Monthly Archives: July 2012

Cockroaches

You Found What In My Ear?

In every state, certain pests are categorized as “vermin” in rental properties and laws have been created to protect the health and well-being of both humans and pets from certain creatures and any diseases that they may transmit.

Dictionary.com defines “vermin” as “noxious, objectionable, or disgusting animals collectively, especially those of small size that appear commonly and are difficult to control, as flies, lice, bed bugs, cockroaches, mice and rats.”

People who are subject to living in multi-unit housing facilities that are infested with bed bugs often have a difficult time dealing with the pesky bloodsuckers report NYC pest control professionals.  Some states have enacted laws that require landlords to take specific action to eradicate bed bugs while others have been slow to respond to the calls for help by the general population.

WOAI.com in San Antonio reported on July 17, 2012 that residents of the Alazan Apache Apartments in San Antonio, Texas are dealing with bed bugs attacking.  The apartment building is owned by the San Antonio Housing Authority.  Residents complain of painful, red itchy bite marks that are making their life miserable.

Another ongoing pest problem reported within the building is a severe cockroach infestation.  One resident reports that the cockroaches are so bad that he is unable to keep anything in the kitchen cabinets and instead stores his food and dishes in the refrigerator.  Perhaps he does not realize that cockroaches can and will enter a refrigerator if they have no other food source.  One resident reports that a visit to his doctor a month ago yielded a surprising result when the doctor removed 4 small cockroaches and 1 large cockroach from the inside of his ear.

Cockroaches and bed bug infestations are creatures that no human should be forced to live among.  It’s time for the San Antonio Housing Authority to hire a licensed pest control professional that has experience with eradicating both of these types of pests.

News

The Trouble With Feral Cats Part 3 Of 3

In continuation from Wednesday…

After winding paper towels around our bloody limbs, we went outside and I asked the wildlife rescue person for her contact information.  I told her that I needed that kitten to be tested for rabies.  At that time I had no idea that the cat had to be destroyed and the brain matter examined in order for rabies to be determined.  She reluctantly provided me with her number with a promise that the kitten would be vetted the next day.

Our trip to the hospital yielded quite a bit of information about the dangers of contracting rabies.  It was highly recommended by the medical personnel that we undergo the rabies vaccination series as we could not be guaranteed that the kitten would be turned over to county authorities.  Being that rabies is 99.9% fatal if contracted, it is best to begin the vaccination regime as soon as possible we made the choice to undergo the painful series of shots.

Once given in the stomach, the rabies vaccine is now given in muscle tissue.  Legs, arms, hips and buttocks are the favored spots to be jabbed.  The needles are extremely large and the serum that is injected feels like a pile of burning pudding.  The immune globulin is by far the worst shot that is given.  We must continue to undergo the shots for two weeks in order to complete the series.

Our personal experience with the aftermath of the vaccines is about the same.  We both feel very ill.  Our muscles contract uncontrollably.  There are constant aches and pain, blurred vision, headaches, dizziness, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, chills, and difficulty concentrating.  We are told this is an allergic reaction, but we must still undergo the vaccine to be safe.

As a side note, the wildlife rescue lady never did turn over the kitten, nor did she have it vetted. The reality is, you should never approach a wild animal or feral cat.

You never know when an animal will become frightened or become aggressive.  You cannot always tell if a wild animal has rabies, especially if it is at the beginning stages of the disease as the animal will appear to act normally.  Any wild animal that is trapped in your attic, walls, shed, garage, or crawl space should only be handled by a NJ pest control professional like Stern Environmental Group.  We will be able to humanely remove feral cats, raccoons, squirrels and opossums from your home quickly and efficiently.

Feral Cats

The Trouble With Feral Cats Part 2 Of 3

In continuation from Wednesday…

Feral cats are susceptible to a variety of different diseases that are transmitted from cat to cat, and ones that are transmitted from animal species to humans.  Feline AIDS, FIP, Feline Leukemia, and the most notable and worrisome disease is rabies.  Rabies is contracted from cat to human via the bite of a cat.

This week my teen daughters and I made a run to the grocery store.  One of the workers that we know happened to mention that there were two kittens outside under the grocery carts that were abandoned by the mother cat.  Being cat lovers, my daughters asked if they could go see them.  It did not occur to me that they were in any sort of danger so I said they could go.  Oddly, a wildlife rescue person and her son also arrived who wanted to capture the two kittens.  While I finished shopping they all scurried around trying to wrangle the two balls of fluff.  As I walked outside, my I heard my daughter say “I got it” as she was pulling a kitten out from under the carts.  Within a second the docile kitten turned on her and repeatedly dug its teeth deep into the flesh of her hand with claws tearing up her other hand and arm.  Wanting to free my daughter, I ran to help and tried to grab the feral cat by the scruff.  It was then that I was horribly bitten as well on the thumb.

The wildlife rescue lady rushed over, took possession of the kitten and put it in her car.  As she continued to look for the second cat, we proceeded to gush blood profusely.  A trip in the store yielded some help at the pharmacy where we were told that we must go to the hospital immediately because feral cats could have rabies.

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.

Animal Control

The Trouble With Feral Cats Part 1 Of 3

Feral cats and kittens live a sad life outdoors.  Living in alleyways, condemned buildings, bushes, under homes, and empty lots, feral cats can be found scattered among America’s landscape.  The ASPCA estimates that there are tens of millions of feral cats living in cities and towns across America.  Feral cats are often hungry and thirsty as food and water is often in short supply.  They face constant threats of starvation, predators, cruelty, and a variety of diseases, some of which can be transmitted to other animals as well as humans.

There is a difference between a stray cat and a feral cat.  Stray cats are ones that have become lost or abandoned by their owners.  They may be shy of humans or they may exhibit behavior whereas they want attention from humans.  Strays may rub up against a human, may lie on the front porch or back deck, or they may purr when being pet.

Feral cats tend to stay in the shadows and watch humans from afar.  Despite being hungry or thirsty, feral cats do not seek comfort from humans.  Feral cats will eat food that is left out for them, but not typically while humans are in close proximity.  Feral cats may look like the cute cuddly fuzz ball you have at home, but in fact they are a wild animal.  They are no different than a raccoon, opossum, or squirrel.  Feral cats should not be approached as they do not act the same way that domestic or stray cats act.  Their natural instinct is for survival.  Humans that approach feral cats will be subject to a cat that is fearful, which translates into a cat that will fight for its life!

Please check back on Friday for Part 2.

Bed Bug Information

Keeping NJ Bed Bugs Away

Cities from coast to coast are experiencing an outbreak of bed bug infestations report NJ pest control professionals.  A tell-tale sign of a bed bug infestation is awakening with red itchy bite marks that burn.  Some people experience bite marks in a row while others have bite marks sporadically throughout their body.  Bed bugs mostly bite at night, unless there is a bad infestation underway.  They typically bite exposed skin, rather than skin that is covered by pajamas, so the legs, arms, neck and the face are common places to encounter bed bug bites.

To help combat bed bugs infestations, NJ pest control professionals will often use different avenues to try to determine where the pests are hiding.  Bed bug sniffing dogs are frequently used as they are trained to be able to detect bed bugs and their eggs in any type of dwelling.  Hotels, office buildings, and homes have benefited from bed bug sniffer dogs as they are extremely fast and accurate at locating bed bugs and their eggs in a matter of minutes.

When bed bugs are suspected, NJ pest control professionals will suggest that homeowners use mattress encasements to keep bed bugs from biting while they sleep.  The Protect-A-Bed Mattress Encasement will seal in any bed bugs and their eggs permanently and the special zipper will not allow any of the bloodsuckers to escape.  The special fabric is completely bite proof which ensures a good night’s rest and the ability to salvage a previously infested mattress.

Stern Environmental Group is a leading authority on bed bug eradication.  Stop by our online store to see our vast array of products and services that will help keep your home free of bed bugs.