Tag Archives: Pest Animal Removal

Disease Carrying Pests, News, Pest Animal Removal, Rats

What to Know About Norway Rats and Roof Rats in New Jersey

Tips to Keep Rodents Out of Your Home
Tips to Keep Rodents Out of Your Home

Rats in NJ can cause serious problems for commercial property owners. Norway rats and roof rats are among the more common rodent species in the state. Learning more about these rats, including what they look like, can help you know when to get professional NJ pest control.

Roof Rats

Roof rats are smaller than Norway rats, measuring up to 18 inches long from head to tail when fully grown. These rats have darker coloring and smoother fur with a long, black tail and pointed muzzle. These rats usually stay higher up, such as on rooftops or trees, compared to Norway rats. They also prefer warmer climates.

Norway Rats

Norway rats are large, with a body length that measures up to ten inches long, not including their tail. These rats have a bulkier body than roof rats, along with a shorter tail, blunt muzzle, rougher coat and smaller eyes. They also have a brownish coloring that’s lighter than roof rats’ coloring. Norway rats tend to stay lower down where they search for food.

Both rats can spread disease, chew electrical wiring, contaminate food and cause other problems for building owners. Prompt removal is important when you have an infestation of either of these rodents.

If you have Norway or roof rats in your building, contact Stern Environmental right away. Our NJ pest control experts can get rid of these rodents to prevent damage and disease.

Animal Control, News, Nuisance Wildlife Control, Pest Animal Removal, Raccoons

What to Know About Raccoon Breeding Season in New Jersey

What to Know About Raccoon Breeding Season in New Jersey
What to Know About Raccoon Breeding Season in New Jersey

Raccoons can be amusing to watch when they’re outside, but they can be a nuisance indoors. Knowing more about their breeding habits can help you understand what to expect if these critters get into your home. Keep in mind that you’ll need professional NJ raccoon control if they’re living in your attic or walls.

When Do Raccoons Breed?

Raccoons typically breed in late winter and early spring from February to March. However, these animals can breed earlier in winter or later in spring. Raccoons in your home could be breeding as early as December in some cases. If this occurs, you can expect to have a litter to deal with as well.

Raccoon litters usually have between four and six babies, and mothers are known for being fiercely protective of their young. This could result in injuries to you or your pets if you come across these critters in or on your property.

What to Do About Raccoons

Raccoons can put you at risk of injuries or cause damage to your home. You might have raccoons in your attic or walls if they’re looking for a warm area for breeding and raising a litter. You should have professional raccoon control experts handle their removal, so that you won’t get hurt.

If you have raccoons in your attic or walls, contact Stern Environmental. We provide dependable NJ raccoon control services in NJ.

Animal Control, Groundhogs, News, Nuisance Wildlife Control, Pest Animal Removal, Pest Control

National Geographic Uncovers the Secret Life of Groundhogs

National Geographic Uncovers the Secret Life of Groundhogs
National Geographic Uncovers the Secret Life of Groundhogs

Have you ever wondered what groundhogs are up to when they’re running around your yard? Most people don’t know that these animals can cause a lot of damage. It often takes an NJ groundhog control specialist to remove them humanely. Still, their lives are fascinating, and National Geographic has given us an inside look.

All About the Groundhog

The groundhog is sometimes referred to as a woodchuck. It’s a marmot, and also a member of the squirrel family. They grow to weigh about 18 pounds, and from head to tail their length ranges from 24 to 35 inches.

During the warmer months of the year, groundhogs spend their time eating as much food as they can. They’re herbivores, so your garden is one of their favorite places to dine. After the first frost of the year, they hide away and snooze until springtime. Their fat helps to sustain them through the colder months of winter.

When to Call a NJ Groundhog Control Specialist

Groundhogs might be cute, furry and fun to watch, but they can also cause big problems. Given the right circumstances, they have been known to chew through underground wires. So even though they’re fun to watch, it’s best to find a professional who can help you remove them without causing harm.

At Stern Environmental, we’re eager to help you if you have a groundhog problem at your home. Contact us today.

Animal Control, News, Pest Animal Removal, Rats, Rodent Control

Incredible? NYC Says “We Are At War!” – Against Rats That Is

Don't Let the Next Ratatouille Movie Go Down at Your Home!
Don’t Let the Next Ratatouille Movie Go Down at Your Home!

Climate change isn’t just fueling wacky weather patterns. In recent news, it has been pinpointed as the likely cause of New York’s rising rodent epidemic. Buoyed by warmer temperatures, the rat population in the Big Apple is burgeoning, leading to a rise in rat-related complaints.

Surge in Rat Activity Nationwide

Warmer temperatures are lengthening the breeding season, with rat populations rising as the absence of cold temperatures fails to slow reproduction. While NYC and NJ pest control companies have seen an increase in rat-related calls to the city, up 10% in 2016, they are far from alone.

Other big cities, including Boston, Houston, Philadelphia, and Washington are also witnessing a surge in rat activity and subsequent complaints. Service requests are through the roof, and beleaguered pest control professionals are struggling to keep up.

This Means War

To combat the pestilence, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a $32-million plan in 2017 aimed at eradicating the rodents. In addition to sanitation and building improvement initiatives, city exterminators can now gas rats to death in their burrows in heavily-infested areas rather than resorting to ecologically-damaging poisons.

Despite such tactics, de Blasio fears rodents will prevail, taking advantage of a city that is highly-populated, laden with old, holey-buildings and a wonderland of waste.

Battle weary? Don’t give up yet. Turn the tide against rats with the help of the NJ pest control veterans at Stern Environmental today. 

News, Nuisance Wildlife Control, Pest Animal Removal

Telltale Signs of Squirrels in Your New Jersey Attic

Squirrels May Find It Easy to Chew Into Your Attic
Squirrels May Find It Easy to Chew Into Your Attic

You’re sitting quietly in your home and you hear noises coming from the attic. Maybe it’s a scratching sound or the light pitter-patter of feet skittering across the ceiling. If this is what you’re hearing, chances are it’s a squirrel taking up residence.

Signs that Squirrels are In-House

Squirrels that have found their way inside your home may stick around for a while. This is especially true during the cold winter months and when they need a safe place to bear their young.

What you may hear, most often, is scratching sounds emanating from the ceiling and sometimes from the walls if one has inadvertently gotten stuck. They’ve also been known to get stuck in chimneys. As mentioned, you may hear one or more squirrels skedaddling across the ceiling.

If you’re able to do a visual check of the attic, you may see signs of fecal matter. Other areas to visually check are exterior points of entry as squirrels are adept at chewing and there aren’t many materials that present a challenge, including metal. Look around the roof line, fascia boards, screens, even a roof’s shingles.

When you find signs of squirrels in the attic, the best course of action is contacting NJ pest control specialists. With NJ pest control experts on the job, squirrels can be removed safely and efficiently.

For expert and humane help with squirrel removal, contact the professionals at Stern Environmental.