There are 16 species and 18 subspecies of Triatoma in the United States. Just like a bed bug, the kissing bug survives solely on the blood of mammals.  These bugs will attack wild and domestic animals, as well as humans.  In North America, opossums, raccoons, rats, armadillos, cats, and dogs have fallen victim to kissing bug attacks.

Kissing bug bite wounds are often misdiagnosed as spider bites, bed bug bites, herpes zoster, flea bites, and erythema multiforme.  In extreme cases, death from anaphylaxis is possible from the bite of a kissing bug.

The main reason that the kissing bug bite is so dangerous is because it can spread Chagas’ disease.  The disease is spread when the kissing bug bites their victim and leaves their feces behind in or near the bite wound.  If a person scratches or rubs the feces into the bite wound, the disease can be contracted.  Some people will show signs of the disease immediately, some will not.  Symptoms include a rash, fever, vomiting, and a swelling near the eyes.  The disease often goes misdiagnosed by the medical community.  Additionally, some people will not show any symptoms of the disease for years.  Chagas disease will lurk in their blood and surface twenty to thirty years after the bite wound occurred.  When this happens it is difficult for doctors to determine the digestive and heart problems that the victim is exhibiting.

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.

It may begin as an unexplained bang here or there, or maybe some strange scratching noises, or perhaps you’ll hear scampering in your attic, ceiling or wall voids.  The threat of rodents entering your attic is a problem says pest control experts.  Raccoons and squirrels are common rodents that invade homes as the winter months approach.  These pests often cause serious problems for residents in New York and New Jersey as they chew through electrical wiring causing electrical shorts and a fire hazard.  Once these pests arrive, they send pheromones out to others of their species inviting them to join them.

Raccoons are extremely agile creatures that will gain access to your home by tearing attic vents, soffits, and even shingles and roofing boards up.  Their paws are strong and resemble those of a human with long claws attached. Raccoons are curious creatures and scavengers that leave a trail of destruction in their wake.  Raccoons use attics at a nesting site to raise their young and reside as a family.  They defecate and urinate at will, causing serious damage and health threats to humans.

Squirrels may seem fun to watch as they frolic in the trees and garden, but once they gain access to your home, they are a menacing pest to encounter.  Squirrels can squeeze into small openings and gain access to an attic.  If they opportunity presents itself, squirrels won’t hesitate to venture into the main area of the house, helping themselves to food and causing enormous damage as well.

Raccoon and squirrels should not be poisoned to be eliminated and should instead be trapped by a licensed pest control professional with experience in rodent removal services.  For expert services in New York and New Jersey, contact Stern Environmental Group.

New Jersey squirrels are known for the funny backyard antics for certain.  They playfully romp to and fro and entertain us with their tree leaping agility.

The problem with NJ squirrels is that they have a propensity to gnaw on anything that they can sink their always growing teeth into.  Once a squirrel has entered a home, they can cause considerable damage as well.  In Illinois, a homeowner just returned home to find the interior of his home in shambles, and his television and water turned on when a way-ward squirrel found himself trapped inside his humble abode.

Squirrels can create serious problems for New Jersey homeowners when they decide to take up residence in the attic during the wintertime.  These cleaver creatures can easily chew through the strongest of roofing materials, or rip through soffits or vents to gain entry into NJ homes or businesses.  Once inside, they contaminate the insulation with their urine, feces, and parasite filled nesting materials.  New Jersey squirrels should also be a huge concern to residents because they are known for chewing through electrical wires and have caused fires in homes and businesses.  Additionally, NJ squirrels pose a problem for residents because they will bite when handled or cornered, and they can carry the rabies virus.

Squirrel removal should only be handled by a licensed NJ pest control professional that is trained in wildlife removal services.  Contact Stern Environmental Group for expert and humane squirrel removal services in Secaucus, New Jersey, the Greater New York City Metro and Connecticut Regions.

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!

If you have not already prepared your home for winter invaders, here are a few things you should do…

Trim any branches and shrubbery away from your home or roof so that rodents do not have easy access to your home.  Firewood is a favorite nesting spot for many creatures, so you should keep it at least 20 feet from your house and elevate it several feet off the ground.  Seal any holes or cracks on the outside of your home to keep would-be invaders out.  If you suspect that you might have a rodent invasion, inspect electrical wires and look for gnaw marks and rodent droppings.

If you are one of the unlucky folks who have been invaded by pests, it is always wise to contact a licensed pest control specialist to take care of the infestation as soon as possible.  Rats and mice carry diseases in their urine and feces that are dangerous when ingested or breathed in by humans.

Stern Environmental Group provides fast quality rodent extermination service to Secaucus, New Jersey, the Greater New York City Metro and Connecticut Regions.

Squirrels are wonderful to watch while frolicking out in the yard and up in the trees; but they can become quite menacing if they decide that your house or attic would be a good nesting spot.  Besides being messy houseguests, for some reason they like to nibble on electrical wires.  Many times, their chewing has caused homeowners extensive damage and even fires.

If you have squirrels in your attic or walls, you should never try to remove them yourself.  It is always wise to call a professional pest control expert who is trained in squirrel removal.  Stern Environmental Group provides 24 hour emergency squirrel removal service and always uses humane squirrel trapping methods.  Give us a call today.

We would like all of our customers and readers to know that Stern never participates in spaming or phishing schemes.  We will never contact you to ask you for any password or credit card information either. Stern strives to provide our readers with the most updated information about bed bugs, bed bug products, bed bug services, and other important pest and urban wildlife information.  Through our extensive research and experience, we are able to bring you interesting and sometimes even funny stories that are directly linked to the industry that we are so passionate about.

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Opossums are nocturnal and as such they typically sleep all day long and forage for food all night long.  It is not uncommon for them to seek shelter in a garage or attic if given the chance.  With the weather abruptly changing to cold who can blame them really?  They have no trouble climbing to the top of your garage shelves and knocking down anything that is of interest to them or in the way of their waddling back end.  When not sleeping, they are always on the hunt for food.

It’s a good idea to keep your garage free of food products as they do invite all types of pests like squirrels, raccoons, opossums, rats and mice.  If you suspect that you have opossums in your garage, you could try to leave the door open in the evening and close it before bedtime.  Hopefully your visitor will leave on it’s own since it is a night time forager. Opossums are very resourceful though, so make sure that all areas of your garage are free of entry points.

Confronting a wild animal on your own is never a good idea.  They can become aggressive very easily and can carry dangerous diseases.  It is always a good idea to call a professional pest control expert instead who is trained in the humane removal of any wildlife.

When dealing with wildlife, rabies should always be a top concern.  Rabies is most commonly found in raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes and coyotes, but any warm blooded animal can pass rabies onto people.

You should always try to avoid direct contact with wildlife; but if they do happen to enter you home or business, you should not try to remove them yourself.  Contacting a nuisance pest control removal specialist is the key to a humane and safe removal of wildlife instead.  Stern Environmental Group offers expert wildlife removal services to most of New Jersey, all of NYC, parts of CT and most of Long Island, NY.

Squirrels, like many other rodents, are in constant need of things to chew on.  Their incisor teeth grow throughout their entire life and chewing not only trims them back, but also keeps them sharp so they can munch on life’s pleasures.  The bad part about have squirrels living in your home is that they are indiscriminate about what they chew on.  Electrical wires and plumbing are often prime chewing choices for squirrels.  As a result of the chewing, fires and water damage has occurred in many homes and businesses.

As winter is approaching, squirrels are not only gathering their share of nuts.  They are also looking for cozy new spots to nest for the cold months ahead, and attics are the perfect alternative.  If you want to keep squirrels out, it is important to make sure that your home is in good repair.  Damaged soffits, vents, eaves, and even weak roofs can provide easy entry points for squirrels.

If you have squirrels living in your attic in New York or New Jersey, never try to evict them yourself.  Call a professional pest control specialist today.