Fleas

Fleas are wingless insects with mouth-parts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. Fleas are external parasites, and survive predominately off the blood of mammals (including bats and humans) and birds. They are often discovered indoors in floor cracks & crevices, along baseboards, under rug edges and in furniture or beds.

Fleas are small, approximately 1/16 to 1/8-inch long, agile, and very often dark in color. The flea body is hard, polished, and covered with many hairs and short spines, directed backward. The tough body is able to withstand great pressure. Their legs are long, and the hind pair are well adapted for jumping. In fact, this common pest control problem can jump vertically up to 7 inches, and horizontally up to 13 inches. This is around 200 times their own body length, making the flea one of the best jumpers of all known animals (relative to body size), second only to the froghopper.

Fleas not only cause an insect control problem for people and pets, they also act as a vector for disease. Fleas can cause severe medical problems, which include flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), secondary skin irritations and, in extreme cases, anemia, tapeworms, and stomach flu. As well, fleas can transmit the bubonic plague and many other diseases, from humans to rodents, rodents to humans; and from animals to humans.

Read more about the flea.

Pocket Gophers

Because this rodent is equipped with two exterior, fur-lined cheek pouches to carry food materials, it has earned the name Pocket gopher.

The Pocket gopher is a vegetarian, feeding primarily on plant roots and tubers. As such, this rodent typically causes pest control problems in yards and gardens, by feeding upon garden crops, flowers, shrubs and trees.

Pocket gophers are subterranean, burrowing rodents who live a lifestyle of digging and tunneling. An intensely solitary pest, the Pocket gopher will construct extensive burrows, which can extend from 200 to 2,000 square feet.

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Eastern Grey Squirrel

The most common variety of squirrel encountered in North American urban areas, is the Eastern Gray squirrel; or Grey squirrel as it is known in Canada. This rodent pest has spread across the United States, and is often seen in city parks, backyards of homes (urban) and on farmlands (rural). In fact, the Eastern Grey squirrel has largely displaced the native Red squirrel, in many regions.

Characteristically covered in gray fur, the Grey squirrel can also appear to have a reddish color. This species of squirrel, also has a white underside, with a big bushy tail. The total head and body length (including tail), ranges from 32 cm to 55 cm.

The Eastern Grey squirrel commonly builds a type of nest, known as a drey, in the forks of trees. However, homeowners and tenants may need the help of an exterminator, to remove this pest from the attic or the inside of walls; if their home becomes the target of an invasion.

Read more about Eastern Grey squirrels.

Squirrels

Squirrels belong to a large family of small to medium-sized rodents, which includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots (including woodchucks), flying squirrels; and prairie dogs.

Squirrels are often discovered in North and South America, Europe, Africa and Australia. Occaisionally, these rodents will invade houses, dwellings and buildings, subsequently creating a pest control problem for unsuspecting homeowners; and a job for a local exterminator.

The squirrels' diet consists primarily of plant food, including nuts, seeds, conifer cones, fruits, fungi; and green vegetation. In some instances, squirrels may also consume meat, especially when faced with starvation. In fact, many species of squirrels will eat insects, eggs, small birds, smaller rodents and young snakes.

Read more about the Squirrel.

Deer Mouse

These rodent pests are very agile jumpers and runners, by comparison to the house mouse, as their common name "Deer mouse" (coined in 1833); would suggest.

Deer mice are only distantly related to the common house mouse. Although closely resembling other species of mice, the Deer mouse has larger eyes and (often) two-tone coloring, which is typically a darker color over the back; with a white abdomen.

The Deer mouse is a known carrier of the hantavirus, lyme disease and bubonic plague. As such, this rodent pest has become a pest control problem, and the subsequent target of exterminators and homeowners; in much of the western United States.

Read more about Deer Mice.

House Mouse

The House mouse is a small rodent, measuring approximately 5 to 8 inches in length; including the tail. Often found living in close proximity to humans, the House mouse is common in or around houses and fields.

House mice are known to create pest control problems, by consuming and contaminating food supplies; and animal feed. Furthermore, these pests may need exterminating, if there is danger of (considerable) damage to crops and property; or the spread of sickness and disease.

Read more about the House mouse.

Brown Rat

Likely originating from Asia, the Brown rat was introduced to other parts of the world; in the Middle Ages. Today, the Brown rat can be found on all continents of the World; with the exception of the Arctic, Antarctica, isolated islands and the Canadian city of Calgary AB.

The Brown rat is usually brown or dark grey in color. It's body size can reach ten inches, with a tail that is often equal in size. Although there have been reports of rats "as big as cats", on average they can weigh twelve to nineteen ounces.

It is not uncommon to discover "social groups" of this rodent, with numbers that could reach (up to) sixty members. Such an infestation, would require a fast and focused exterminating strategy; to properly control and eliminate. The notion that there are as many rats in a city as people, is dependant upon such variables; as climate and living conditions. For example, the aging infrastructure, high moisture and poverty rate in New York City, continues to contribute to that city's rodent pest problem.

Read more about the Brown rat.

Roof Rat

The Roof rat prefers warm climates, and very likely to reside within 100 miles of a coastline. Although very common in most parts of Phoenix Arizona, the Roof rat has been discovered along the southern U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coast states; from Virginia to Texas and throughout Florida.

Because Roof rats are known to transmit disease, eat household food supplies and damage structures/dwellings, they are a serious cause for concern; for many homeowners.

Trapping this rodent is often an exterminator's recommended method of pest control, especially if there are small children, pets or elderly; present in the home.

Read more about the Roof rat.

Mice

The most common species of mice pest, known to invade American homes for food and shelter; are the:

• House mouse
• American White-footed mouse
• Deer mouse

Often, these rodents become the target of an exterminator when they damage or eat crops, cause structural damage to buildings; or spread sickness and diseases.

Read more about mice.

Rats

Rats are typically distinguishable from other rodents, by their size. In many cases, rats are notably larger.

Generally referred to as “Old World rats” or “True rats“, these pests are opportunistic survivors; and are commonly discovered living near humans.

The most common rat species are the:

• Roof rat (Black rat), and
• Brown rat

Known to cause serious damage to food supplies (including other goods), and contribute to the spread of sickness and disease, rats and other rodents have become a common concern; for homeowners, exterminating companies and pest control professionals.

Read more about rats.

Rodents

Approximately forty percent of the mammal species are considered rodents. Familiar examples include:

• rats,
• mice,
• chipmunks; and
• squirrels.

The most common characteristic of rodents, is the two (continuously growing) incisors, in the upper and lower jaws; used to gnaw wood, gain access to food, and bite predators.

Because many rodents eat or destroy human food supplies and spread sickness or disease, they are often the target of your local exterminator or pest control professional.

Read more about rodents.