Many people consider the pest business seasonal, and while pest problems certainly peak during the spring and summer, the winter brings its own unique challenges.  Like humans, insects and rodents need shelter from the cold weather, and our homes provide the warmth, food and water needed for survival.  

Below is a Q and A developed by the National Pest Management Association about what to expect from winter pests.  If you are having insect or rodent problems, click here to complete our online service request form, or call us for more information.  Homes protected by Schendel are PestZero guaranteed 365 days a year, not just during the spring and summer.

Will pest infestations this winter be worse than most winters?

Pests need food, water, and shelter, just like humans. If conditions are good for any of these, a population will thrive. If all three are available, populations will explode. As humans, we provide the shelter, whether it be our homes or places of business.  This is also why pest populations vary from region to region of the country. If there is a wet summer with abundant plant growth, expect to see more rodents, insects, and other pests. Dry summers will lead to winter ant populations seeking food and water.

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AIB Changes 2009 Inspection Standards

The American Institute of Baking International (AIB) has made significant changes to its 2009 standards for inspection.  Schendel recently hosted a training seminar for our food grade clients with Al St. Cyr, AIB’s Head of Food Safety Education.  St. Cyr did a great job outlining AIB changes related to pest management programs, and I thought it would be helpful to summarize some of his comments here.  Since this is just a general overview, you should contact us directly if you have specific questions or concerns about the pest management program in your inspected facility.  Also, more detailed information about the changes can be found at www.aibonline.org/2009standards .

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Homeowners typically work to prevent smaller pests – notably rodents– from seeking shelter indoors during colder temperatures. Yet the unwelcome presence of other wildlife such as birds, bats, squirrels, skunks and raccoons often goes unaddressed despite the similar health and property risks these animals pose. 

Birds frequently harbor diseases such as Lyme disease, West Nile virus and histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease spread through infected bird droppings. Bats, raccoons and skunks are frequent carriers of rabies, which is potentially fatal if left untreated. In fact, as many as 40,000 people each year in the United States are exposed to animals that might have rabies, and must seek treatment as a result.

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Having a few birds nesting around a sign or on a window sill may not seem like a big deal, but pest birds can cause costly damage, or even be deadly to humans and other animals.  Did you know that the nesting materials of birds--straw, twigs and grass--is highly flammable?  If birds build their nests inside electrical signs or other machinery, the risk of fire is great.  In fact, electric sign companies blame bird nests for most of their sign fires.

Pest birds can be found in many different areas of a structure.  Their droppings may be scattered here and there, or may be heavily accumulated in protected areas.  Nests and heavy droppings indicate a more serious problem, and the birds are often very committed to the site—their home—and can be difficult to remove.  Below are areas of buildings where it is not uncommon to find birds, droppings or nesting materials.

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