Jul 7, 2016, 11:00 AM by Fred Speer

Summer’s now shifting into top gear, with high temperatures and dry conditions eliminating moisture sources. This means that ants, flies, rodents, cockroaches, and other pests will be seeking more ideal living conditions inside your home, where resources are far more plentiful.

The Clark Man subscribes to the theory that the best pest is one that doesn’t have the opportunity to invade your living space to become a nuisance, or threat, to you and your family.

Pests are opportunists. They look for ways to leave their outdoor harborages and enter your home in search of food, water, and a comfier place to call home. Taking the fight to where pests live outside your home is the most effective way of maintaining a pest-free environment inside your home.

Pests can gain access to your home in a variety of ways, and the Clark Man employs the latest integrated pest management practices to target pests before they can make their way into your kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom.

Just like with your favorite sports team, the key to a winning pest prevention program is a good offense blended with a solid defense. Clark Pest Control’s highly trained service specialists start with a thorough inspection of the exterior of your home to identify where pests may be living, and if there are any “weak spots” in your home’s pest defense shield.

Seven Tips to Keep Pests Out of Your Home

1. Trim overgrown trees and shrubs at least three feet from buildings; be careful of using too much mulch near the foundation, because it can provide an ideal harborage for rodents, ants, cockroaches, and termites
2. Relocate piles of firewood or other landscape materials – which can serve as the perfect home for ants, rodents, and nuisance wildlife – away from the structure
3. Pet food dishes and bird feeders can attract a variety of pests, and should be brought inside when not in use, or located high enough off the ground so pests cannot easily access them
4. Keep tight-fitting lids on trash cans, as exposed garbage provides a convenient dinner buffet for rodents, flies, and nuisance wildlife
5. Seal all cracks and crevices – even those measuring 1/8-inch wide – in the foundation so they won’t provide pests with a “free pass” inside your home
6. Remove standing water and excessive moisture that can attract pests, including ants, mosquitoes, and cockroaches
7. Eliminate openings around door frames and windows, and replace torn screens that give flying insects a clear flight path to your living space

By addressing these potential weak links and trouble spots, you can prevent a pest infestation from establishing a foothold.

If you are having issues with pests invading your living space, call or text (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339), or drop me an email at clarkcares@clarkpest.com.

 

Until next time I’m the Clark Man, and thanks for helping me keep unwanted pests out of your home.