Tag: Exterminator

Like everyone else, there are times when homeowner’s associations are responsible for dealing with pest control problems. Each HOA is different and has different responsibilities for pest control for their properties. If you serve on a homeowner’s association board, chances are at one point or another you’ll have to deal with pest control problems. In today’s blog at Dave’s Pest Control, we talk about some of the common pests that HOA’s have to deal with.

If your business or homeowner’s association is in need of professional and effective pest control services for your property, contact our team at Dave’s Pest Control today for help throughout Flagler and Volusia County.

Roaches

If you ask any group of people what their least favorite pest is, they will likely almost unanimously say “cockroaches.” Roaches are difficult to get rid of, carry diseases, and everyone has a sense of unease when they see one scuttling across the floor of their kitchen.

Termites

Termites are another common pest that Dave’s Pest Control helps homeowner’s associations with. In situations where you are dealing with termites, it’s crucial to act quickly. The longer you wait for pest control services for termites, the more damage they can do to your structures. If termites are left untreated long enough, they can even make the building they have set up shop in dangerous and unstable!

Wildlife Removal

Raccoons, snakes, skunks, squirrels, and other wildlife can sometimes find their way onto the property you manage. You may be tempted to handle these situations on your own, but we encourage you to work with a pest control professional for wildlife removal if it’s not a situation you can easily handle. For example, raccoons may look innocent and cute, but if they feel threatened or trapped, they can become aggressive and dangerous quickly.

Rodents

Rodents are one of the most common pests that we help HOA’s and commercial properties deal with. Rats and mice are often crafty and their infestations can quickly get out of hand. At Dave’s Pest Control, we have years of experience helping homeowner’s associations quickly, safely, and completely remove rodents from their properties. Give us a call today to get a quote and learn more about our pest control services for homeowner’s associations.

Bees

Bees, wasps, and hornets are another type of pest that Dave’s Pest Control often helps HOA’s with. This is because these insects often make a nest in public areas like pools, gyms, garage structures, and anywhere else they find suitable. As an HOA responsible for pest control in public areas, it is best to have bees and other similar insects taken care of right away in order to avoid your residents trying to take care of the issue themselves and getting hurt.

Commercial Pest Control for HOA’s and Dave’s Pest Control

At Dave’s Pest Control, we have years of experience working with all manner of pests. From raccoons to roaches, termites, and more, we can handle it all. If you are a homeowner’s association looking for pest control services you can rely on, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We operate in Southern and Central Florida.

Rats and mice are commonly mistaken for one another. It’s easy to see why, too. They are both rodents, look practically the same, and act very similarly. Most people aren’t concerned with whether the critter in their home is a rat or a mouse, they just want them gone! But for those of you who are curious about the distinctions between the two, today’s blog at Dave’s Pest Control is for you. Keep reading to learn more about the difference between rats and mice and, if you are in need of pest control to remove them from your home, reach out to us right away.

Difference Between Rats and Mice

Lets explore how rats and mice are different from each other. From size to behavior, we will compare everything to make it easy for you to find the differences.

Size

One of the easiest ways to tell a rat from a mouse in the size of the rodent you’re seeing. Obviously, sizes will vary — it’s not unheard of to have a tiny rat or a goliath mouse. But in general, mice tend to be a little bit smaller. On average, mice are about 4 to 8 inches long and rats are generally between 6 and 15 inches long. The bottom line? If the pest is bigger, there is a good chance that it is a rat.

Head

Another great way to distinguish a mouse from a rat is the shape of their head. Mice have a more narrow, triangular-shaped head with long whiskers. Also, mice tend to have larger, floppier ears than their rat counterparts. Rat heads have a more blunt snout rather than a narrow and triangular snout. The ears of a rat are typically smaller than those of mice, too.

Are you looking for pest control services to quickly and safely remove rats from your property? Reach out to us at Dave’s Pest Control now!

Tails

The tails on mice are very long, thin, and hairy. The tails of rats are often hairless and have a scaly appearance. Rat tails are also thicker in appearance than mice’s are. This is partially due to the general size differences between the two rodents. But, even smaller rats don’t have the same thin, wispy size to them. It’s also worth noting that rat tails are usually a pinkish color whereas mice’s tails generally match their color.

Believe it or not, mice are usually quite a bit braver than rats are despite their smaller stature. Mice are much more susceptible to being caught in a mousetrap due to their curious nature. If you see a rodent and they stare at you rather than running away immediately, that bold fella is probably a mouse. Behavior of rats tend to be much more skittish and unwilling to investigate. Unfortunately, this makes them a little more difficult for pest control purposes since they aren’t as likely to fall for a trap.

Droppings

Even if you don’t see the creatures themselves, you can still distinguish whether it is a rat or a mouse from the droppings. Mice tend to have longer, more pointed droppings. Rat droppings are often larger in size and have more rounded ends.

Professional Rat Exterminators

Regardless of whether you are dealing with a rat or mouse, Dave’s Pest Control is the pest control team for the job. Contact us today for help with rodents, get a free estimate and schedule your appointment.

In our previous blog, Termites 101, Dave’s Pest Control gave some basic information about what termites are, termite treatment, and signs of termites. In today’s blog, we dive a little deeper into the signs you can look out for that suggest you may have termites. Keep reading for more in-depth information about termite signs and don’t hesitate to contact us at Dave’s Pest Control for pest control services in southern and central Florida!

Signs of Termites in your Home

These signs would make sure your home is infested by termites and you need urgent termite treatment to safe yourself from financial setback.

Hollow Wood

Termites eat the cellulose that can be found in wood. As the termite infestation continues, the more wood they will eat. One sign that you can keep an eye out for if you suspect you have termites is hollow wood. If you tap or knock on your walls, floors, and other wood surfaces and discover they are hollower than you remembered, you may be in need of termite treatment.

Termite Exit Holes

Termites are very tiny pests, but even tiny pests leave behind evidence — especially pests that are destructive as termites. In the infested wood, if you caught the termites early, you will see pinpoint exit holes about ⅛ of an inch or even smaller. However, it’s much more likely that you will see the exit holes after they have already been sealed. Exit holes are sealed by nymph termites and have a brown cement sort of appearance.

Have you noticed exit holes or hollowness in the wood around your home? Contact a pest control professional at Dave’s Pest Control today.

Droppings

Termites like to keep the areas they are working in free of debris like their own droppings. Because of this, they create small exit holes where they can evacuate their excrement. If you are near an area that you suspect is infested, look for small black mounds around the area. If you spot a small pile that looks like black sawdust or coffee grounds, you have likely stumbled upon termite droppings and are in need of termite treatment.

Wings

As terrifying as it may sound, termite swarms can actually fly. If you don’t actually see a swarm of termites flying around, you may stumble upon their wings. Termites discard their wings shortly after they land and find a new home. Finding termite wings on your property is a good indication that you may have a pest control problem.

Mud Tubes

Some termites are known as “subterranean” termites. This means that the termites are nesting underground and surface to eat. These underground nests serve as protection and help termites maintain the environment that best suits them. Mud tubes are roughly the diameter of a pencil and lead directly from their underground nest to their wooden food source. If you notice small tunnels leading to a shed, wooden patio furniture, or your home, you should reach out to a pest control service right away.

Termite Treatment at Dave’s Pest Control

At Dave’s Pest Control, we have years of experience identifying termite infestations and executing termite treatment. Our pest control team recommends that you do NOT try to deal with termites on your own. The risk associated with termites is too great to risk. If you notice hollowed wood, exit holes, droppings, wings, or mud tubes on your property, reach out to Dave’s Pest Control and get a free estimate right away. We are happy to provide termite control throughout Flagler, Volusia, and Brevard County.

Unfortunately, rodents excel at being stealthy and tough-to-detect. Their stealth and ability to go unnoticed is how they manage to survive. So when they find their way into your home, they can often go unnoticed if you aren’t keeping a vigilant eye out. Luckily, there are a few subtle signs of rodents in your home or business that you can keep an eye out for.

Signs of Rodents in your Home

Check out our top eight signs of rodents at Dave’s Pest Control. And don’t forget to give us a call if you notice any of these signs of rats or mice in your home. Our pest control team can safely and quickly remove and prevent any rodents in your home or business.

Droppings

Mice and rats may be sneaky about being seen, but they don’t seem to have a problem going when they have to go. As gross as this may be, it makes it a lot easier to identify if you have any rodents in your home or business. They leave droppings in cabinets, along walls, in drawers, or other areas that are relatively out of sight. If you suspect that you may have a rodent control problem, spend a little time searching for droppings as evidence. Or, if you stumble across droppings while going about your life, take this as a sign of a rodent problem and call pest control services right away.

Gnawed Food Containers

Rodents are notorious for chewing through cereal box containers, thin plastic bags, or other somewhat flimsy food containers to gain access to the tasty treats inside. If you notice chewed-through boxes and containers, this is another big sign that you may be sharing your home with rodents. Keep a sharp eye out for damaged cereal boxes and other thin food containers — especially the corners.

Chewed or Scratched Areas

Food containers are not the only thing that mice can scratch and claw their way into. Rodents can chew and scratch wood, drywall, baseboards, and other surfaces in your home to find a suitable hiding place. Mice and rats can fit into surprisingly small holes, so holes and scratch marks of any kind may be an indication of a rodent control issue. If you suspect you may have one or more rodents in your home, check around for gnawed wood, small holes, and scratched areas. Places to look include cabinets, along the walls, and other out-of-the-way areas in your home or business.

Nests

Rodents will find a spot that is hidden and out of the way to set up a home base. At this home base, you will find a nest made from paper, trash, fabric, or anything else they can find nearby. Even if you find a nest without a rodent in it, it likely means that there is a rodent creeping about nearby. If you find a rodent’s nest, contact pest control services like our team at Dave’s Pest Control to confirm you have found a rodent’s nest and help remove rodents or mice from your property.

Strange Pet Behavior

Sometimes pets notice there is a pest control problem before people do. Odd pet behavior is another sign that could point to there being rodents or other pests in your home. Cats and dogs may pick up on a subtle scent or even have a sighting or a rodent before we do. After all, they are home a lot more than we are. Cats will stay in one place staring for hours on end as they hunt down the rodent they have picked up on. Dogs can behave similarly, or they can whine, suddenly dart after something, or exhibit other unusual behavior if they have picked up on a rodent.

Sightings

When most people have a rodent sighting, it usually happens so fast they wonder if they even saw anything at all. Mice and rats are very quick. So if you do spot them, it will usually be very briefly out of the corner of your eye. They appear as a dark streak much of the time. Though they can sometimes be seen hiding or slowly making their way along a wall. Sightings are the clearest sign of all that there is a pest control problem. Unfortunately, if you spot one rodent, there is a high chance that there are many more you don’t see.

Things Going Bump in the Night

You may hear mice and rats in your walls and scuttering around at night before you ever see them. Keep an ear out for tiny scampering noises, the rustling of plastic or packaging, a rustling in the garbage, or scratching noises. Isolated incidents of these noises may not necessarily be a sign that you have a rodent control problem. But, if you regularly hear any of these noises, it may be time to call your local pest control professionals.

Urine Smells

Mice and rats themselves often come with a stale, musty odor. Additionally, their urine has a strong ammonia smell. Because it can be difficult to see if you have a rodent control problem, it’s important to trust your other senses as well like sound and smell. If you are noticing a new unpleasant urine smell, it could be a sign that you have a pest control issue.

Dave’s Pest Control

We hope that today’s blog post has armed you with the knowledge you need to identify the signs of a rodent infestation. Rodent control is far easier and more effective the sooner it is detected. The longer a pest control problem like mice and rats go unnoticed, the worse the infestation gets. Knowing the signs and what to look out for can help you prevent needing pest control services for rodents in the future!

No matter how clean and careful you are, though, rodents can sometimes make their way into your home or business. If this is the case for you, be sure to contact us at Dave’s Pest Control sooner and get a free estimate. We have extensive experience and regularly work in Southern and Central Florida.

In our last blog post at Dave’s Pest Control, we talked about great ways to prevent mice and other rodents from entering your home. You can check that helpful blog out here. Expanding on that idea, today’s blog post is all about tips for preventing mice in your business! As always, if you need help from our pest control services to remove and prevent mice or any other pests in your business, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We have years of experience in the pest control industry and work extensively throughout Flagler and Volusia county. If your business is in Port Orange, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, New Smyrna, Deland, or any of the nearby cities, contact Dave’s Pest Control today.

It may seem obvious why you don’t want mice scampering around your business — especially if your business handles food. Mice make even some of the bravest souls a little squeamish. But beyond being uncomfortable to be around, there are countless other reasons why you really don’t want mice in your business. If customers see them, they give the impression that your establishment is unkempt, unhealthy, and frankly, gross. Not to mention the diseases that mice and rats can carry on them. That’s why restaurants are shut down if health inspectors find signs of significant rodent activity.

Tips To Prevent Rats and Mice In Your Business

Rodent control is necessary if you are a self-respecting business, but what can you do to prevent rodents from getting into your business? Keep reading for a few helpful pest control tips.

Keep Your Environment Clean

This pest control tip is probably the most obvious and arguably one of the most effective. Whether your business is an office or a restaurant, cleanliness is key. Mice and rats are scavengers. If there are crumbs of food, garbage with old food they can get into, or trash/mess that they can use for cover, they are going to be more prone to set up shop in your business. Make sure you regularly vacuum up crumbs, throw away garbage, prevent the trash from piling up, and just practice good housekeeping in general. This isn’t something that you have to do on your own, you can have everybody in the office do their part by setting some clear ground rules or hire an outside company to come in nightly for a thorough cleaning.

Minimize Desk Eating

This pest control tip mostly applies to office complexes, but it can be applied to nearly any business. We get it, there are deadlines, things to do, and no time to get it all done. This can make eating at your desk feel like the only option. And as long as you are cleaning up after yourself, this can be a non-issue. But, in general, it’s best to have everyone eat in one centralized location in an effort to contain any mess that comes from food. When everyone eats in an established kitchen or other location, cleaning services (whether that’s you or a company you hired) can take extra care to make sure this is sanitary and cleanly to prevent mice from calling your office home.

Unfortunately, even the best-kept offices can sometimes experience rodent control issues. In cases like these, it’s important to act fast by calling your local pest control professional, Dave’s Pest Control.

Find Possible Entry Points

Just like when you are preventing mice in your home, preventing mice in your business can be as easy as pinpointing the location where rodents are entering your building. Once you find out where they are getting in, it’s as simple as sealing the entrance so they no longer have easy access. Rodents can be crafty creatures, so make sure that you do your best to identify all of the access points they could be entering from. Businesses are typically larger than homes, so there may be multiple different locations they are entering from.

Store Food Properly

Proper food storage is paramount in the prevention of rodents in your business. Whether you are in an office space or a restaurant, ensure that any food being left at the office is stored in a sealed container. Plastic Tupperware works just fine in most cases. Additionally, food should be stored more than 6 inches off the ground. This makes it significantly more difficult for rodents to access your stored food and oftentimes prevents you from needing other pest control services too. Food should never be left out in the open for long periods of time and crumbs, dropped food, or other food messes should be cleaned up right away. This is not only great for rodent control prevention but also good housekeeping practices, in general, that will help keep your workplace a more clean environment.

Proper Handling of Trash

Making sure all of your waste makes it into the wastebasket at work is only half the battle. The other half is actually taking it out to the dumpster or whatever large sealed trash receptacle you have. Office trash cans can have all manner of food, drinks, and other things the rodents are attracted to. Rats and mice see this as an all-you-can-eat buffet just sitting there waiting for them to dig in. Our team at Dave’s Pest Control recommends taking out trash regularly and often. At the very least, all the trash in the office should be emptied nightly to prevent it from sitting overnight.

Pro Tip: Make sure the dumpster area is free of trash and other debris on the ground as well. You may think nothing of rodents being in your outside trash, but they can quickly push further into your business from the dumpster.

Early Detection

Like we mentioned earlier, rodents are crafty and tenacious creatures. Even if you follow all of these tips, there is still a chance that mice and rats can make their way into your business. While the chances are greatly reduced if you are following these pest control prevention tips, it is still possible. In cases like these, early detection is key. Keep an eye out for signs of rodents like droppings, chewed through food containers, gnaw marks, scampering noises, sightings of even one rodent, and nests. If you even suspect that a mouse or rat has made their way into your business, don’t risk it — reach out to us at Dave’s Pest Control right away. We can further investigate to identify if there is a rodent control problem and swiftly resolve the issue. Even if there isn’t an existing rodent infestation, we can help you fortify your business against rodents.

Call Dave’s Pest Control

Dave’s Pest Control has years of pest control experience and has built a respectable reputation throughout Florida for our quality service. Whether you suspect that a rodent may have made its way into your establishment or you stumble upon a large-scale rodent infestation, we are the pest control team you can trust to get the job done. Contact us today to learn more and to start your rodent control services.

At Dave’s Pest Control, it’s no surprise that we come across all manner of pests here in Florida. At least in the Port Orange area, it’s almost always warm and very humid — just what pests love! In today’s blog, our pest control team talks a little bit about the most common pests that we encounter on a day-to-day basis. To learn more about Dave’s Pest Control or to recruit our pest control services, feel free to reach out to us at any time. We operate out of Port Orange and provide pest control services all throughout Flagler County, Volusia County, and more! 

Mosquito Control

If you live in Florida or have ever visited Florida for more than a few days, then you know just how bad the mosquito problems can be in some areas. That’s where our professional mosquito control team steps in. But rather than using harmful DEET that kills much more than mosquitos, we use the proven-effective In2Care® system. This method has proven itself to be a highly effective mosquito control technique that eliminates mosquitoes from your property and prevents them from coming back, without harming other life in the area.

To learn more about our In2Care® mosquito control system, contact us at Dave’s Pest Control today.

Cockroach Removal

Unfortunately, another pest that our team commonly comes across is the cockroach. Cockroach extermination can be tricky. This is especially true if the infestation has had time to develop further. Cockroaches are resilient and often go unnoticed until the infestation is practically out of control. If you have seen or suspect that you may have cockroaches in your home or commercial property, it is best to call a roach exterminator sooner rather than later. The sooner the infestation is addressed, the easier it will be to remove it. Some residents and business owners believe they can deal with cockroach extermination on their own, but we urge you to contact a pest control professional. It is simply not worth risking the safety of others on your property.

Palmetto Bug Extermination

Palmetto bugs should be treated the same as you would a cockroach infestation. This is because Palmetto bugs are, in fact, the species of cockroach — the American Cockroach. This subspecies of roach is common in the Port Orange and surrounding areas. Our team at Dave’s Pest Control has years of experience with Palmetto bug extermination. If your home or business has any sign of these pests, be sure to contact our pest control team right away.

Bed Bug Treatment

Another form of pest that we often see are bed bugs. Bed bugs, like many other pests, can get out of control very quickly if left untreated. Bed bugs leave their victims itchy and with little red bumps. Not to mention the psychological damage of knowing that there are tiny critters in your bed. Most commonly, bed bug treatment is done with powerful chemicals that exterminate the bed bugs and their eggs. In some extreme cases though, we have the option to bring in a fumigator to fumigate the entire property if need be.

Rodent Control

When most people think pest control services, they think rats, mice, and other rodents. There isn’t a pest control team in the country that doesn’t commonly offer rodent control. This is because mice are so adaptable, can take root in a variety of environments, and are exceptional at going undetected for long periods of time. If there are few enough of them, you may not even notice they are there unless they are eating food items that you commonly use. There are some over-the-counter methods that work fairly well if your problem is fairly minor. However, if your rodent control problem gets out of hand, be sure to reach out to our professional rodent control team at Dave’s Pest Control out of Port Orange.

Dave’s Pest Control

And there you have it! Those are the five most common pests that our pest control team encounters in our work throughout Flagler and Volusia counties. If you have any questions about what pests we treat, where we operate, or anything else at all, feel free to contact our pest control team at Dave’s Pest Control directly!