Category Archives: Commercial Services

One Man’s Pest Is Another Man’s Zoo: How Pests Thrive In An Urban Environment

Pests Thrive In Urban Environments, Too!
Pests Thrive In Urban Environments, Too!

Raccoons, ants and other targets of NJ pest control are always searching for a comfortable habitat. As cities continue to expand and displace natural landscapes, wildlife members are finding unlikely homes in urban surroundings.

Wildlife Becomes City Life

Millions viewed the recent viral video of Pizza Rat, an industrious rodent dragging a slice down New York subway steps. Sightings of feral cats snatching mice and pigeons feeding on discarded French fries are becoming increasingly more common in the hustle and bustle of cities.

Scientists view this as an example of the adaptive nature of cities and nature alike. While we generally picture “nature” as vast expanses of grass, trees and lakes, urban areas encompass another type of nature that includes even such surprising members as coyotes, deer and bald eagles.

Look, but Don’t Touch

For years, researchers dismissed urban communities as the dark side of nature. Cities were places where insects begin their insidious spread across the country, not forums to watch animals go about their business.

Experts warn against one dangerous side effect of this movement. People are sometimes fooled into thinking proximity equals domesticity. Wildlife is still best observed at a safe distance.

NJ Pest Control Experts for All Environments

Squirrels, cockroaches and other pests may be tolerated as distant neighbors, but no one  wants them as house guests. Contact Stern Environmental for safe and effective removal of wildlife and insects.

Rats and Restaurants – Winter Garbage is Still a Problem for Foraging Colonies

Rats are Hungry, Just Like Restaurant Customers... Don't Feed Them Though!
Rats are Hungry, Just Like Restaurant Customers… Don’t Feed Them Though!

Although it’s colder outside, rats can still be a problem for restaurant owners. These rodents dig through garbage all winter long in order to find sources of food. Without NJ rat control, this could lead to big problems for your restaurant in terms of cleanliness and safety.  Keep the following in mind to protect your property from rats this winter.

Dumpster Protection

The dumpsters on your property are one of the biggest sources of food for rats. Having lids that aren’t closed tightly and a lot of easy access to food can result in a rat infestation during winter. Make sure that the dumpsters on your property are securely closed at all times, and keep containers or bags with food inside dumpsters sealed as much as possible.

Entry Points

When rats know they can find food in your dumpsters, their next step could be going inside your restaurant. Rats can get into small openings and gaps anywhere on your property. Identifying and closing these entry points helps keep them out. Delivery personnel and employees should use caution when opening and closing doors, so rats don’t sneak in.

Rat Prevention Tips

Other ways to keep rats away include cleaning up spills and sweeping up food debris as quickly as possible. Trash from inside should also be emptied daily.

If you need NJ rat control for your restaurant, contact Stern Environmental.

Roaches and Mice, Oh My! More Restaurants in NYC Have Been Hit With Violations This Year.

Roaches and Mice, Oh My! More Restaurants in NYC Have Been Hit With Violations This Year.
Roaches and Mice, Oh My! More Restaurants in NYC Have Been Hit With Violations This Year.

The number of pest-related health violations in NYC restaurants has reached an alarming high. Nearly twice as many restaurants were shut down by city health officials due to unsanitary conditions in 2018 as compared to 2017. Eateries in the city were hit with 12,992 rodent and roach-related violations, a rise of 57%. The NJ pest control crew at Stern has the latest on this unappetizing story.

Who’s Coming to Dinner? 

A total of 10,280 violations were linked to mice and 2,712 were linked to roaches.

Where are the Worst Violations?

Though all boroughs have seen a spike in pest-related citations, the highest incidence appears to be in Queens. Here, violations jumped 70% to 3,138 in 2018 – up from 1,841 in 2017.

Why the Rise?

Some wonder if the pest control crisis in our busy city is getting worse. Others ponder if the jump in pest-related citations is the result of more diligent inspections rather than an increase in mice and roaches in the area. To date, no cause has been identified.

Hope on the Horizon

Despite the rise in restaurant horror stories, 90% of the eateries in all five boroughs still receive A-ratings from the NYC Health Department, giving diners many safe options to grab a bite in the Big Apple.

Uninvited guests? Give rodents and roaches the boot with help from the NJ pest control experts at Stern Environmental today.

Cryonite Treatment for Cockroaches

Cryonite Treatment for Cockroaches
Cryonite Treatment for Cockroaches

When it comes to NJ pest control for cockroaches, the use of chemical sprays raises some concerns for property owners, such as the risk of health issues. Fortunately, there’s another option for eliminating these pests. Cryonite provides a way for pest control professionals to freeze cockroaches to death.

How Cryonite Works

Cryonite involves the use of carbon dioxide in a “snow” form. Liquid carbon dioxide is stored in a tank and transformed into a frozen “mist” that reaches temperatures of roughly 108 degrees below zero. When these frozen particles make contact with insects, they kill these bugs quickly.

Even though cockroaches are able to survive in colder temperatures, they can’t handle the sudden and severe drop in temperature when Cryonite particles hit them.

Benefits of Cryonite

Cryonite provides a safe and effective way to kill cockroaches. After being sprayed, Cryonite turns into a gas form and evaporates, which doesn’t leave any residue behind. This type of pest control can be used on a wide range of surfaces where cockroaches are lurking, including furniture, pipes and outlets.

With the use of Cryonite, cockroach eggs are also destroyed, which helps protect homes and businesses from ongoing or additional cockroach infestations.

If you need NJ pest control for cockroaches or other bugs, please contact Stern Environmental Group. Our technicians use Cryonite to eliminate insect pests in your NJ home or business.

New Jersey Restaurant Owners Should Watch for These Cockroaches

You Won't Just See One!
You Won’t Just See One!

In the classic comedy Victor Victoria, Julie Andrews plays a scene with a cockroach in a restaurant for laughs. When it comes to the real world, there’s nothing funny about that scenario. Call our NJ restaurant pest control experts when you find any of these unwelcome guests in your business.

Cockroach Species Commonly Found in New Jersey

• Despite their name, German cockroaches have permeated every corner of the world. They tend to gravitate to restaurants and food-processing facilities. Light brown or tan in color, German cockroaches have wings but prefer running to flying.

• Oriental cockroaches are also known as black beetles due to their dark, glossy color. These pests are sometimes called waterbugs because they’re often found in dark, damp places such as sewers and drains, where they feed on decaying organic materials.

• American cockroaches are the largest of the more common species, both in population and size. The reddish-brown color and distinctive yellow “figure eight” marking on the American cockroach’s head makes them easy to identify.

• As the name implies, brown-banded cockroaches have bands across the wings and abdomen. Brown-banded cockroaches need warmth rather than moisture, but also seek out areas with access to food and multiple hiding places.

Turn to Stern Environmental Group for NJ Restaurant Pest Control

Don’t let cockroaches eat away at your business. Our commercial pest control services are tailored to meet your specific needs. Contact us for more information.