Bats – The Facts And The Fiction

On October 30, 2014 / Blog

Bats are a familiar symbol of Halloween and since that ghoulish holiday is tomorrow, I thought I would take a moment to fill you in on the facts and the fiction behind these very interesting creatures.

Personally I think that bats are super cute. I’m not afraid of them and in general I think they get a bad rap. Take a look at some of the pictures and info below. Maybe I can convert you into a bat lover too.

FICTION

Vampire Bat

Blind as a bat – They use echolocation to navigate but they can still see.
All bats have rabies – False. Less than 1% of bats have rabies.
Bats will drink your blood – Nope. There is such a thing as a vampire bat. They feed off of cows, chickens and other animals. They make a small incision in the skin with their teeth and then lap up the blood with their tongue. They do not swoop down onto a human, bite their neck and suck the blood.
Bats are a major pest – Not really. Bats are very beneficial. They help control insects like mosquitoes. And who doesn’t like that?
- Bats are dirty – They are really fairly clean. Bats groom themselves much like a cat.

FACTS

Malayan Flying Fox Bat

Bats are the only flying mammal.
Bats can eat up to 1000 mosquitoes in an hour.
Bats live an average of 10 to 20 years but it’s not unusual for a bat to live 30+ years.
The largest bat is the Malayan Flying Fox. It weighs about 2 pounds and can have a 6 foot wingspan.
The smallest bat is the Kitti’s Hog-Nosed Bat. It weighs about as much as a dime and has a wingspan of about 6 inches.

Kitti’s Hog-Nosed Bat

Is Dracula disguising himself as a bat?

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In the past bats and vampires were thought to be combined. The video sequence above shows Dracula changing into a bat in order to make his escape. I don’t think they do this as much in movies anymore but the bats in the picture below make me think they could easily turn into a debonair Dracula style vampire!

It is possible that a bat may find its way into your attic. If this happens don’t panic. There are companies that will remove the bats for you. Once this is done you may want to consider having some exclusion work done. Exclusion basically means you are making your home ‘bat proof’ and fixing the area where the bats were able to gain access. Poison is not used for bat control. Many species of bat are found in our area and some are protected by state law so contact a professional for help. If you suspect bats call Rapid Pest Solutions.

Scary Videos and Cute Costumes / Rapid Brings You Halloween

On October 27, 2014 / Blog

As the weather cools down the insect activity slows down. However, it is always ‘summer’ in your home. Pests will be looking for a warm retreat. Remember to contact Rapid Pest Solutions for any pest concerns you have, both bugs and mice.

The time for ghost stories, costumes, tricks and treats is here. It’s time for Halloween! As I was thinking about what to include in this blog I thought that Rapid could share some Halloween fun with you.

Below are four movies that involve creepy crawlies. Have you seen them?

Eight Legged Freaks – It just wouldn’t be Halloween without a movie about giant spiders. In this movie a noxious chemical has caused some poisonous spiders to increase to mega size!
Mimic – Imagine discovering that roaches are carrying a deadly disease and someone genetically creates an insect to kill those roaches. Now imagine the worst possible outcome…the new insects begin coming after mankind. This is that movie.
Empire of the Ants – Giant ants take over some real estate in the Florida Everglades. Just think of your typical 1970’s B horror movie.
The Fly – I personally like this one. An experiment gone wrong leads to a man/fly hybrid. It’s pretty gross.

Can’t get enough creepy movies? Check out this list of 100 Killer Animal/Insect Movies provided by IMDB.com.

Although we needn’t worry about the movies above coming true, there are plenty of real life horrors that we could worry about. I am including two of the most disturbing YouTube videos involving bugs invading the human body. Be warned – These videos are graphic.

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Since I wouldn’t want those images to be the last thing you remember from this blog, lets look at some of the cutest costumes for kids and pets.

Rapid Pest Solutions wishes you a Happy Halloween filled with wonderful treats and not to many tricks.

9 Helpful Hints For Dealing With Mice

On October 8, 2014 / Blog

Do You Have A Mouse In Your House?

Let’s hope not! But if you find that you have some uninvited visitors Rapid Pest Solutions is here to help. We offer a 5 Month Winter Seasonal Program to control rodent activity in your home. Contact us for details.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Store garbage in metal or heavy-duty plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Keep kitchens clean and food stored in secure containers. Also, keep any pet food or bird seed sealed as well.
Keep yards clean so that mice don’t have shelter or food. This includes cleaning up weeds, trash piles and garbage.
Inspect buildings carefully, especially in the early fall. Make sure there are no holes or cracks for mice to gain entrance. This is one of the most important things you can do to protect your home.
Take advantage of seasonal change. Make sure that rodents are controlled during winter and there will be fewer around to breed in the spring. This can help prevent a year of problems.

I SOLVED MY PROBLEM – NOW HOW DO I CLEAN UP?

Mice are known to carry salmonella and other diseases. If you find that you have a mouse problem, clean up is important. Mice leave urine and feces everywhere they go and are probably tracking it around with their feet as well.

When cleaning up after mice you should wear gloves.
Sweep up the area and dispose of the waste.
Clean the area with a disinfectant or bleach mixture.
Be sure to launder any clothing or bedding that may be contaminated.
Make sure to thoroughly wash your hands after cleaning and disposing of the waste.

Rodent Program Quote

What I Learned From Ferris Bueller

On September 13, 2014 / Blog

Or, How I Learned To Stop And Smell The Roses

Most of my blogs are full of words, either teaching, descriptive or how-to. This time my blog is going to be mostly visual. There are so many beautiful and very interesting things that surround us every day. In this business it is easy to forget how amazing nature is and think only of getting the pests to stop ‘pestering’ you. I would like to take the opposite view this time and see the interesting, beautiful and very cool world around us.

How do you start your day? Maybe getting the kids off to school? Commuting to your job? Running errands? Everyday we do hundreds of mindless tasks – tasks that we complete on autopilot. How often do we really stop and look at the world around us? At all the beautiful and really cool things in nature. If you’re like me, then the answer is, not enough. As Ferris Bueller said “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Ferris Bueller

I am going to show you some pretty cool things from the world we live in. Take a minute to look around. What do you see that you don’t want to miss?

Butterfly Skull

This butterfly looks eerily like an eye in this skull

Birds or a funny caterpillar?

At first glance I thought this was a really strange caterpillar. Closer inspection showed me it was really some very cute birds.

Peaceful

This lizard looks content having the butterfly resting on him. Peace among the species is always beautiful.

Lemur and a Dragonfly. Lunch?

I’m not sure if this Lemur is trying to catch the Dragonfly for food or if he is just reaching out due to curiosity. Either way it is a wonderful picture.

Glass Butterfly

This butterfly’s wings are clear. An already delicate creature has wings that resemble glass.

Web of Water

It is estimated that it takes approximately an hour for a spider to build a web. This web covered in rain drops is stunning. It’s hard to believe that something so complex can be completed in such a short amount of time.

Perfectly Timed Picture

This perfectly timed photo shows a bird catching its next meal.

Puppy and Preying Mantis

Although the puppy is bigger it seems that the Praying Mantis is not going to back down. Hopefully this confrontation ended with neither party getting hurt.

Real Snowflakes

While not a true ‘pest’ in the usual sense of the word, these up-close pictures of snowflakes show the beauty and wonder of the world around us. I know sometimes snow can seem pesky but I find it mind boggling how every snowflake is different and how very pretty they really are.

Beauty of Nature

I like this collage of pictures because it makes me smile. The turtles are hatching, coming up from the sand and finding their way to the water. The small lizard looks like he is giving his friend a helping hand and those Dragonflies make a perfect heart together. How can you not feel happy looking at these pictures?

Night Sky and an Eye

The beauty of life around us extends past the things here on earth. I find the night sky to be beautiful and intriguing. I think we have all asked ourselves the question “Are we alone in the universe?”

So I guess the biggest thing I learned from Ferris Bueller is that I need to take time to enjoy the world around me. For him it was a baseball game, a museum and a fast car, among other things. For me it’s watching the squirrels outside, the blueness of the sky, laughing with my friends and family and maybe a nice glass of wine. What is it for you? We are always on the go so that maybe we don’t stop and look around as much as we should.

Rapid Pest Solutions reminds you that as Ferris said – “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Rapid Info

6 Ways To Protect Your Home From Winter Pests

On September 5, 2014 / Blog

It’s Hot Now – But Not For Long

Here we are in September and the first official day of Fall is 3 short weeks away. Personally, I am very happy. I have had enough of the hot, humid weather and I am very much looking forward to crisp, cool temperatures. Fall is my absolute favorite season! Unfortunately pests don’t share my affinity for the cooling temps. They are going to be looking for ways to get into your home and make it their own. To them, your cozy house is a warm oasis from the harsh Winter, a year round Summer paradise.

Although the temperatures are still quite high, now is the time to begin making sure that your home is ready for the change in season. Making sure that it is both energy efficient and secure against pests. One of Winter’s major intruders is mice. These little guys are looking for a warm place to build their nests and find food. A few common ways they get into your home is through an attached garage, around plumbing and electrical wiring leading into your home and cracks in windows and doors. You may also see ants, spiders and other ground crawling insects.

6 steps to help protect your home from pests seeking winter shelter

Clean out gutters and downspouts. The debris can provide a habitat for bugs.
Store firewood outside and away from your house.
Remove autumn leaves that collect against the house and porch.
Replace screens with storm windows. If you leave your screens in year-round, make sure there are no holes or openings.
Inspect around your foundation, doors and windows. Seal cracks and crevices with caulk or concrete. You can use steel wool in holes.
Be sure to store bird seed, dog food and items like this in sealed plastic containers, especially if you keep them in the garage.
Consider a preventative pest control treatment. This can be done around the outside perimeter of your home to create a barrier against pests.

Before you know it we will be shoveling snow – make sure your home is protected from the pests looking for a warm retreat. Contact Rapid Pest Solutions for questions or scheduling. We look forward to working with you!

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IS THE HONEY BEE IN DANGER?

On August 29, 2014 / Blog

Sad But True

Colony Collapse Disorder

You have probably heard that the Honey Bees are disappearing. It seems that beekeepers first began talking about this very seriously in 2006. In some cases healthy bees were abandoning there nests completely and never returning. This phenomenon is called Colony Collapse Disorder. There are several theories as to what is causing this. Global warming, pesticide use, habitat loss and parasites are the most prevalent.

Crops Pollinated By Bees

What Crops Will Be Effected

The disappearance of bees could turn into a very serious problem. There are many crops that rely on the pollination by bees or they simply cannot exist. Some of these foods include broccoli, blueberries, cucumbers, avocados and oranges. But there are many others. Many plants would die off, not just food plants. We would lose some trees and flowers as well.

Honey Comb In A Grill

The Importance Of Honey Bee Relocation

Some scientists believe that the loss of the Honey Bee could be catastrophic. So what do you do if you find that Honey Bees have built a nest in or around your home? Don’t kill them! Relocation of the entire hive is possible. Contact a professional Honey Bee removal company or beekeeper. They will come to your home, remove the nest and queen. The worker bees will follow the Queen, so once she is removed the others should follow. The honeycomb will be removed and incorporated into the nest at the new location when possible.

It’s Good To Be The Queen

A Queen Bee has only one purpose. Reproduction. She can lay up to 2000 eggs per day. The worker bees take care of the Queen’s every need. They give her food, dispose of her waste and will protect her fiercely. It’s good to be the Queen!

Honey Bear

If you think that you have Honey Bees, give Rapid Pest Solutions a call. We will do an inspection and provide you with information on the best way to handle your situation.

Are They Honey Bees?

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