and Squirrels can also cause damage as they gnaw on cables and wires, which could lead to a house fire, along with damage to AC ductwork, siding, insulation, and more. They also spread unwanted diseases.

Bats can carry and transmit rabies. Plus, they leave behind feces and urine, which can transmit a bacterial disease called histoplasmosis if infected spores are inhaled. Droppings and urine can leak through walls, destroying insulation, drywall, and ceilings.

WILDLIFE REMOVAL AND PREVENTION TECHNIQUES

If you suspect an infestation, contact us right away for trapping and removal services. To keep wildlife in the wild, practice these tips:

Keep garbage cans firmly lidded wherever they are stored.
Keep food in airtight containers.
Regularly check your roof for any damage and make repairs.
Ensure your fence is in good condition with no entry points.
Make sure your attic and crawl spaces are clean, dry, and ventilated well.
Clean up any leftover food outside, including pet food.
Caulk or weatherstrip around your windows and doors.
Keep your yard free of debris.
Cover exhaust fan and vent openings.
Keep tree limbs cut back 3-6 feet from the roofline.
Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house.

WILDLIFE EXCLUSION OR WILDLIFE REMOVAL

If you notice damage to your home, like chew marks, hear scratching sounds, or find evidence of animal waste, contact us right away. We’ll inspect your home at no charge and determine if trapping is necessary. If so, we’ll provide you with a no-obligation estimate and personalized plan to remove any critters and keep them out.

CONTACT TURNER FOR WILDLIFE ANIMAL CONTROL

For more than 50 years, Turner Pest Control has been helping families like yours gain peace of mind knowing they are free of unwanted pests, rodents and animals. Thanks to customers like you who have entrusted us to take good care of their property, we’ve become one of the fastest-growing companies in Florida.

WHY CHOOSE TURNER FOR WILDLIFE EXCLUSION AND WILDLIFE TRAPPING

More than 50 years of experience
Local, friendly service
Professional, trained technicians who are carefully vetted, including thorough stringent background checks
Prompt courteous service
A call ahead so you know we’re on our way
Complimentary estimate and custom treatment plan provided for your situation
Follow up service calls at no charge until you are satisfied

If you need a wildlife trapper for your Jacksonville, Orlando or Tampa home, contact us immediately. The more time critters are in your home, the more time they have to cause havoc.

BROOKER PEST CONTROL IS NOW TURNER PEST CONTROL

Home / BROOKER PEST CONTROL IS NOW TURNER PEST CONTROL

Turner Brooker

To Our Valued Customers,

We’re very pleased to let you know about an exciting new partnership between Brooker Pest Control and Turner Pest Control. Effective October 1, 2021, our teams merged and are currently working together to serve your pest control, termite, and lawn needs.

Let us assure you that although our trucks and uniforms now say “Turner Pest Control” you’ll continue to have the high-quality service you’ve come to expect from Brooker Pest Control:

We hope you’ll be as pleased as we are about this new era for our company and customers. Turner and Brooker Pest Control share the same unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality of services and products, and a focus on bringing the best innovations to our customers. All of us at Brooker Pest Control believe we could not have asked for a better fit as we join the two families together. We feel confident you’ll agree.

Brooker Pest Control
Brian Aurilio, Owner

As President of Turner Pest Control, I’m pleased and excited to announce the combination of Brooker Pest Control and Turner Pest Control! By uniting these two world-class organizations, it gives us the ability to better serve both of our customer bases by giving us increased density and the ability to quickly respond to any service needs you may have.

We look forward to continuing our relationship with you on the foundation of trust and respect that the Brooker Pest Control team established over their years of excellent service. We’ll do all we can to continue to earn your business every day and with every service we perform.

Sincerely,
Cheri Michaels
President, Turner Pest Control

FAQ’s

When is the merger effective? Brooker Pest Control and Turner Pest Control merged on October 1, 2021.
Will my service stay the same? Yes, any service you have with Brooker Pest Control will stay the same.
I have my account set up for automatic payment. Will that continue? Yes, your regularly scheduled payments will continue on your normal schedule.
How do I contact you if I need service? You can reach us at 352-378-2433. You will likely reach one of the friendly Brooker Pest Control Customer service representatives that you are used to speaking with!
I usually mail in payments for service. Where do I send payments now? All checks will need to be made out to Turner Pest Control, LLC and mailed to P.O. Box 952503, Atlanta, GA 31192-2503.
Do you have a customer portal? Yes, you now have access to a customer portal at:

https://turnerpest.myserviceaccount. com/login

Our secure, easy-to-use customer portal gives you 24/7 access to:
• Pay bills securely
• Manage credit cards
• Request service
• View upcoming service
• View account documents

Will I receive other benefits as a Turner Pest Control customer? Yes! You will now have access to all of our services including our exclusive SMART TurnerGuard package which includes pest control, termite control and digital rodent control. You can also sign up for our customer loyalty program. You will receive 50 points for just signing up, you can also receive 25 points for adding on a new service and will receive points every six months for just being a customer. Once you hit 100 points you will receive $10 credit to your account. We also offer a customer referral program so use our form on our website and when your friend signs up, you will both receive a $25 credit to your account! Log on to www.turnerpest.com and go to the Contact tab to learn more.

CONTACT INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Turner Pest Control, LLC
8400 Baymeadows Way, Suite 12
Jacksonville, Florida 32256

Payment Mailing Address
Turner Pest Control, LLC
P.O. Box 952503
Atlanta, GA 31192-2503
800-344-9190
800-225-5305