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Signs You May Have a Rodent in Your Home

Do you think you may have a rodent or many rodents in your home? We have put together a list of signs rodents may be living in your house:

Rodent Droppings – You may not see much of them, but you will not be able to miss rodent droppings around your home. Droppings are most often found in kitchen cabinets, pantries, and other places where food is stored. You may also see small gnaw marks on your food packaging.
Noises in the Walls – Turn everything off in your home and pay attention to the little sounds going on in your home. If you are hearing scurrying noises in your wall, you may have a rodent or a family of rodents in your home.
Nests in Secluded Areas – If you want to check for rodents in your home, start looking for nests in secluded areas in your home. You can search your ceiling, dark spots in the basement, or any other area that is dark and out of the way. Typical rodent nests consist of shredded paper and fabrics.

When you discover any sign of a pest in your home, you should contact the team at Barefoot Pest Control. We can assist you with pest control in Prince Frederick, MD, as well as Waldorf, La Plata, and Upper Marlboro.

Simple Ways to Stop Fall Pests

Fall weather is here, so it is time to start fighting against fall pests. Here are a few things you should do to combat fall pests:

Fix Your Screens – If you like keeping your windows open, you should make sure that your screens are protecting your home from pests. Take the time to install screens on your windows, as well as repair any holes you may have on your screens.
Fix Entry Points – From cracks in your doors to any holes in the exterior walls, creatures of all shapes and sizes are trying to get into your home. It is vital that you take some time to fix cracks in your home and replace any weather stripping before the pests try to wiggle into your home.
Get Rid of Moisture – Pests are attracted to moisture, so you should look for any wet spots throughout your home. Take some time to replace leaky pipes and clean your gutters, as bugs will start to congregate in these areas.

If you are dealing with a pest problem, the team at Barefoot Pest Control can assist you. We provide pest control in La Plata, MD, as well as a wide array of other cities throughout Maryland. Whether you are seeking residential or commercial services, we can assist you.

Put a Stop to Mosquitos in Fall and Winter

As you know, mosquitoes don’t really bother us while it is cold outdoors. That’s because the mosquito eggs enter a state of suspended development, waiting for the right temperatures before hatching. During fall and winter, it’s a wise idea to do the following to put a stop to mosquito problems:

Search for Items That Hold Water – Tire swings, old flowerpots, bowls, and any other spot that could hold water are the perfect breeding grounds for mosquitos. You should turn any of these areas over or take them indoors to stop mosquitoes from developing.
Unclog Gutters – You should be making sure that your gutters are unclogged anyway, but unclogging drains and making sure all water is running through it is important.
Spray for Mosquitos – If there are any areas where mosquitoes were a problem previously, spray today and keep the mosquitos away. By following the directions, you won’t have to worry about mosquitos taking over next season.

Don’t let pests like mosquitos take over your home. Barefoot Pest Control offers a wide array services, all over the state. The dedicated crew at our business can assist you with pest control in Upper Marlboro, MD, as well as many other cities throughout Maryland.

Why You Should Keep Up with Annual Termite Inspections

Owning a home means keeping up with regular maintenance, such as an annual termite inspection. Read some of the reasons why annual inspections are crucial:

Termites Go Unnoticed – Unless you have had termites in your home before, it’s likely that you won’t even notice that termites have infested your home. A trained pest control specialists will be able to see these small issues, searching both high and low to find signs of infestation that you may not have noticed.
Termites Travel from Home to Home – If your neighbors have termites, it’s possible that they will infest your home as well. Speaking to your neighbors will let you know when there are termites in the area. Furthermore, if you see someone getting serviced for termites, it’s a good sign that you should get an inspection as well.
It’s a Smart Investment – Spending just a little bit of money each year on an annual inspection is way better than spending tons of money on repairs caused by termites. It’s also important to note that most insurance policies do not cover this type of damage.

Call up the team at Barefoot Pest Control today to make an appointment for your yearly termite inspection. From pest control in Prince Frederick, MD, to emergency repairs in Waldorf, we are available to assist you.

Interesting Info about Mice

Mice are interesting little creatures – except when they are living in your home. Here are some curious facts about these pests:

Mice Can Fit Into Very Small Gaps – If you’re wondering how the heck a mouse got into your home, it’s important to know that they can fit through gaps that are as small as 6 millimeters. This is why we always recommend that you inspect your home for any possible entry points before the season starts.
Mice Have Trouble Seeing – When it comes to seeing things, mice work best in dim light or the dark. Because of this, most mice rely on the senses of smell, hearing, and touch to get around. Their whiskers also help them get around, as they are very sensitive.
Mice Teeth Constantly Grow – Mice have incisors that are always growing, which means they tend to chew on items in your home that are softer than their teeth. They like to chew on electrical wires, as well as cardboard and wood. It’s important to take care of any wires the moment you see chew marks, as it could start a fire.

When you are dealing with mice, you can trust the team at Barefoot Pest Control to assist you. Our business provides pest control in La Planta, MD, as well as a variety of other areas throughout Maryland.

Common Fall Pests

The seasons are changing and it’s time for the fall pests to start moving into local homes and businesses. Here are some of the pests you may see this year:

Rodents – As the weather starts to cool in fall, mice and rats are looking for warm places to stay. They tend to live in the walls, closets, pantries, and attics, bringing in all kinds of disease with them and leaving their droppings everywhere. Furthermore, they may cause damage to your wires, walls, and other parts of your property.
Bees – Once the summer starts to wind down, queen bees start to abandon their workers, which means they need to find shelter for the winter. You should check your attic, as queens and workers will most often move in if you are not prepared.
Stink Bugs – Check your walls for stink bugs now, as this is the time to make sure these creatures have not infested your walls. Once they make their way into your home, it is tough to get rid of them. This is why it’s vital to spray for them now if there are other stink bug infestations in your area.

Contact us today to inquire about our fall pest control services. The team at Barefoot Pest Control provides pest control in Prince Frederick, MD, as well as Waldorf, La Plata, and Upper Marlboro.

Stopping Rats and Mice This Winter

Fall may just be around the corner, but before you know it – winter will be here! This is the time when rats and mice tend to show up in homes, so here are some tips to help you keep them out:

Inspect Your Home – When it comes to keeping the rodents out, the most important thing you can do it inspect your property ahead of time. During this time, you’ll want to look for any holes that are bigger than a quarter inch.
Reduce Your Pet’s Presence – Do you have an outside cat or a dog that you feed outside of your home? Your pet food attracts rats and mice! Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that your litter box is always clean and that you always pick up your dog’s poop – even if it’s in your own backyard.
Clean Out Your Garden – It’s vital that you spend some time cleaning out the garden, making sure that all decaying fruits and nuts are gone. Additionally, you have a rodent-proof compost bin.

When you need assistance with rats and mice, you can trust the team at Barefoot Pest Control. Our business is known for providing efficient pest control in Waldorf, MD, as well as many other cities throughout Maryland.

The Difference Between Rats and Mice

Pest Control, La Plata, MDRats and mice are both rodents but third cousins at best. If your home or business has rodents, you want to clearly identify the invasive rodent in order to control and get rid of it. However, most non-professionals can’t accurately identify and trap rodents because they don’t know which kind of rodent trap to apply. Barefoot Pest Control is known as a highly effective service for rodent pest control in La Plata, MD.

As animals, both rats and mice are considered unwanted pests. Both of them carry germs, search for constant sources of food, and cause damage wherever they decide to nest. They both reproduce incessantly and make themselves comfortable any place there is water and food.

There are a few stand-out points that help to tell a mouse from a rat. For example, if you have time to look at a rodent’s tail, you’ll notice that mice have hairy tails while rat tails are hairless and often peeling or flaky. Additional ways rats and mice differ from each other are in appearance, behavior, and diet, as mentioned in the following comparisons:

Appearance

The color of mice is white, brown, or gray. They weigh under pound and have droopy ears.
Rats are larger than mice; they can be up to 15 inches long. They can be white, gray, black, or brown.

Behavior

Rats are shrewd, careful, and tend to avoid unfamiliar items. They eat any kind of human food, including meat, fruit, and starches.
Mice are curious and can be easily lured with traps set into their paths.

Diet

Rats eat anything and everything.
Cereal, grains, and plants are the foods of choice for mice.

The sooner you get the proper controls you need, the less time you provide for the rodents to populate.

How Pests Can Destroy Your Retail Store

Is your business vulnerable to pests? Many non-food retail stores—from clothing to books to appliances—are havens for a variety of pests. Ants, beetles, flies, and even rodents are capable of finding the entry points they need to provide them with the food, water, and shelter they seek. If a business doesn’t regularly empty its trash or thoroughly clean the employee break room, it risks being invaded by pests searching for opportunities to nest. Onsite pests create a dirty and unwelcoming appearance, may be harmful to a shopper’s health, and could possible mar the pristine inventory.

Insects that carry germs and dirt are attracted to any place there are people. Whether the store is a standalone or located in a massive mall, the smallest crumb or gum wrapper is on a pest’s radar. With doors constantly opening and closing many hours a day, seven days a week, it is easy for the unpleasant critters to make their way into any retail environment. Follow these basic suggestions to help eliminate the threat of a pest invasion:

Keep your retail store fresh and clean.
Make sure the floors are free of dirt and thoroughly swept, mopped, or vacuumed daily.
Use disinfectants in the food areas and bathrooms and empty the trash on a daily basis. I
Choose a professional pest control company to keep pests away and eliminate them at the source.

One of the leading companies for pest control in Prince Frederick, MD, specializes in permanently eradicating pests from retail outlets both large and small. The technicians at Barefoot Pest Control are experienced and knowledgeable about how pests find their way into stores. You won’t be risking your good name with regularly scheduled pest-control pros. Maintain your reputation with your repeat customers and be sure to build a relationship with new shoppers.

Fighting Pests in the Office

People don’t often think about it, but offices also have many problems with pests. Here is a handful of ways you can stop pests from invading your office this summer:

Food and Crumbs – People love to snack at their desks in offices and it is important to make sure that people are cleaning up after themselves. If you are having a problem with pests, you should give your employees a nice dining area and plenty of break time to encourage them to eat in one central location. People are more likely to clean up after themselves in one of these spaces.
Empty the Trash – You should be working hard to make sure the trash is emptied every day. You can make the request of your cleaning company or make sure there is someone in the office who’s responsibilities include making sure all of the garbage cans are emptied every day.
Check for Standing Water – If a mosquito gets into your office and there is standing water from leaky pipes, you are creating a breeding ground for mosquitos. Make sure you have to standing water at any time and call the plumber when there is a problem.

Do you need pest control services in your office? The team at Barefoot Pest Control is here to help. Our team provides pest control in La Plata, MD, as well as many other cities throughout Maryland.

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