Blog/News

Hickory, dickory, dock. The mouse ran across your kitchen countertop.

If you've flicked on the kitchen lights in the morning to see a furry creature scurry away, you aren't alone. Every winter residential homes see an uptick in mouse invasions.

The house mouse—also known as mus musculus—is brown or grey in color, has a scaly tail, and is smaller than 7 inches in length. House mice eat everything from plant matter to meat and can survive in naturally harsh habitats (like tundras or deserts) by seeking shelter and food within human homes.

If a pest control company offers “partial service” for a beg bug problem, they are only partially treating the issue, and the bed bugs will turn up in another room within a matter of weeks. “Bed bugs are hitchhikers and are built to cling to any warm-blooded animal—that includes humans, dogs and cats,” says Crawford. “If you or your pet moves from your bed to your couch, the eggs, nymphs, or bed bug can move with you and begin to colonize in the new spot.” “You want to make sure your entire home and car are treated for bed bugs,” says Crawford.

Winter is a prime time for bugs to move into your home and these 5 things in your house could be drawing them in.

Now that the holiday season is over you may think you are safe from hosting house guests for a while. But you might already have some unannounced visitors living under your roof you don't even know about.

Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) in winter As you’re pulling out sweaters, readying your fireplace, and preparing your home for holiday celebrations, skunks are also scoping out their winter housing options.

The striped skunk is the only species of skunk native to Ohio, and they are found in every county. They typically are black with a white stripe running down the back of their body, but the black hair may sometimes be brown, cream, or white.

The striped skunk is about the size of an average house cat, and males are slightly larger than females. Skunks are nocturnal, but sometimes they can be seen during the day if they’re searching for food for their young or are ill. They are most commonly found in rural areas; however, they are becoming more abundant in suburban and urban areas, as they continue to seek out food and shelter in these regions.

As you put up Halloween decorations and prepare for trick-or-treaters, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for some real creepy crawlers that could be lurking around your yard and home.

Ohio is home to more than 620 species of spiders…and all of them are venomous, except for one. The good news is, most of the time, spiders are not harmful to humans or pets, since the amount of venom they possess is minimal. Spiders have eight legs and two fangs, and they serve an important role in keeping other pest populations under control.

Closeup of a housefly with its reflection in a glass windowThe watermelon has been sliced, corn shucked, and burgers seared to perfection. You finally sit down at the picnic table with your friends and family to enjoy your barbeque, when a massive fly lands on the potato salad. Two more show up on the hamburger buns, and before you know it, you’re swatting flies between bites.