Every October my phone starts ringing with the same story. “Ed, I heard scratching in the ceiling last night.” Or, “I found droppings behind the coffee maker.” That’s no coincidence. When the nights turn cool across Salem, Gloucester and Cumberland counties, mice start looking for somewhere warm with food nearby, and your house checks both
Mice Are Moving In: How to Get Ahead of Them This Fall Read More »
Back in July I asked on Nextdoor, “Anyone else’s yellow jackets out of control this summer?” Judging by the calls that followed, a lot of you said yes. So let’s go deeper on why stinging insects ramp up as summer goes on, how to spot a nest before you mow over it, and when it’s
Yellow Jackets in South Jersey: Why Nests Get Worse in Late Summer Read More »
In August I posted about why mosquitoes seemed worse than ever: summer heat plus summer rain makes ideal breeding conditions across Salem, Gloucester and Cumberland counties. A lot of folks figure the problem ends once the weather cools off. It doesn’t. Here’s what’s going on, what the state is saying this fall, and what you
Why Mosquitoes Hang On So Long in South Jersey (and What Actually Helps) Read More »
This summer I posted a reminder that ants, wasps, mosquitoes and ticks all pick up when the weather warms up. Of those four, ticks are the one I get the most worried questions about, and for good reason. They’re tiny, they’re easy to miss, and they carry disease. Here’s what you should know about ticks
Ticks in South Jersey Yards: When They’re Active and How to Cut Your Risk Read More »
Every spring I get the same call. “Ed, there’s a bunch of flying bugs by my window and a pile of wings on the sill. Are those termites?” Sometimes the answer is no, they’re flying ants. Sometimes it’s yes. Either way, it’s worth knowing the difference and knowing what to do next. And while swarm
Spring Termite Swarms in South Jersey: Flying Ants or Termites? Read More »
If the sunny side of your house is crawling with brown, shield-shaped bugs right about now, you’re not alone. Every fall, stink bugs, boxelder bugs and a few other “fall invaders” pile onto warm walls across Salem, Gloucester and Cumberland counties, looking for a way inside for the winter. They don’t wreck your house, but
Stink Bugs and Other Fall Invaders: Keeping Them Out of Your South Jersey Home Read More »
When the cold sets in, it’s not just mice looking for a warm spot. Every winter I get calls about thumping in the attic, scratching in the walls at dawn and something living under the deck. In South Jersey, with our mix of woods, farm fields and older homes, raccoons, squirrels and bats all find
Winter Wildlife in the Attic: Raccoons, Squirrels and Bats in South Jersey Read More »