The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has been in an all-out war against bloodsucking bed bugs since students returned to campus from the winter break.  The critters were first thought to inhabit one dorm unit in one building but as the weeks have gone on more students have complained of strange bites marks and itchy bite wounds.  Inspections by a pest control professional have confirmed that bed bugs are wide-spread throughout several campus dorm buildings and several student lounges.  The source of the infestation is still a mystery.

SiouxCityJournal.com reported on February 1, 2012 that University officials have said that they have spent $20,000 trying to kill the bed bugs since January 9, 2012.  Because of the widespread infestation on the campus, officials are anticipating eradication costs to elevate upwards to $100,000!  Bed bugs have been found in closets, couches, lobby areas, and 25 dorm rooms in three different buildings.  Reports are that the University has purchased eight thermal pouches that will heat smaller items to kill the bed bugs and has bought a carbon dioxide machine to freeze the bloodsuckers as well.  In addition, the University has decided to use heat treatment to bake the bed bugs in the infested rooms. You may read the article here.

A bed bug sniffing dog has been brought in to help identify the exact location of the bed bugs in the housing units.  Bed bug sniffing dogs are extremely accurate at detecting adult, nymphs, and bed bug eggs.  They are even able to alert when bed bug skins are found.  A door-to-door bed bug search is now underway at the campus and the University has vowed to continue working until all bugs are killed.  The University is considering bringing in additional sniffer dogs from Minneapolis to help with this ongoing campus crisis.

Bed bug infestations can be overcome, but it will be a difficult task that requires the expertise of a licensed pest control professional.  Stern Environmental Group provides excellent bed bug eradication services in New York and New Jersey.

New Jersey pest control experts are often contacted when surprised homeowners find evidence of mice in their homes.  Mice enjoy the same comforts that humans do…food, water and a warm place to live.  Once they find a nice place to live, they will not be leaving of their own accord.

Signs of infestation of mice include gnaw marks on wood cabinets or furniture, track marks, nesting material, mouse droppings, and dribbles of urine.  Mice constantly need to file down their incisors so they gnaw on wood.  Nesting material can consist of sticks, leaves, fabric, hair, paper, cardboard, string, or anything that a mouse can forage and shred.

Mice are most active at night.  They prefer to eat grains, but they are scavengers and will feed upon any food source that they come across.  Not needing much food to survive, crumbs or pet food that is left unattended can feed hungry mice in a home.  Because mice have strong sharp teeth, they can easily rip open sealed packages of food and eat undetected in cabinets.

Mice infestations are difficult to control because they multiply very quickly.  Female mice can have from five to ten litters of pups in her lifetime.  Each litter has on average between five or six mice babies, which are born approximately 21 days after mating occurs.  Those babies reach reproductive maturity in six to ten weeks depending on the environment that they live within.  It’s easy to see how a single pair of fertile mice can multiply out-of-control and cause a full-blown mouse invasion in no time.

The pest control technicians at Stern Environmental Group are trained to look for the signs of mice activity and can find their nesting spots so that they can be safely eliminated in homes, garages, sheds, attics, and all types of businesses.

When bed bugs are found inhabiting a school, it is a rare occasion that you will find any school administrator referring to the critter or critters as an “infestation.”  Instead you will often hear that “one bed bug” was found or that it was found in an “isolated area” within the school.  That statement is always humorous to me because the area could not be too “isolated” or the bed bug would not have been found in the first place!

Some public school systems within the United States would like you to believe that bed bugs will not thrive in a school environment.  Not unlike any other location that you will find bed bugs, these little vampires will hitch a ride into the school via a student, teacher or administrator.  Backpacks, coats, hats, gloves, purses, laptop bags, and lunch boxes all serve as excellent transport vehicles for bed bugs.  Bed bugs can also hitch a ride in the folds of clothing that a person is wearing and drop off in a school at any moment in time.

Any bed bug could immediately climb up on their next victim or scurry off and hide in the area that it dropped off of its original host in.  Bed bugs can easily thrive within a school building because there are plenty of places for them to hide and an easy supply of blood sources available.  Left untreated by a licensed pest control professional, bed bugs will be able to multiply. It only takes one pregnant bed bug to cause a massive bed bug invasion.

On January 27, 2012, MyFox New York reported that the New York Department of Education Pest Control Unit confirmed that a bed bug was found at the Russel Sage Junior High School in Forest Hills.  The bed bug was found in the schools general office but reports from students are that they have also found bed bugs in the cafeteria and in classrooms at the school.  You may read the article here.

Avoiding bed bugs at school can be difficult.  Parents should be on high alert when bed bugs are present in their child’s school.  All items should be checked daily for bed bugs prior to them being brought into the school.  Clothing should be shaken out outdoors and immediately laundered to avoid bringing bed bugs inside the home.  Soft items can be placed in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes to kill any hitchhiking bed bugs or their eggs.  In the event that bed bugs are found in your home, it is wise to contact a licensed pest control professional to kill the bloodsuckers before the infestation rages out-of-control.

Many people view New York City to be somewhat like the unofficial capitol of the United States.  They have spectacular restaurants, are known for the Broadway theaters, interesting sights to see, and have some of the finest hotels in the entire world.  Since the resurgence of bed bugs began a few years ago, bed bugs have plagued New York City residents, businesses, and tourists alike report NYC pest control professionals.  Until just recently, the little vampires have held New York City hostage, but a short while ago it was reported that bed bug complaints have been on the decline in New York City.

For businesses across the United States, having a customer find bed bugs in their establishment could spell big trouble.  Depending on the response given from any bed bug infested business, it could either spell great news or really bad news for a business.  Bed bugs are a problem for upscale hotels as well as fleabag motels.  Because of the fast turnover of people, a hotel/motel can be bed bug free on one day and then infested on another.

The New York Times reported on January 25, 2012 that a swanky New York City hotel near Central Park South is the latest to have the creepy crawlers infiltrate one of their rooms.  Reports are that the hotel was alerted to the problem when a guest produced a bed bug to the front desk upon check-out.  The hotel jumped into action by moving guests from the adjoining rooms as well as the rooms above and below the infested room so that proper treatment could commence.  In addition to calling a New York City pest control professional, the hotel staff was shown a video and given training about how to recognize the signs of bed bugs.  Kuddos to the hotel in question for their quick action and not denying that the problem exists!  You may read the article here.

Many people have learned the hard way that bed bugs are not a do-it-yourself type of pest.  Hiring a New York City pest control professional that is trained in bed bug eradication services is the only way to fully eradicate bed bugs.

They look relatively harmless at first glance.  They have large rounded ears and big dark eyes.  Their fur is soft and their whiskers are long.  The long skinny scaly tail is what turns most people off and scares others beyond belief.  The house mouse is a common home invader report New Jersey pest control professionals.

The house mouse is a native of Asia that was spread throughout Europe.  Humans helped the house mouse spread throughout the rest of the world.  Like other types of insects and animals, mice need food, water and shelter to survive.  Human habitats provide the perfect environment for mice to thrive.  Once they have moved into your home, you’ll need help from a NYC pest control professional to eliminate the pesky critters.

The house mouse will eat crumbs, food scraps, or pet food that is left out.  They will also gnaw into boxed or bagged food with ease to gain access to sealed food products.  Mice constantly dribble urine and leave a trail of feces behind in their wake which will contaminate any surface that they walk upon as well as any food product that they are near.

Mice tend to stay within 10 feet of their nesting site and they typically follow the same path to and from food or water sources over and over again.  Trying to remain undetected, mice will travel from place to place along the walls.  In addition to a dirt or oil type smear left on the wall.  You may also notice gnaw marks on the wood baseboards or furniture as mice are in constant need of filing down their incisor teeth.

Stern Environmental Group provides commercial and hospitality industry rodent extermination services to businesses in New York and New Jersey.  Call us today for help with your mice or rat eradication needs.