People in Park Slope in Brooklyn, New York are encountering raccoons in increasing numbers this summertime season. Just this past week, two raccoons were seen trying to obtain entry into a third story apartment of one residence.  They clawed the screen, scratched the glass, and even tried to open the window to get inside.  The resident, who was on the inside bashing on the window, could not even scare the creatures away.  Earlier the same month, the same resident awoke to his kitchen being ransacked by a raccoon.  Another Park Slope resident reports that she had four raccoons running amuck in her dining room and kitchen.

Raccoons are extremely strong and resourceful critters to deal with.  Once they have entered your home and decided it is a good place to nest, they are difficult and dangerous to evict.  Even though they can weigh as much as 35 pounds, these animals can squeeze their large bodies into spaces as small as four inches.  Raccoons are a constant problem for homeowners because of the damage that they cause to structures, urine and feces that they leave behind, and electrical wires that they chew.  They can cause damage to gardens, lawns, crops and livestock as well.  Raccoons are known carriers of many diseases that are extremely dangerous to humans and domestic animals.  Contracting rabies from raccoons is always a concern; but you also need to be concerned about distemper, roundworms, fleas, mites, and ticks when raccoons are present.

Raccoons can be one of the most challenging wild animals to remove. If you have raccoons in your home, contact Stern Environmental Group.  We offer expert Raccoon Control and Removal Services to Secaucus, New Jersey, the Greater New York City Metro and Connecticut areas.

Dr. Robert M. Corrigan, a rodentologist, who is well versed in all aspects of rats, led the interesting rat study.  He pointed out that rat poison is currently only being used on the train tracks to kill the rodents.  Once a train travels through the tracks, the poison is scattered.  Additionally, the refuse room which houses the garbage before it is transported out of the subway; is not subject to rat traps or poison.  This room, filled with black bags of trash, is a buffet for rats every day of the week!  Dr. Corrigan suggested that the rooms be guarded so that the rats could not reach their feast.

According to the New York Times, Dr. Corrigan told health officials that rats in New York City were a problem not only in subways, but other public places as well, especially parks.  “Virtually all of New York,” he said, “is vulnerable to this uncanny mammal.”

Wild rats are creatures that should be feared and avoided.  Although they are unlikely to bite you unless they are cornered, rats have the potential of spreading dangerous diseases to humans.  In the Middle Ages, rats (actually the fleas that were on the rats) were the cause of the spread of Bubonic Plague (the Black Death).  That plague wiped out a third of the European population during that time period. Some rat lovers of today say that the rats that are scurrying about New York City could not/would not cause another plague in today’s world, but how can anyone be so sure.  America could barely handle the H1N1 health crisis this past year, I can’t imagine how taxing a plague would be to our health system!  Rats are also known carriers of Leptospirosis.  This dangerous disease can be transmitted to domestic animals and humans alike.

If you need help ridding your business of rats in New York City or New Jersey, contact a licensed pest control specialist who is trained in expert rat removal services.

Rats continue to be photographed in many areas of the New York City subway system.  They forage and feast on the garbage that others leave behind.  They emerge from the cracks within the walls, popping their ugly heads through broken concrete and tiles.  Rats have been found on the subway tracks and scampering to and fro throughout the platform waiting areas. One brave rat was even photographed hanging from the handrail inside of a populated moving subway!  That’s certainly not the travel companion you would hope for while traveling on the tube under New York City!  Although a little leery of humans, they don’t typically run and hide when they encounter us.  Rats use to be a nighttime forager, but reports are that these obnoxious creatures have now taken to the New York City subways even during peak rush hour periods.

A two year study of the rats in the New York City subway system was completed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.  It was found that rats do not live in the subway tunnels as previously believed; instead they prefer to set up house within the walls.  It was also found that the rats are enjoying the food and drink debris that is left behind by subway riders.  The litter and crumbs are a constant invitation for rats to come to dinner.

Please check back on Friday for the conclusion.

Groundhogs are one of the greatest challenges for homeowners this time of year, especially if you are trying to grow a vegetable garden.  Gardeners become quite annoyed because groundhogs can easily eat up to two pounds of vegetation each day.  They too enjoy the bountiful treats of nature as they feast on gardens and landscaping.  It only takes one night for one groundhog to mow down an average size backyard garden.  People  often try using electric fences, regular fences, bricks, hair, urine, and rotten egg juice to keep groundhog away; but these pesky creatures still seem to find their way into gardens.  Once a groundhog has moved on to your property, it is nearly impossible to get rid of them without the help from a pest control specialist.

Because of their constant burrowing and excavating skills, groundhogs have been known to cause considerable damage to foundations and they can even undermine the structure of swimming pools or other structures.  Although not always the case, groundhogs can be the carrier of the rabies virus as well as the hepatitis virus.

If you have groundhogs making a mess of your landscaping in New York or New Jersey, contact Stern Environmental Group today.  We provide humane expert groundhog removal service to our customers in Secaucus, New Jersey, the Greater New York City Metro and Connecticut Regions.  Don’t let groundhogs damage your expensive landscaping.  Take advantage of our 24 hour emergency groundhog removal services today.

Just recently, one Minnesota county was so fed up with the damage the groundhogs were causing to property owners, and their over population status, that they came up with an interesting and somewhat morbid solution to the problem.  This particular county put a bounty on the groundhogs head…well, actually their feet.  County residents were paid $2 for every two pair of groundhog feet that were turned into a local agency on one particular day.  Hunters spent the entire spring killing off groundhogs and collecting their feet to get ready for the big pay-off from the county.  I can’t even imagine bringing in a big sack of groundhog feet!  Yuck!

It just seems so much easier, and much more humane, to contact a licensed pest control expert who is trained in the removal of groundhogs instead.  If you have groundhogs tearing up your yard or garden and munching away at your landscaping, contact Stern Environmental Group today!  Our trained operators will humanely remove troublesome groundhogs from your property fast!

Not only is Josimar Ferreira accused of operating a Massachusetts extermination company without being certified, but it has been reported that he has also allegedly maintained pest control companies in New Jersey and New York as well.  Both New Jersey and New York have cited Ferreira for operating an unlicensed pesticide business.  It makes you wonder how he is able to obtain toxic pesticides, without being properly licensed.  Clearly there was a breakdown…in three states!

Stern Environmental Group has been providing expert bed bug and pest control services in New Jersey and New York for over ten years.  We pride ourselves on providing our customers with the safest pesticide application available, and offer a wide variety of services and products to meet many different types of needs.  We offer professional services to both residential and business customers alike.  Whether you are looking for help with bed bugs, rats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, groundhogs, ants, spiders, cockroaches, or bee control, Stern Environmental Group’s licensed pest control applicators are here to lend a helping hand!

There are several groundhog control solutions residents of New York City and New Jersey and elsewhere can use:

1. Use repellent smells or tastes.
2. Use motion detection devices to scare them away.
3. Live-trapping the critters as they leave their burrows and relocate them to another area.

Also, to reduce the possibility that groundhogs will make a home on your property eliminate tall grass areas, tall weed areas and brush piles since they may not live near your garden If there isn’t good cover.

Quality groundhog removal services are available for New York City and New Jersey.

Public services must do their job by providing proper maintenance of buildings and provide good urban planning.  Older buildings that are dilapidated or abandoned should be demolished because they provide a safe haven and a perfect breeding ground for unwanted rodents.  Aging sewage systems and underground utility systems need to be maintained so that rat populations are not allowed to breed excessively, return to the surface for food, and then escape to the underground for cover again.  Overgrown vegetated areas are also prime breeding grounds for rodents and these areas also need to be maintained.

Citizens cannot rely on the government alone for protection from unwanted rodents.  They too must join in the battle to keep population numbers down.  Simple steps like sealing any holes that rodents can gain entrance to homes and properly containing trash in rodent proof containers, with lids, are a must.

Because of the dangers associated with rodent removal, it is not a good idea to handle rodents, their feces, or urine yourself.  Rodent infestations should be left to a professional.  Stern Environmental Group provides expert rodent removal service to Secaucus, New Jersey, the Greater New York City Metro and Connecticut Regions.  Give us a call today!

In 2007 and 2009, a study was done by d-Con that ranked which United States cities were at risk of having serious rodent problems.  In both studies, New York City was the number one contender because of its dense population, size, and age.  Definitely not surprising (ask anyone walking the streets late at night), but not good news either!  The government and citizens alike must join together to help keep the rodent populations down on the streets of New York.

Please check back on Tuesday for the conclusion.

The theory is that restaurants will try harder to keep their restaurants clean in order to achieve the A rating. Not too many customers want to have a plate of spaghetti at a restaurant that received a D- grade. The customers they do get would probably demand a deep discount and prompt service. Oh my.

The grade is based on the number of violations that were documented during the sanitary inspection. Every establishment will have to place a placard at the point of entry, probably a door and not a vent, which shows the grade.

However, the restaurants that receive A grades will be inspected less often than those receiving lower grades. Hmmm, hopefully unsanitary restaurants won’t just work hard to pass an inspection and then let the rats run wild! Oh my.

Hopefully the plan will be successful. A similar plan improved the sanitary conditions in Los Angeles restaurants.