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Bed Bug Prevention

Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown, wingless insects that feed solely upon the blood of warm-blooded animals. Bed bugs and their relatives have evolved as nest parasites. Hatchling bed bugs are the size of poppy seed, and adults are about ¼ of an inch in length. From above, they are oval in shape, but are flattened from top to bottom. A pest control treatment is the only way to get rid of an infestation. It usually takes 2-4 treatments and if left untreated can pose as a health risk.

According to the National Pest Management Association’s 2011 Bed Bug’s in America Survey, 1 out of every 5 American’s has either had a bed bug infestation in their home or knows someone who has encountered them. It’s no surprise that bed bug infestations have become a nation-wide epidemic; most American’s are aware that infestations are on the rise. There are reports of bed bugs by pest management professionals in all 50 states; the percentages being fairly equal among each of the country’s regions.

As bed bug awareness increases, more than 80% of American’s have reported being most concerned about encountering them in hotels. 95% of infestations reports are from apartments/condominiums, 93% in single-family homes, and 75% in hotels/motels. It is not uncommon to find bed bugs in shared spaces such as college dorms, nursing homes, offices, daycare centers, hospitals, etc. For more information on bed bugs, click here.

Feeling Batty

Bats are under federal protection and can be found in almost every country in the world. They typically prefer warmer climates and make their homes in caves, attics, barns and trees. Bats are extremely helpful at controlling insect populations and are the only flying mammals. Even though bats are great for the environment, they can cause quite a disturbance in a home. Bats can leave behind a tremendous amount of droppings and urine, and often carry rabies. Hogarth’s Pest Control works to safely and effectively exclude bats from a structure without harming or killing them, yet protecting your home and family from the dangers and diseases bats can bring along.

Tendencies of Bats

Bats begin mating late in the summer and into the fall, but do not have pups until the spring. Females make their way into structures in attempt to safely care for their pups in groups away from the males. By July, pups wean from their mothers and are able to care for themselves. At this time, it becomes safe for Hogarth’s to exclude bats from a structure. Homeowners typically become aware of bats in their structure by seeing droppings, hearing screeching or squealing, or by seeing a physical bat in their home.

We require a complete bat inspection to evaluate the situation. This is so that we may see where bats are entering and exiting the structure, and what areas of the home need to be excluded to prevent re-infestation. Bats are nocturnal, and under some circumstances a night inspection may be needed. We encourage homeowners to watch for bats that may be exiting the structure around dusk; as this can confirm both an infestation and where entry points on the home are located.

Bat droppings can cause a home to become “sick” if not taken care of properly and in a timely manner. We highly recommend calling Hogarth’s at the first sign of an infestation to keep your home and family safe and bat-free. Hogarth’s Pest Control specializes in safely removing bats while providing homeowners with the tools and tips necessary for avoiding re-infestation in the future. For clients who prefer to have bats around their property, just not in their homes, we can teach them how to safely and properly care for bats in the area while preventing an infestation.

Hogarth’s is your local, specialized, and trusted group of professionals. We work to do everything we can to safely protect you, your family, and your home from bats.