10 Tips to Keep Your Backyard Pest-Free

Servicing a backyard in Georgia - Active Pest ControlSpring and summer in Georgia come with a lot to be excited about. However, the warm weather and sunshine following rainfall lead to all kinds of pest problems in our region. It’s important to be able to stop pests from finding food sources, shelter, and breeding grounds in your backyard, because without any effort put into pest prevention, your background will be overrun with pests for most of the year. If you’re wondering how you can pest-proof your backyard, read on for advice from our expert exterminators at Active Pest Control!

10 Tips to Make Your Backyard Pest-Free

Our climate allows for all kinds of pests to thrive throughout the year, so it’s important to have a pest prevention plan that accounts for all kinds of infestations. Here are our top 10 pest prevention tips for Georgia residents:

  1. Mow the lawn often: Mowing once a week can prevent overgrowth that creates excess standing water pooling and ample insect hiding places.
  2. Trim your plants: Make sure your trees, bushes, and shrubs aren’t overgrown. This can lead to shaded hiding places that are particularly attractive to mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and more.
  3. Get rid of yard waste: Piles of yard waste can provide shelters that lead to all kinds of pest infestations, from ants all the way up to rodents and wildlife.
  4. Clear out standing water: Mosquitoes breed in pools of standing water, no matter how small. Make sure to pour it out or cover it when you find rainwater pooling in gutters, planters, tarps, buckets, your lawn, or elsewhere.
  5. Use garden nets: Garden netting can protect the plants that would otherwise attract all kinds of insects and wildlife.
  6. Dethatch your lawn: A thin layer of thatch is helpful for your lawn’s temperature regulation, but too much of it can suffocate your lawn and lead to all kinds of pest problems. Dethatch your lawn and use a nitrogen fertilizer to prevent excess buildup.
  7. Water your lawn carefully: Overwatering and underwatering can both lead to different kinds of pest problems, so it’s important to know exactly how much water your lawn needs. Setting up an irrigation system or sprinkler system will regulate this quantity for you.
  8. Store firewood up and away: Firewood laying around by the side of your home can quickly lead to a devastating termite infestation. To prevent this from happening, store your firewood off of the ground, away from your home, and covered if possible.
  9. Keep bins closed: Pests as small as wasps and as big as raccoons love to forage in our trash cans for food. Seal them if possible, but definitely keep them as far away from your yard and home as possible.
  10. Hire an exterminator: A professional pest control technician can assess your yard for active vulnerabilities that could lead to pest infestations.

Pest Control for Your Backyard in Georgia

If you want to feel confident that your yard won’t fall victim to pest infestations this spring and summer, reach out to your local pest control company. At Active Pest Control, our highly trained technicians are well-versed in control and prevention strategies for the many insects, arachnids, and wild animals living in Georgia. We can set up a plan to keep your yard pest-free* year-round. Contact us today for a free quote!

What Type of Animal is in Your Attic?

Bats in the attic in Georgia home - Active Pest Control, formerly ActiveNo matter where you are—in the living room with your family or in bed at night—hearing noises and movement in your attic is frightening. While some may believe they are living the plot of a horror movie, the reality is that their home is being infested by nuisance wildlife. An attic is a popular place for wild animals to shelter, as they gain access to our homes through the roof. It goes without saying that no one wants animals taking up residence in their attic.

Our wildlife control experts understand the stress that wildlife problems can cause, especially if wild animals get into your home. Active Pest Control is here to provide all the information you need about potential infestations in your attic.

Common Animals That Infest Attics

Georgians are no strangers to wild animals roaming around their neighborhoods. But how do these animals get in? Animals that can gain access to your roof are likely to make their way into your attic if given a chance. These five pests are most likely to be found infesting your attic:

  1. Bats: Possibly the most dangerous attic dweller is the bat. Bat waste is toxic and can cause health risks.
  2. Birds: Hearing chirping noises or fluttering indicates you could have a nest of birds in your attic. They have a harder time leaving once they’re inside.
  3. Rats & mice: These rodents can make some of the loudest noises with their scratching, chewing, squeaking, and running. The roof rat is the most common rodent in attics.
  4. Squirrels: All types of squirrels can squeeze in through tiny openings and are feared for their ability to chew through wires.
  5. Raccoons: Female raccoons are known to nest in attics, and can come and go during the day and night. Chattering noises may indicate a nest of baby raccoons.

How Do I Get Rid of Animals in the Attic?

In the event that you think an animal lives in your attic, you shouldn’t go hunting for it on your own. When you try to get rid of the animal, bat, or bird on your own, you put yourself and your family at risk. If wild animals feel threatened, they may bite. This alone makes it important to hire a professional. When you work with a humane wildlife removal company, such as Active Pest Control, you can rest assured that the safest traps will be used to capture and relocate wild animals.

Certified Wildlife Removal Experts

At Active Pest Control, we understand how stressful it is to discover wildlife in your attic. Furthermore, wildlife poses a threat to your safety. Our animal removal experts will not only inspect your home thoroughly but will also put preventative measures in place to prevent wild animals from entering your attic in the future. Contact our wildlife experts today to learn more.

What Are Overwintering Pests?

Raccoons are overwintering pests in Atlanta GA - Active Pest ControlOverwintering pests are insects or other pests that enter homes in the fall for warmth and shelter throughout the colder months of the year. These pests will make themselves at home right in your residence, often in your attic, basement, or crawl space. Some of the most common overwintering pests in Atlanta include mice, rats, squirrels, and bats, along with fall invader pests such as boxelder bugs and stink bugs.

No one wants any pests hunkering down for the winter in their home, which is why it’s so important to learn how to prevent overwintering pests.

Which Pests Overwinter In My House?

The lack of activity in certain areas of your home, such as the attic, makes for the perfect shelter for pests and rodents. The following pests are known to be the most common to overwinter in your attic:

  • House mice: These mice prefer secluded areas and will look to nest in your attic using insulation and other stored items.
  • Roof rats: Just as their name suggests, roof rats can squeeze their way indoors and up to the attic in your home.
  • Bats: Big brown bats will roost in an attic and use it as their cave. Their presence causes a lot of mess to clean up.
  • Raccoons: Raccoons are strong climbers and can make their way into your attic to escape dropping temperatures.
  • Squirrels: The attic is the perfect place for squirrels to burrow and hide out the colder months of the year.

How to Prevent Overwintering Pests

To prepare for the cold months ahead, there are several things you can do to make your property less attractive to pests looking to stay inside this time of year:

  1. Trim overhanging tree branches, overgrown bushes, and vines away from your home to limit access to pests.
  2. Secure your chimney with a chimney cap, and install wire mesh over any vents or roof openings.
  3. Make sure your trash cans are securely stored in your hard with tight-fitting lids to keep pests out.
  4. In your attic, organize all items and eliminate any clutter. Use plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes for storage.
  5. Inspect both inside out outside the attic, and seal any cracks or crevices with caulk or steel wool. 

How to Get Rid of Pests in the Attic

Whether you suspect there are bats or squirrels in your attic, it’s important to always enlist the help of a professional pest control company. Active Pest Control is your local leader in wildlife cleanup and exclusion services, and can help protect your home from pests not just in the winter but all year long. Contact us today to learn more!