Monthly Archives: August 2018

Commercial Services, Pest Management, Rats, Rodent Control

Living the Good Life? Rat Squirms Into ATM and Eats $18,000 in Cash.

Rat Eats Cash Inside an ATM
Rat Eats Cash Inside an ATM

Rats are known for causing all kinds of trouble in NJ, but one adventurous rat in India managed to mess up an ATM. Learn more about this incident and why it’s so important to have professional NJ pest control handle rodent problems as quickly as possible.

A Diet of Cash

The rat that found its way into the inside of an ATM machine wasn’t just looking for a place to hide. This rodent ended up chewing up $18,000 in cash while it was in the machine. When the ATM machine wasn’t working for three days, bank technicians opened it up and found the rat surrounded by a pile of shredded bills. The rat didn’t make it, but it seems to have had a filling meal of money.

Rodent Control in NJ

The ATM incident in India is a good reminder of just how talented these rodents can be at getting into places. You can keep them out of your building by sealing up gaps and openings, such as cracks around doors and windows. If you do end up with a rat problem, you should have pest control experts handle it for you as soon as possible to prevent them from causing damage.

Don’t let rats ruin your property or cause a health hazard for customers, tenants or guests. Contact Stern Environmental to get more information on our NJ pest control services for rodents.

Bed Bug Detection Dogs, Bed Bug Information, Bed Bug Monitoring Device, Bed Bug Monitors, Bed Bug News, Bed Bug Resources, Bed Bugs, News

Bitten by Bedbugs? How to Know and What to Do First

Image of Bed Bug Bites
Image of Bed Bug Bites

Waking up in the morning with a series of red itchy bites all over your body isn’t a great way to start the day. When bed bugs have invaded your home, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Bed Bug Bites

In most cases, bed bug bites will be very itchy and can be anywhere on your body from head to toe. While bed bugs are not disease carriers, they can cause an allergic reaction in some people. If in doubt about the severity and/or reaction to the bites, consult with your family doctor.

What you’ll see may look similar to a flea or mosquito bite. A telling difference is bed bug bites are grouped together whereas a flea or mosquito bite is random and can be scattered in several places.

Signs to Look For

You’ll want to do a search of your bed linens, mattress, even around the headboard. Look for tiny eggs and dark spots, which is fecal matter, on the sheets.

If you find evidence, vacuum thoroughly and dispose of canister contents in a sealed bag. Next, get help from NJ pest control professionals.

When you’re in need of a NJ pest control specialist, look no further than Stern Environmental. With years of experience and tried and true treatments, we’ll have your bed bugs under control and out the door for good. Call today for fast and efficient service.

Bed Bug Information, Bed Bug News, Bed Bugs, News

Take A New Look at Updated Tips to Prevent Bringing Home Bedbugs From Your Vacation

Take A New Look at Updated Tips to Prevent Bringing Home Bedbugs From Your Vacation
Take A New Look at Updated Tips to Prevent Bringing Home Bedbugs From Your Vacation

No matter what the season may be people are traveling hither and yon for business and for pleasure. Whether it’s jetting across the pond to Europe or getting away for the weekend out of town, people are mobile. So are bed bugs.

That’s right. These tiny bloodsuckers are world travelers via luggage, totes, and your clothes, especially during the peak seasons.

Tips for Bed Bug Prevention When Traveling

– Secure luggage upon arrival at your accommodations by placing the luggage in the shower or bathtub. The reason; bed bugs won’t be hiding in those two places. They will be hiding in the closet, carpet, furniture, and mattress.

– Pack a flashlight so you can check inside drawers, behind pictures, and around sofa or chair cushions.

– Inspect the bed down to the bare bones. Remove the linens and the mattress cover and check for signs or even bugs.

– If there’s a luggage rack, check around the straps carefully for bed bug activity and/or eggs.

– At home, unpack luggage outside. Take all machine washable clothing items immediately to the washer. Dry on high heat. For items that cannot be machine washed, place them in the dryer on high heat for approximately 20 minutes.

At Stern, our NJ pest control technicians are experts at bed bug detection and treatment. If you’ve brought home some wayward travelers, one of our NJ pest control specialists will come out for an in-depth inspection.

Bed Bug Information, Bed Bug News, Bed Bugs, News

Think You Have Bed Bugs? Don’t Make These Mistakes.

Think You Have Bed Bugs?
Think You Have Bed Bugs?

Coming to the realization that your home has bed bugs is not pleasant but there are things you can do to alleviate and eliminate the problem.

Bed Bug Checklist

First thing on the list to do is not panic. You’re not the first nor the last person to face what is becoming a more frequent situation for people due to the mobility of these pests. To deal with the situation requires clear-thinking.

Next, if you have insect repellent for mosquitoes, do not cover yourself from head to toe. This is great if you have an infestation of mosquitoes but it won’t have any effect on bed bugs.

Other types of insect repellents that are FDA approved for bed bugs may not work in your situation or might be for outdoor use only. This is an area best left to a NJ pest control expert.

Your instincts may be telling you it’s time to move elsewhere but keep in mind if the problem isn’t addressed, the bed bugs in your home will move with you.

To begin the process of removing bed bugs, start with a thorough vacuuming of everything. Empty the canister frequently and secure the garbage bag so the bugs can’t escape.

Before you start tossing out your clothes and furniture, get professional help from a NJ pest control company. At Stern Environmental, we have the treatments to clear up your problem. Call today.

Commercial Services, Pest Control, Pest Eradication, Pest Management, Rodent Control

Address in the Bronx is the Most Rat Infested Building in New York City

And the Most Rat Infested Building Is...
And the Most Rat Infested Building Is…

Years ago when a person was aggravated or exasperated about something, they’d throw up their hands and say “Rats!” Today when someone says the word rats, especially in certain buildings in New York City, it means they’re actually seeing the disease-carrying rodents in their community.

And the Winner Is!

Data by Localize City from public information have declared several buildings in NYC as locations playing “hostess to the mostest” when it comes to the number of annual complaints being called in. While winning a competition is gratifying, in this case, it’s just the opposite.

Residents have kept the 311 phone line busy with complaints about roving rats and open garbage cans. Some of the top locations include Brooklyn’s Crown Heights and the Bronx. One of the worst is Bedford-Stuyvesant who’ve racked up over 1,800 complaints.

The data shows over 28,000 complaints registered regarding rats. The most were lodged in Brooklyn with over 10,000 and in second place, Manhattan with over 6,000. The war on rats is in full swing with the mayor of NYC leading the charge.

As it stands, the city seems to be losing ground while the rats are conducting successful food raids and terrorizing residents from youngsters to senior citizens.

Stern Environmental is committed to providing NJ pest control services that extend to NYC. Rats are known disease carriers and why you need to call for a Stern pest control inspection today.