As the leaves change and temperatures begin to cool in Highland, CA, many pests start seeking warm shelter indoors, making fall the perfect time for pest proofing your home. Taking proactive steps now can save you from dealing with unwanted houseguests like rodents, insects, and other critters throughout the winter. This guide provides essential tips for fall pest proofing your Highland home.

Why Fall is Prime Time for Pest Infestations

Several factors contribute to increased pest activity in the fall:

• Cooling Temperatures: As temperatures drop, pests seek refuge from the cold, making your warm home an attractive target.
• Decreased Food Availability Outdoors: As food sources become scarce outdoors, pests are drawn to the food and water available inside your home.
• Seeking Winter Harborage: Many pests look for protected places to overwinter, such as attics, wall voids, and crawl spaces.

Key Areas to Focus on When Pest Proofing

Effective fall pest proofing involves addressing potential entry points and eliminating attractants:

1. Seal Entry Points: This is the most crucial step. Thoroughly inspect your home’s exterior for any cracks, gaps, or holes. Pay close attention to:

• Foundation: Seal cracks in the foundation with caulk or concrete sealant.
• Windows and Doors: Install or repair weather stripping around windows and doors. Replace damaged screens.
• Pipes and Utility Lines: Seal gaps around pipes and utility lines where they enter the house.
• Vents: Ensure vents are properly screened.

2. Eliminate Food and Water Sources: Pests are attracted to food and water. Take the following steps:

• Store Food Properly: Store food in airtight containers, both in the pantry and refrigerator.
• Clean Regularly: Clean up spills and crumbs promptly. Keep counters, floors, and other surfaces clean.
• Manage Garbage: Keep garbage cans tightly sealed and dispose of trash regularly.
• Fix Leaks: Repair any leaky faucets or pipes.

3. Landscape Maintenance: Overgrown vegetation and debris can provide harborage for pests.

• Trim Vegetation: Trim shrubs and trees away from your home’s foundation.
• Remove Debris: Clear away leaf litter, fallen branches, and other debris from your yard.
• Store Firewood Properly: Store firewood at least 20 feet away from your house and off the ground.

4. Inspect Common Harborage Areas: Check these areas for signs of pest activity:

• Attics and Crawl Spaces: Look for droppings, nests, or other signs of rodents or insects.
• Garages and Sheds: These areas can provide shelter for various pests.
• Storage Areas: Check stored items for signs of insect infestation.

5. Professional Pest Control Inspection: A professional pest control inspection is highly recommended. Call the Craig & Sons office today at 909-335-1486 to speak with one of our schedulers. Our trained technicians can identify potential entry points and harborage areas that you might miss and recommend tailored preventative measures. For Highland, CA residents, our pest control experts are especially beneficial as they understand the regional pest pressures.

Protecting Your Highland Home This Fall:

Fall pest proofing is a proactive approach to pest control that can save you from headaches and costly infestations later. By taking the time to implement these preventative measures, you can create a less inviting environment for pests and enjoy a pest-free home throughout the fall and winter seasons in Highland, CA. If you suspect an existing infestation or want professional assistance with pest proofing, contact a reputable pest control company in your area.

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Ticks are small, parasitic arachnids that pose a significant health risk to both humans and animals. They are found throughout the Inland Empire. These tiny creatures are known to transmit various diseases, making it crucial to understand their habits, habitats, and how to prevent encounters. Craig & Sons technicians are specially trained and equipped to identify and treat tick infestations for your safety.

What are Ticks?

Ticks are not insects but belong to the arachnid family, which also includes spiders and mites. They have eight legs (six in their larval stage) and a flat, oval-shaped body. Ticks go through four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. They require a blood meal at each stage to develop. Different tick species vary in size, color, and preferred hosts.

How Ticks Travel

Ticks are not capable of flying or jumping. Instead, they employ a strategy called “questing.” They climb onto low-lying vegetation, such as grass or shrubs, and extend their front legs, waiting for a host to brush by. When a host comes into contact, the tick quickly grabs on and begins searching for a suitable place to bite. Ticks can be transported long distances by migrating birds and mammals.

Where Ticks Live

Ticks thrive in wooded areas, tall grasses, brush, and leaf litter. They prefer humid environments and are often found in areas with dense vegetation that provides shade and moisture. In Southern California, ticks are commonly found in hiking trails, parks, and even suburban gardens with ample vegetation. They are most active during warmer months, but some species can remain active year-round in milder climates.

What Ticks Eat

Ticks are obligate hematophages, meaning they feed exclusively on blood. They attach themselves to a host and use their specialized mouthparts to pierce the skin and draw blood. The feeding process can last several days, depending on the tick species and life stage. Ticks can feed on a wide range of hosts, including mammals (deer, rodents, humans, pets), birds, and reptiles. Humans are not exempt. A tick can pierce human skin and draw blood for its food.

Dangers to Humans

Ticks are vectors for several serious diseases, including:

• Lyme Disease: This bacterial infection is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (deer tick) in the eastern US and the western blacklegged tick in the western US. Symptoms can include a characteristic “bull’s-eye” rash, fever, fatigue, joint pain, and neurological problems if left untreated.
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF): This bacterial disease is transmitted by the American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, and brown dog tick. Symptoms can include fever, headache, rash, muscle pain, and nausea.
• Ehrlichiosis: This bacterial infection is transmitted by the lone star tick. Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue.
• Anaplasmosis: This bacterial infection is transmitted by the blacklegged tick. Symptoms are similar to ehrlichiosis.

Dangers to Animals

Ticks can also transmit diseases to pets, including:

• Lyme Disease: Dogs can develop Lyme disease, which can cause joint pain, lameness, and kidney problems.
• Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis: These diseases can also affect dogs, causing similar symptoms to those seen in humans.
• Tick Paralysis: Certain tick species produce a toxin that can cause paralysis in dogs and other animals.

Prevention and Control

Preventing tick bites is the best way to reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases. When spending time outdoors in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, we recommend the following precautions:

• Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks.
• Tuck pants into socks and wear long sleeves.
• Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone.  
• After spending time outdoors, perform a thorough tick check on yourself, your children, and your pets.
• Remove any attached ticks promptly using fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk the tick.   
• Consult your veterinarian about tick prevention products for your pets.

Call the Craig & Sons office at 909-335-1486 to schedule an inspection of your home or business as soon as possible. If you experience symptoms after a tick bite, consult a healthcare professional immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for preventing serious complications from tick-borne diseases.

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Living in the Inland Empire offers many perks: beautiful weather, stunning beaches, and a vibrant lifestyle. However, it also comes with its fair share of unwanted guests. From the tiny to the terrifying, a variety of pests can invade your home, causing discomfort and potential health risks. In this blog post, we’ll delve into some of the most common household pests in Riverside and offer tips on prevention and control.

Cockroaches: The Uninvited Guests

Cockroaches are perhaps one of the most dreaded household pests. These resilient insects thrive in warm, humid environments, making dark areas around your home an ideal breeding ground. They are known to carry various diseases and can trigger allergies in some individuals.

• Prevention Tips:
  • Cleanliness is Key: Regularly clean up crumbs, spills, and food debris, especially in the kitchen and dining areas.
  • Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home for cracks and crevices and seal them up to prevent cockroach entry.
  • Proper Storage: Store food in airtight containers to limit access for cockroaches.
  • Reduce Moisture: Fix leaky pipes and use dehumidifiers to reduce moisture levels in your home.

Ants: Tiny Invaders

Ants are another common household pest in Southern California. There are thousands of species. While they may seem harmless, ant infestations can quickly become a nuisance and destructive. Different types of ants, such as carpenter ants and pharaoh ants, can cause varying levels of damage to your home.

• Prevention Tips:
  • Food Storage: Keep food in airtight containers to discourage ants.
  • Clean Up Spills: Promptly clean up spills to eliminate food sources for ants.
  • Outdoor Barriers: Use ant baits and barriers around your home’s foundation to deter ants.
  • Professional Treatment: For severe infestations, consider professional pest control services.

Spiders: The Silent Lurkers

Spiders are a natural part of the Riverside, CA ecosystem, but some species can pose a threat to humans. You may encounter various spider species, including black widows and brown recluse spiders.

• Prevention Tips:
  • Reduce Clutter: Cluttered areas provide hiding places for spiders.
  • Seal Entry Points: Seal cracks and crevices to prevent spiders from entering your home.
  • Regular Cleaning: Vacuum regularly to remove spider webs and eggs.
  • Outdoor Lighting: Use yellow or amber outdoor lighting, as these colors are less attractive to insects, which spiders prey on.

Other Common Pests in Riverside, CA

In addition to cockroaches, ants, and spiders, other common household pests in Riverside include:

• Termites: These wood-destroying insects can cause significant damage to homes.
• Bed Bugs: These tiny pests feed on human blood and can cause itchy bites and sleep disturbances.
• Rodents: Mice and rats can contaminate food and spread diseases.
• Flies: Fruit flies, house flies, and other types of flies can be a nuisance and carry diseases.

Professional Pest Control: Your Best Defense

While preventive measures can help reduce the risk of pest infestations, professional pest control services offer effective solutions for eliminating existing infestations and preventing future problems. A qualified Craig & Sons pest control technician can identify the specific pests infesting your home, recommend appropriate treatment methods, and perform routine preventative maintenance.

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Rattlesnakes, friend or foe, you may ask yourself. From a very far, far, far distance they can be considered a friend as they help to control the populations of rodents, but up close they are typically thought of as a dangerous foe due to their bite. We wouldn’t recommend a rattlesnake as an exterminator of your rodent problem. Instead, contact us here at Craig & Sons and we will handle your rodent problem (and snake problem if one has become an unwanted visitor) for you. But since summer is here and rattlesnakes are known to make an appearance both in the wild and in the not so wild we thought it might be a good time to learn a little bit more about mother nature’s music makers.

Rattlesnake Description

In North and South America there are over 32 species of rattlesnake, which allows them to vary in color and size (from 1 to 8 feet long, and 2 to 15 pounds). They are distinguished by their triangle shaped head and black slit eyes. Their skin is made up of the same material as our fingernails and their rattles do not develop until after the first time they shed their skin. You can calculate the amount of times they have shed their skin by counting the number of rattles on their tail.

Egg laying or live birth?

Wait a minute – both! Though it is true that rattlesnakes birth live snakes, it is also true that the mother snakes lay eggs. They do so inside themselves, then the egg hatches and out comes baby snake. Once out in the open the baby is then expected to fend for itself as soon as it can. This makes them venomous and aggressive, along with being a cute little baby.

Rattlesnake Diet

For the most part rattlesnakes eat mice, rabbits, rats, or ground squirrels. They will also feed on birds, eggs, reptiles, amphibians, insects, small kittens and puppies, and quite a bit of water. So, if your home or neighborhood has any of these populations keep an eye out for rattlesnakes as they may not be too far away. However, rattlesnakes eat approximately once every two weeks, so your rodent population may not diminish very noticeably if a snake is also around.

Snake bites

Hopefully when you encounter a rattlesnake you stay calm and walk very slowly away, do not run. We repeat, DO NOT RUN! If you happen to get bitten by a rattler, take some solace in knowing that less than 4 people die from bites a year, however they can be extremely painful and can damage tissue severely. After feeling a little better knowing this, call the California Poison Control System at 1-800-222-1222 for assistance. They will advise you to head out to the nearest emergency room or treatment center. Before you head to the emergency room do gently wash the wound area and apply a cold wet cloth over the bite. Go to the nearest emergency room or treatment center and call them ahead of your arrival to alert them that a snake bite is on the way. And before leaving the snake, if you can SAFELY get a picture of the snake try to do so, this can help identify the snake type and aid in treatment.

Rattlesnakes are a beautiful part of the ecosystem but are not necessarily the neighbor or pest control representative that we would like to hire. For snake, rodent and all other pest control needs contact us and know you’ll be hiring a friendly representative that won’t bite.

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