Flying used to be for the birds but now it seems that it is for creepy bugs too!  People have said for many years that if there were to be a nuclear war here on earth, the only creatures that would be left standing, or better yet, crawling, would be…cockroaches.  Cockroaches continue to prove themselves to be one of the hardiest and most adaptable creatures that have ever walked the face of the earth.

CNN Travel reported on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 that during a September flight from North Carolina to Houston, a couple claims that they were joined by more than just passengers and crew aboard their flight.  The couple claims that they were shocked when disgusting cockroaches began crawling out of the vents and the passenger’s overhead carry-on bins.

The couple, one of which is an attorney, has since filed a lawsuit against the offending airline stating that passengers are entitled to be “clean and pest free” accommodation. The lawsuit accuses the airline of “negligence and recklessness, infliction of emotional distress, nuisance, false imprisonment and unfair and deceptive trade practices, and is suing for more than $100,000 plus the price of their tickets.”  The airlines response to the couples complaint is not surprising…they are denying the majority of their allegations.   Armchair lawyers believe that there is no way this lawsuit will ever make it into a courtroom.  It will be interesting to see how long it takes for the settlement to be offered to the couple.

You may read the article and watch the video here.

New York City pest control experts say that all businesses, including airlines, must be on the constant lookout for all types of pests.  It is an unbearable to think of being stuck in an airplane that is rocketing though the skies at 30,000 feet while cockroaches are crawling out of a vent overhead.  Businesses should have a licensed pest control company at the ready to kill any new infestations that does arise.

Its summertime and most American’s are enjoying packing their cars or hopping on a plane and traveling to places near and far, making memories with family and friends.  All may seem well and good while you are traveling, until you start to notice raised red bumps that itch and sting.  Could they be the bite of a mosquito, a flea, chiggers, or something more menacing?  You may think that you are safe this summer travel season, but New Jersey pest control professionals warn that many people are returning home from their vacation fun with unwelcome traveling companions…beware bed bugs are hitching a ride from sea to shining sea, and all points in between!

KZTV10.com reported on July 12, 2011 that a hotel guest claims to have awoken to a really odd and frightening occurrence.  According to their report, a gentleman says that he woke up with a cockroach coming out of his nose!  In addition to his roach claim, he says that he has a strange bite mark which continued to grow for which he has sought medical treatment for.  You can read the article here.

Additionally, KXXV-TV News Channel 25 reported on July 12, 2011 that a woman claims that she too was the nighttime buffet for bed bugs at a Waco, Texas motel.  According to reports, she claims that she awoke to dozens of the bloodsuckers slurping away and when she jumped out of bed, the buggers were everywhere!  You can read the article here.

Don’t let your guard down against bed bugs while you travel.  They are not just in Texas, nor just in hotels or motels.  Bed bugs can be found anyplace that humans frequent.  Movie theaters, restaurants, taxi cabs, buses, airplanes, jails, hospitals, retail stores, and even Aunt Martha’s house can all have these horrible bloodsuckers lying in wait, hoping to hitch a ride home with you!

If you think you have encountered bed bugs, or have an ongoing New Jersey bed bug infestation, it’s crucial to contact a licensed pest control expert that is trained in bed bug eradication services.

Mommy’s always said “Sleep tight; don’t let the bed bugs bite” before we were tucked into bed at night.  In 2011, avoiding a bed bug infestation is difficult under the best of circumstances.  Those blood thirsty bugs are popping up at movie theaters, hospitals, airplanes, hotels, office buildings, schools, subways, and everywhere in between.  Once the warmer weather starts to settle in, New Jersey pest control experts believe that we will soon be seeing a spike NYC and NJ bed bug infestation reports.

Bed bugs are sneaky travel companions as they will easily hitchhike their way into your clothes or suitcases while you travel. With the spring break travel season fast approaching, Stern Environmental Group has the perfect travel solutions to help keep your home bed bug free.

The Bed Bug Patch has proven effective at keeping bed bugs away from humans while they sleep.  The Hefty Bedbug Travel Bags works great for storing all of your personal belongings in a giant zippered see-thru storage bag.  The BugZip Luggage Bags and Drawer Liner Bags allow you to place your entire suitcase in the special rectangular shaped plastic bag that you are able to seal shut so bed bugs cannot climb inside.  They are great for using inside of hotel room drawers too.  The Bed Bug Control and Mattress Spray is non-toxic and is safe for use around humans and pets.  It will prevent bed bugs, fleas, ticks and cockroaches from hitching a ride home with you!

In addition to using these great products, it’s important to look for bed bugs or the signs of bed bugs whenever you are traveling.  Remember, despite their name, bed bugs are not only found in beds.  Bed bugs can be found most anywhere that humans frequent.  In a hotel room, check for bed bugs on the mattress and box spring, between the sheets, behind the headboard, and in the bed frame.  You should always look for blood smears, fecal matter, skins, and live or dead bed bugs when you travel.

If you need help getting rid of a NYC or NJ bed bug infestation, contact Stern Environmental Group for expert bed bug eradication services.

In the pest control industry, there are many different types of vermin that can be troubling for a business. Cockroaches, mice and rats are an unsightly intrusion that will surely drive customers away, ruin a reputation, and cause serious penalties to be imposed by local health authorities.

Odd at it may seem, some people believe that there is an acceptable level of vermin that can be present at New York City restaurants, grocery stores, delis, bars, mobile carts or trucks, retail warehouses and the like say NYC pest control experts.  In every state throughout the United States, and in most countries, there are laws that require that all food establishments and facilities be free of vermin at all times in order to remain in operation.

New York City pest control experts say that any vermin in a food facility is a serious problem as rats, mice and cockroach infestations put the public’s health in danger.  Vermin are always on the hunt for a good food source and food establishments provide ample opportunity for an infestation to occur.  It’s important for all businesses to ensure the safety of their patrons by hiring a pest control professional for regular pest control treatments.

The signs of rats and mice are fairly easy to notice as they leave a trail of feces in their pathways and they gnaw into any type of food source that they can gain access to.  Rats and mice are able to squeeze into small openings into businesses, which must be completely sealed in order to keep them out.  A good NYC pest control expert will aid restaurants in finding the entry points and nesting spots when rats or mice are suspected.

New York is home to four different cockroaches, the German cockroach, the brown-banded cockroach, American cockroach, and the Oriental cockroach.  Each of these cockroaches can easily infest a restaurant as they feed on wide variety of food sources.  Cockroaches carry bacteria on their legs which is then transferred onto food preparation surfaces, utensils, bowls, plates, and food sources.  Restaurants with a NYC cockroach infestation must worry about transmitting the Salmonella bacteria to their customers.

There is no acceptable level of vermin in any business establishment!  Stern Environmental Group recommends that all businesses maintain good sanitation practices, regular rat and mice inspection and extermination services, and utilize cockroach eradication services on a regular basis.

The New York Post recently ran an article about the growing opossum population that has now joined the forces of other unwanted furry creatures in Brooklyn, New York.  These marsupials are wandering the streets in high numbers, reportedly because the City Council decided to introduce them into the borough as a means of controlling the ever growing rat population.

The opossums were apparently set free at various parks and underneath the Coney Island boardwalk two years ago.  It was assumed that once the rat population had diminished, the opossum populations would as well because of the lack of food that would be available.  The problem is that these cleaver pointy nosed creatures have been able to thrive alongside other problem pests in Brooklyn with great ease.

Many area homeowners are crying foul as they wonder why the City Council would release another type of problem pest into the area.  But, perhaps the opossums are not as problematic as you might think.  According to The National Opossum Society, opossums are a beneficial animal for many different reasons.

Contrary to what some people believe, opossums do hunt, kill, and consume a large number of rats and mice.  Being nature’s ultimate scavengers, they will consume all types of dead animals (carrion) that they encounter.  They also eat many types of bothersome insects like crickets, beetles, snails, slugs, and cockroaches too.  Fallen fruit in neighborhood yards is a particular treat to a roaming possum.  Opossums do tend to carry fleas like other wild animals; but they seem to have a high immunity to most diseases, especially rabies!

Now if we could just train them to hunt and eat NYC bed bugs, perhaps they would be the perfect pet!

Opossums can be trouble when they rummage through trash cans and pet food left outdoors.  Like any other wild animal, they will bite if they are grabbed too.  If they happen to enter your home or attic though, you should never try to remove them yourself.  Wildlife removal is best left to professional pest control experts like the ones you will find at Stern Environmental Group instead!