Author: creaturecontrol

Histoplasmosis & Bat Guano

When considering the potential dangers of bats, most people will know about the possibility that the flying rodents carry rabies, which is undoubtedly a valid concern. There’s no reason to downplay that risk because it’s certainly real, but a far more likely issue (statistically speaking) is contracting Histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis is a disease that generally affects the lungs and can be contracted through exposure to bat feces, commonly known as guano. Large amounts of guano left to dry are usually a result of a successful bat eviction that did not involve any cleanup or a failed cleanup. Exposure usually comes from disturbing guano that has dried out, as the disease comes from fungal spores that infect the bats themselves and are present in the guano. Symptoms of Histoplasmosis include aches, chest tightness, fevers, chills, and in chronic cases, bloody coughs. It is treatable, but if left to spread outside the lungs,…

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Effective Mouse Control

As winter approaches and the temperature outside drops, we humans like to cozy up inside our nice, warm houses. Unfortunately, so do pests such as mice, squirrels, and raccoons. In Michigan, mice are certainly our biggest wintertime pest concern. Unlike other mammals, a mouse will not hibernate, and mice colonies will remain active throughout the winter season. In fact, mouse activity may even increase during the colder weather because those living nearby, in fields, etc., will be drawn inside your home as they seek warm shelter. Mice have an incredible sense of smell, and they are small enough to squeeze through a hole the size of a dime. They are nocturnal and are generally not seen during the day. A sure sign of a rodent infestation is mouse droppings, dirty/grease smudges along baseboards, a distinctive ammonia-like odor (strong urine smell), damage caused by their constant gnawing, nests made from shredded…

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Understanding Recurring Services

Many of our customers call us out to deal with raccoons, bats, or squirrels: issues that are usually solved within a few weeks (depending on the season) and with only a few visits from one of our technicians.  Pest issues, however (especially mice), nearly always require more maintenance to keep control over the population.  This can seem discouraging to those who just want their problem solved, but we have a nearly painless method of maintaining control over small rodents.  Therefore, we often recommend our Recurring Services program. Typically, a mouse service starts with an initial inspection. The technician will write up an estimate for a rodenticide application, determine the number of exterior and garage bait stations (containing rodenticide) required, and the seal work to be done.  The rodenticide treatment and the bait stations can usually be done at the same visit, and two weeks later, the technician will return to…

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Explaining Check Valves for Bats

Let’s say you hypothetically noticed a bat or two in your home over the winter and called Creature Control in the late spring to set up an inspection. Your technician arrives in early June, and writes up a quote, which you consider for a week or so. You decide to move forward with the bat eviction, and call to schedule the work to be done, only to be told that we need to hold off on installing your check valves (the one-way doors used to evict bats) until mid-August. Why is that? The reason is because up until that time, any juvenile bats that might be in your attic are still unable to fly on their own. They will starve to death if their mother exits the den to feed and is unable to return due to the check valves and seal work we would have completed. However, a couple…

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Tick Bites and Prevention

You may have already seen articles this year stating that the tick population here in Michigan has already increased beyond “average” levels. Experts seem to agree: there are far more ticks than usual this year, and there are a number of reasons for that. But first, what is a tick, and should you be concerned about them? General Tick Facts Ticks are actually arachnids, from the same class as spiders (they’re not proper insects). They have eight legs like spiders, and the ticks here in Michigan range in size from a pinhead to a pencil eraser. They cannot jump; instead, they use a process called “questing” that involves waiting for potential hosts to pass closely by where the tick is hiding and clinging to the first layer of skin. Ticks prefer to live in areas that are both warm and humid (hence why a Michigan summer is perfect for them), and particularly in…

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2021 Cicada Resurgence: Brood X

There’s a good chance that in the past few weeks that you’ve heard mention somewhere of the 2021 Brood X cicadas. For the past 17 years, they’ve been content underground, but this is the year of their periodical resurgence; as soon as the soil warms to 64 degrees Fahrenheit, billions of cicadas will make their way through the ground in swarms.  Where is the reappearance supposed to occur? Should you be worried about Brood X?  Here’s everything you need to know about the Brood X cicada resurgence:  What is Brood X?  The Brood X (10) cicadas differ slightly from the usual cicada species that we may see annually. Orange-eyed and black bodied, these cicadas resurface in 17-year periods. Although there are about 15 other broods of periodically reappearing cicadas, Brood X has both the most significant concentration and range. The density of these cicada swarms is projected to be astronomical…

2021 Cicada Resurgence: Brood X
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The History of Bed Bugs

One insect homeowners fear most is the infamous bed bug. Despite the fact that bed bugs do not transmit diseases, they cause panic and trouble wherever they’re found. And they’ve been doing it for thousands of years! Let’s take a quick look at the history of bed bugs. Early records of bed bugs Archaeologists have found bed bug fossils at a 3,500 year old site in Egypt, suggesting that these obnoxious insects have been around for thousands of years! During that period, bed bugs were commonly cited as a valuable ingredient in potions against snakebites. The Greeks and Romans wrote about them frequently, citing their medicinal value.In Pliny’s Natural History (c. 77-79 AD), bed bugs are mentioned as cures for ear infections and lethargy: seven bed bugs in a cup of water for adults and four bugs for the children’s remedy! In ancient Rome they were referred to as “cimex…

The History of Bed Bugs
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Screech Owl Removal in Grand Haven

                  In February Creature Control received a call from a factory in Grand Haven for a bird problem. This factory had experienced some bird issues in the past (mainly starlings and sparrows), but this was a different kind of problem. A little guest was flying about loose inside the factory. Short, brown and stocky with a round head and a short tail, this guest happened to be a little eastern screech owl. The factory staff had tried to help the owl escape by leaving the doors open. However, the owl refused to leave. Unable to solve the problem on their own, they contacted Creature Control. Our West Michigan manager Josh headed out with another technician Julien to assess the situation. As part of the usual routine in animal rescue/removal, our technicians searched for an entry point and were able to identify a…

Owl Removal in Grand Haven
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