Category Archives: Wildlife Control

University of Maryland Offers Tips on Groundhog Control

University of Maryland Offers Tips on Groundhog Control
University of Maryland Offers Tips on Groundhog Control

Remember the dancing groundhog that tormented groundskeeper Bill Murray in Caddyshack? Experts from the University of Maryland explain why NJ groundhog control is no laughing matter.

Characteristics and Habits of Groundhogs

While groundhogs are part of the squirrel family, they tend to be larger, nearly two feet in length and a weight of 10 pounds or more. The most distinctive feature of groundhogs, or woodchucks as they’re also known, is their powerful front feet used for digging burrows.

A groundhog’s burrow may reach as deep as five feet. There is often more than one entrance, and they are expanded to accommodate the groundhog’s growth. Eventually, a fully developed network of burrows can cover anywhere from eight to 66 feet.

Since groundhogs are herbivores, eating mostly vegetation, they can cause major damage to vegetable and flower gardens. Their burrows may also extend under sheds and other outdoor structures

DIY NJ Groundhog Control

Keep groundhogs out by surrounding gardens with a sturdy four-foot fence that reaches one foot below ground. Add an electric fence wire four to five inches off the ground to prevent groundhogs from climbing over. Live traps can be set with fresh fruits or vegetables as bait.

Experienced NJ Groundhog Control Services

Technicians from Stern Environmental Group will remove groundhogs from your property using effective and humane methods. Contact us for more information about our comprehensive pest control services.

What to Do When Raccoons Move Into Your Attic

What to Do When Raccoons Move Into Your Attic
What to Do When Raccoons Move Into Your Attic

Furry freeloaders living in your attic? When raccoons move in, rapid NJ raccoon removal is the first thing on your mind. However, this task must be handled carefully to avoid compounding your problems.

What to Do with Raccoons Living in Your Attic

January to September, it’s wise to assume the raccoon in your attic is a mother with babies. Luckily, these devoted, protective mothers will move their babies if given the chance. There are a few ways to accomplish this:

1. Wait.

Raccoon families typically only stay for short periods. Some will move babies to another site during the nesting season. Others will vacate when babies are fully independent at summer’s end.

2. Humane harassment.

A top carrier of rabies and often vicious when cornered, never attempt to physically remove raccoons on your own. Instead, make your home inhospitable. Inside or outside the den, place a bright light and a radio tuned in to a talk station for a few days/nights. Place a bag of used kitty litter outside as a scent deterrent. Avoid ‘one-way doors,’ which often leave babies trapped inside. Use a ‘newspaper test,’ taping 2-sheets of newspaper over the entrance to verify eviction.

3. Professional assistance.

Short on time/patience? Professional NJ raccoon removal can speed this process, safely and humanely extricating animals and disinfecting the site.

Need to give furry bandits the boot, fast? Contact Stern Environmental today. 

Do You Have a Raccoon in Your Attic? The Telltale Signs

Do You Have a Raccoon in Your Attic? The Telltale Signs
Do You Have a Raccoon in Your Attic? The Telltale Signs

Raccoons knocking over your trash cans are bad enough. Having one inside your attic is even worse as they present health and safety risks. Raccoons are common in northern New Jersey, where they destroy roofs and walls while spreading disease.

To protect your home from damage and avoid illness from these rabies-carrying intruders, get NJ pest control services to safely handle raccoon removal.

Sounds & Signs of Raccoons in the Attic

Raccoons make enough noise that you’ll probably hear them walking around. They are most active at night, but urban wildlife may cause noise at any time.

Take a flashlight to the attic and shine it around. This helps identify a raccoon nest because their eyeballs will reflect the flashlight.

The smell of raccoon musk, urine, and feces will be obvious. Their poop looks a lot like cat poop. Squirrels leave smaller pellets.

Beware of Raccoon Problems in the Summer

It’s most common to get a pregnant mother raccoon who wants to give birth and raise her young in the safety of the indoors.

Be careful, though, because a concerned mama will be aggressive and defensive. If you block her out with the kids still in the attic, she will destroy whatever she needs to get back in.

NJ pest control professionals offer humane removal, cleaning and disinfecting, and blocking raccoons from getting back inside your home.

Need help removing a raccoon nest from the attic? Contact us at Stern Environmental for NJ pest control by your local wildlife removal experts!

Get the Facts on Raccoons and Why They Love to Move Into Your Attic

Too Adaptable

Get the Facts on Raccoons and Why They Love to Move Into Your Attic
Get the Facts on Raccoons and Why They Love to Move Into Your Attic

For raccoons, survival is dependent on adaptability. Adaptability is a great skill for raccoons to have but it spells trouble for you. The same instincts that keep raccoons seeking shelter, feeding and surviving can drive them to invade your space. In New Jersey, the only thing that should be inhabiting your attic is keepsakes, mementos, and living space, not uninvited guests. Stern Environmental’s NJ pest control aims to keep out the stowaways.

What’s in Your Attic?

Raccoons seek shelter in dry and abandoned areas. When was the last time you checked your attic? Are there any dumpsters or scraps of food near or outside your home? Raccoons love to munch on human food. They’re omnivores and love fruits, vegetables and meat. If your home has a dry and warm attic that comes with questionably edible entrees within reach, it’s like an open invitational for a raccoon! Stop the raccoon invasion! Get some great advice from an NJ pest control professional today!

The Dexterity Paws

Do you think there’s no way a raccoon can get into your house? Think again. Raccoons are professionals at getting around obstacles. They’ve been known to open doors, bottles, lift latches and to the frustration of attic owners everywhere are great climbers. Beware of tipped trash cans, tell-tale paw prints, and ruined crop gardens. A raccoon may be raiding your property! Contact Stern Environmental right away!

Our One Way Tunnels Let Raccoons Out and Not Back Into Your Attic

Our One Way Tunnels Let Raccoons Out and Not Back Into Your Attic
Our One Way Tunnels Let Raccoons Out and Not Back Into Your Attic

Wondering what to do about raccoons in the attic? Send them packing with a one-way ticket! Our NJ pest control experts have devised a one-way tunnel for raccoons that they will use to go foraging—then find out they cannot re-enter the home.

Eviction tunnels solve your raccoon problem safely and humanely:

No trapping necessary so you can avoid contact, which can spread rabies and other illnesses.

Avoids euthanasia, assuming the raccoon takes the hint and goes away.

More effective by far compared to sprays, lights, music, or other DIY raccoon removal tactics.

How Do One-Way Raccoon Tunnels Work?

Our doors are made from strong metal that even a wily raccoon cannot bend or break. A NJ pest control technician will safely install the tunnel at the raccoon’s preferred entry and exit point.

A narrow, angled opening allows the raccoon to escape at night when it wants to search for food. Raccoons will push their way out of the door, but will not be able to enter from the other direction.

Beware of DIY Raccoon Tunnels

A one-way door should only be used after consulting with a professional wildlife removal specialist. Most importantly, we need to ensure there are no baby raccoons stuck inside the attic.

Leaving babies behind will lead to foul odors, especially if one dies in the nest. You also want professional cleaning to remove urine and feces, which may contain roundworm.

If getting rid of raccoons in the attic is your objective, nothing beats a one-way tunnel. Contact us for NJ pest control and raccoon removal by knowledgeable, experienced professionals!