GREENHOUSE PEST MANAGEMENT
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Archive for January, 2011
Because This is My Lifestyle
Because of the trend occurring and the age that we live in, there is a growing theme among businesses and consumers alike. Go green! Be eco-friendly. Buy organics. Let’s offer bamboo products and corn-based cutlery at our places of business. While the trend is catching on, and, albeit, some people really do connect to the movement, I have to ask myself, are these businesses and consumers simply tapping into a market, or is it a lifestyle? Is this a serious commitment to change and to begin working toward a more sustainable future?
So, judge lest I. Yes, I am the first to admit that our family has not completely banned all one-time use products. Not all of the goods in our home are sustainably produced or farmed nor are the bathroom products we use entirely aerosol free. No, our family has not perfected the mission, but we are committed to the cause. We feel it is important, however, to understand the goal and to take the necessary steps to achieve this.
Nearly a decade ago, while working with an amazing woman at a perennial nursery operation in North Atlanta, Joy enlightened me to the benefits of organics and of a sustainable lifestyle. I began purchasing food from a CSA. I developed a natural and organically grown veggie garden on-site where we began using integrated pest management to minimize our impact with pesticides and other synthetics. I bought bugs! They arrived in a cooler! This was a whole different way than school taught horticulture. I was hooked and this became my lifestyle!
Are Mice a Health Threat?
We look at the mouse and think to ourselves, these little creatures can’t be that harmful. I am trying to find why some people find these things so cute, is it because they are little? Would they find the little parasites they carry cute? The house mouse and their parasites are responsible in the transmission of a number of important diseases, including Salmonellosis, Rickettsialpox and Lymphocytic choriomeningitis. The mouse can be a major carrier of Leptospirosis, Rat Bite Fever, Ray Fungus, Tapeworms and Ringworms. These diseases can be easily transmitted to humans from mice.
Dermatitis cases have been tied to the mites that the mouse carriers. Signs of dermatitis are skin irritation, skin dryness and endless itching for kids and adults. The skin irritation is mostly diagnosed as heat rash or allergies, some leave with a type of medication and the dermatitis is gone. To the few that have endless skin issues, your problems may come from mites that could have hitchhiked their way into your home.
With little mites to worry about, now I have to inform you about the airborne issues that come with the mouse. Dust that has contained infected urine or fecal material can be dangerous when it becomes airborne. Hantavirus is a viral disease that can cause death when inhaled by people working or living in that environment. Here is that bad news, to this date no cure has been found, it can only be treated symptomatically after the respiratory problems have begun.
The Worst Job Ever 2!
This is a story that friends, clients and children of all ages want me to share to their friends. I still cringe every time I speak about it, I will do my best to give you an entertaining story.
So a client called, concerned that she may have rodents in her house. She started to notice that some of her knickknacks on her self kept falling over, she would place them back up to once again find them knocked over again. Yea, it could be a rat or rats. Let me come out and do an inspection first before we do any kind of treatment.
I start my inspection where she has noticed things moved around on her shelf. I look around and really don’t see any evidence of rats or mice. The dust on her shelf has no footprints around. A good indicator of rodents is inspecting the settled dust on the shelves. If you see little footprints, well then you have a rodent. However the dust was disturb, just not what a rodent would do. I have never seen signs like this before and I just look over it, I moved the inspection to around the baseboards and furniture. No success yet. I get to the couch and run my flashlight and catch a little movement. I take a look at it and I am floored on what I see.
#5 The Mosquito
The true blood suckers in our world, when twilight hits is when they are the most active. Feeding among the innocent, spreading fear in a cook out and locking the children in the home when an aerial assault starts. It’s odd to think that during the onslaught against humans, mosquitoes dominate us. How have we become the weaker species?
These mosquitoes work their way into our everyday decisions. Should we have Timmy’s 5th birthday party outside? Should I wear shorts and show all my red bumps? Do we really need to go for a walk? Which chemical should I marinate my children in? It goes on and on.
The mosquito is ranked number 4 in the most invasive species in the world and ranked 2 in the most invasive insect in the world and somehow I ranked it number 5. That’s because this is my blog and my opinion, also it’s because our yard is pretty much mosquito free. I have been using natural pest control services in my yard and to fully secure my yard I take care of my neighbor’s yard so I will never have an issue. I can count on one hand how many times I have been bite in the past couple of years.
The Top 5 Most Annoying Pests
I am developing a blog series on the most annoying pest. This is a list that will contain some of the most invasive species; pest that invades homes, destroy gardens and spread diseases. Prepare to get up close and personal with these little creatures; after all they have. I have selected them on two simple reasons; the impact on human activity and their interactions with our ecosystem. From epidemics that are sweeping across American to individual homes where pest have taken over. It only takes few small independent pest to create chaos in our homes, gardens and our nation. Enjoy.
Worst Jobs Ever 1!
Have you ever watch a scary movie where the damsel in distress is lost somewhere. It’s an up-close view of her face and then behind her she hears something, she whips around only to hear something behind her again. You only see this in a movie for less than a minute; I lived this for over an hour. I had a call out in Cherokee County for possible rodents in the garage; easy enough. This is one of my first rodent jobs all by myself, I was doing an internship with a company at the time and thought I was still in training. However they thought that I needed the experience; fair enough.
Worst Jobs Ever Series!
I am developing a series of blog posts of some of my worst jobs that I have ever encountered. To some professionals in the business it might not turn their stomachs; however I am not that guy. This profession came to me; I saw that Atlanta was in need of an all natural pest control company. This inspiration came from my son who had a serious asthma attack from pesticides being applied in our home. The outcome of our son is great; however the damage has been done. I knew that the residents of Atlanta were in desperate need for a company that understood the concerns of their family. I would be that guy; my only problem is that I hate bugs. Bugs smell, crawl, bite and stink; they will make me dance around and make me shiver if one touches me. I hate bugs; the journey of dry heaving from something nasty is still a journey after 6 years. Sometimes consumers are humored and sometimes they feel my fear of bugs. Why will someone hire me for their issues is simple; sometimes consumers need a good laugh despite their circumstances. Keep up with the blog and look for a series called the Worst Jobs Ever!