Aug 14, 2020, 08:19 AM by Fred Speer

For years Clark, your friendly pest control, termite, and lawn care expert, has been eliminating pests in customer’s homes. These unwanted visitors have proven many times to not only be a nuisance, but pose a potential threat to the safety of your family and the structural integrity of your home.

During the current coronavirus crisis, Clark Pest Control remains committed to safeguarding people, food, and structures from pests. We have gone above and beyond to protect our employees and out customers by using personal protective equipment during service visits, practicing social distancing, calling ahead with notifications, and strictly adhering to all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

That said, pests such as mice, cockroaches, and flies do not care about the global pandemic. Their goal is survival, and that means continuing to seek sources of food, water and harborage inside a home.

Tony Garcia, manager of Clark Pest Control’s Concord branch east of San Francisco, says that pest activity hasn’t let up and that customers need essential pest control services.

“Rodent pressure is up, since some of their naturally occurring food sources [garbage from restaurants and businesses] have disappeared and they are actively searching for food,” he says. “This leads them to attempt to access nearby homes or apartment buildings in search of food.”

How do Garcia and Clark’s highly trained technicians across California plan on foiling pests? By taking the fight to the pests’ front door and stopping them before they have a chance to get inside.

“Unless there is an emergency service that needs to be performed inside a home, we are focusing on exterior treatments where most pests originate from,” Garcia explains. “We start with a thorough inspection of the exterior premises, noting signs of pest activity such as ant trails, spider webs, or stinging insect nests.”

Exterior dwelling pests, including cockroaches, termites, ants, rodents, spiders, and flies, along with occasional invaders such as earwigs, usually access a home through cracks in the foundations, openings in window or vent screens, or through an open door or window.

“By targeting our treatments outdoors where pests live, and working with customers to make sure structural repairs and good landscaping and sanitation practices are done, we can stop pests before they cross the threshold into your home,” Garcia adds.

What can you do to lessen the pest threat on the exterior of your house?

• Reduce pest harborage areas: Don’t overdo it with plants and mulch around your home. These provide pests with an ideal place to nest.
  
  
• Keep vegetation trimmed: Trim shrubs and bushes and form a barrier – rocks are ideal – around your foundation. Don’t forget to trim tree limbs as well. Roof rats will use a limb that comes in contact with a roof to find access points into your attic.
  
  
• Eliminate excess moisture: Fix broken sprinkler systems, repair leaky faucets, and don’t let moisture build up – pests thrive on moisture.
  
  
• Seal entry points: Replace torn window screens or exhaust vents, fill cracks and holes in the foundation around utility openings, and keep doors and windows closed to deny pests access.

Call or text Clark at (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) if pests are making an assault on your home. We have the tools, techniques, and training that are expertly designed to deliver an effective exterior treatment. You can also email us at clarkcares@clarkpest.com for more information.

Until next time, the pest management professionals at Clark Pest Control thank you for helping to keep unwanted pests out of your home and yard.