Sorenson Pest Control Blog

Humans have been using the peppermint plant for centuries as food, fragrance and homeopathic medicine. There is proof that it works in all three of those areas but what about when it comes to mouse control? Can laying a few hard, peppermint candies out on to the counter or spraying oil in front of a suspected den keep the furry critters at bay? Chances are they won’t provide the type of mouse control home and business owners need. So why does the myth persist? Perhaps it has to do with rodent biology. Scientists have long known that mice have an acute sense of smell, which they use for survival. It helps them do everything from identify friends and foes to food. But study research published in Nature Neuroscience, during the summer of 2014, show that there are limitations to the little creatures’ sniffing power. Like humans, mice have a tendency to get distracted...

When you think of a spider, you probably picture a big, round web with its resident spider poised in the center, waiting for a hapless fly to land in the web's sticky strands. With few exceptions, you would be thinking of an orb weaver spider of the family Araneidae. (About Insects) Most commonly found near human habitations, orbweavers spin large webs in which to trap their prey. Their hope is to catch many flying insects. Later, these webs are almost entirely consumed before new ones are built, since by eating their own webs, orbweavers are able to recycle the silk. One of the larger varieties of orbweaver is the Golden Silk Spider, better known to many as the "banana spider." These spiders prefer a tropical climate, and often spin their large, sticky webs in the branches of trees or in the dense undergrowth of the woods, where they become the bane of hikers and hunters. In more inhabited...

The best way to handle roach control is not a secret. In fact, here is the solution! Hire a professional. Yes it really is that easy!  People try several techniques to solve their problems with roaches once and for all, but have to keep fighting them month after month anyway. You can search for 'cheap and easy ways to do it yourself' but you'll never be rid of the problem using any of those methods once and for all. The one method you can use which will fix your pest control problem for good is to hire someone to do it for you. We can help you find a professional fast and easy. But first here are 4 reasons why it is better to hire a pest control company. Reason number 1 to hire a professional: When you bring in the professionals they can recommend the best solutions for you as an individual....

Have you been dealing with mice in your home for years and can't seem to get them out? You're not alone: mice are incredibly clever creatures that are nearly impossible to catch, let alone eliminate. First of all, mice have incredible senses. Their hearing range is wide and includes incredibly high-pitched sounds, which makes it easier for them to hear you coming. And their smell is very strong: they actually recognize living creatures almost entirely by smell. Some mice can even track intruders and friends by sniffing out their footprints. And while mice have fairly poor vision, they make up for it with their sense of touch. Those cute little whiskers detect vibrations and send these sensations directly to their brain. However, long tactile fur also threads through their coat, giving them an even stronger sense of touch. They can often literally feel your footsteps from across the house. Mice also...

DIY roach control techniques are highly attractive to homeowners because they're relatively inexpensive and easy to implement. However, they just can't be considered a truly effective way to deal with a serious roach infection. The advantages of the following DIY techniques are definitely outweighed by their disadvantages. Boric Acid Boric acid is safe-for-human substance that can be combined with sugar and water to create a paste dangerous to cockroaches. Once ingested, it will slowly kill roaches by dehydration. A slow death is part of what makes this a popular technique as it gives roaches plenty of time to share the paste with their young. So, why should you avoid this method? Simple: it just can't kill cockroaches quickly enough to be effective. It can take over a week to successfully kill a single roach. By then, multiple roaches in the colony have likely given birth, Beer and Bread While it's true...

Perhaps ants aren't high on your lists of problems. If that's the case, then we're glad you're here. This post will be an education for you. If you're already aware of the dangers that the ant population can pose, then the following post will leave you not only with your fears more firmly entrenched than ever, but also with a possible solution to help you move forward.  3 Reasons to Worry about Ant Control: Ants Can Bring about Property Damage This is perhaps one of the primary reasons to consult a professional, since property damage can ruin your quality of life and significantly lower the value of your home. Carpenter ants are especially damaging, with their penchant for weakening wood structures when they nest in the walls. Ants Can Cause Asthma and Allergies Not only can ants weaken structures, but they can also have harmful effects on the people living or working in those structures. Tiny yellow pharaoh...

How many spiders do you suppose there are in America right now? A dozen different kinds? A hundred? What if we told you that there are several thousand species of spiders crawling around North America this very minute? Each species of spider is represented by millions of individuals-- do the math, and you'll realize that spiders outnumber humans exponentially. Fortunately, only three species of spider are likely to harm you, so says the Center for Disease Control. Unfortunately, if you share your home or workspace with any dangerous spider, there's not a lot you can do about it on your own. Frankly, you shouldn't even try. For every spider you see, there may be many more hiding nearby. Brown Recluse A Brown Recluse can cause considerable pain and injury to anyone with the bad luck to surprise the normally shy spider. Recluse spiders are known to hide inside shoes, clothes and...

So, you spotted a rodent scurrying across your kitchen floor and decided you need to do something about it. That's totally understandable. However, if you've spotted even a single mouse out in the open, there's a good chance your home is crawling with the critters. And you simply can't get rid of all these mice on your own. There are several reasons you should just leave mouse control to the professionals. Signs of Mouse Infestation Though you should never try to deal with a mouse infestation on your own, you should at least make sure you have one before calling a professional. Tell-tale signs of a mouse infestation include: Small Bee-Bee Sized Droppings Scratch Marks Holes in Walls Chewed Wires Gnawed Plastic Items Shredded Paper Scurrying Noises in Walls Musty Odors Dangers of Mice Infestation While you may be willing to share a home with mice, that is definitely not a...

Did you know that there are more than five different species of ants that routinely cause problems for homeowners? Its true and one of them is the Crematogaster ashmeadi. Also known as acrobats, they have unusual features and behaviors that not only make them stand out among their peers but give rise to the need for an ant control professional’s services. What Do They Look Like? Visually, acrobats have extremely glossy, brown, black or red bodies that are 3.2-milimeters long and sport heart-shaped gasters outfitted with small stingers. And yes, they have no qualms about using them and their mouths to inflict pain on other living creatures. Of course they also use their mouths to ingest sweet liquids and water from wet wood, which is one of their favorite nesting sites. Understandably, they are just a few pressing reasons why professional ant control measures are needed when acrobats are involved. Which Behaviors...

Do you fear that Africanized honey bees have taken up residence on your property? If so, you may have cause for concern. Of course not all of the horrific stories are true. Some are simply urban legends meant to warn away children and others prone to going into respiratory distress or anaphylactic shock. But that doesn’t mean the presence of Africanized insects isn’t reason enough to hire bee and wasp control experts. Licensed, Certified Pest Control Operators or CPCOs are highly trained individuals who have a grasp of bee and wasp control measures that exceeds their peers. Consequently, they are the best people to call regarding a potential Africanized honey bee colony. Most colonies of Africanized honey bees tend to swarm between now and the end of July. The swarms, by the way, tend to be the most dangerous when it comes to loss of life and property damage. So this...

What is 7-inches long, weighs less than an ounce and has a 4-inch tail? If you guessed a house mouse, you’d be correct.  It can scurry through cracks smaller than 1-inch across and jump a foot high off of the ground from a standing position. Plus, the females are often capable of giving birth to 60 offspring in a given year.  At first blush, that may seem pretty impressive. Unfortunately, nature’s little marvels also carry infectious, harmful pathogens with them. So, there is certainly no place for house mice in a person’s home. Thankfully, there are mouse control measures available that will successfully keep the infectious critters away. The situation and the homeowners’ preferences will help determine which ones mouse control experts use to achieve their objectives. In general, mouse control efforts start with determining the tiny mammals’ point of entry. The suspected main entry is then sealed along with any...

Yellow jackets may be considered social insects among their kind but there are very few humans that want to associate with them and with good reason. They are often extremely uncompromising, reproduce quickly and have the ability to deliver nasty stings. In addition, it’s often hard to spot their nest until it’s too late. This is especially the case with subterranean yellow jackets. Along with their above ground cohorts, they tend to build new nests each spring. As such, its best for homeowners to begin thinking about bee and wasp control now, before fledgling nests have time to grow. If left unchecked, it is common for above and below ground nests to eventually shelter more than 200,000 yellow jackets at a time! That’s pretty disturbing, considering that yellow jackets have the capability to sting and release irritating venom into their victims multiple times. According to medical experts, less than 100 people die...

Roaches are probably the most loathsome and the most prolific pest there is. They infest the walls and other hidden spaces of a private home, venturing out in search of food, leaving droppings and their dead bodies everywhere. Controlling roaches is important, not just because they look horrible and smell worse, but because they constitute a health hazard. According to the National Center for Healthy Housing, roaches are a particular danger for asthma sufferers because the debris they leave behind can be breathed in. They are also carriers of a number of diseases that can afflict anyone, especially the young, the old, and people who are already ill with something else. Controlling roaches can be very challenging, mainly because they are good at two things – breeding and surviving. They are better at hiding than most people are at finding and killing them. More roaches will always find a way to get...

No matter how vigilant you are about controlling pests at home, all of your hard work could be for naught unless you are equally diligent in the workplace. Just as is the case with residences, office spaces can often be very inviting to a host of critters, including cockroaches, ants, flies, mice and even bed bugs. Take steps today to prevent a potentially nasty and unsanitary problem at your job tomorrow. Sometimes, the most obvious advice escapes our notice. In this category are tips such as ensuring that your work area is clean. Leaving food exposed and not dumping your garbage represent open invitations to all manner of pests. Therefore, your best bet is to always store edibles in airtight containers. Take your garbage to a central dumping location at the end of each day. If your workplace has a break room or kitchen, make cleaning it a part of your...

You don't want to share your fresh, clean bathroom with a population of pests, but insects seem determined to move in. It's easy to understand their taste for kitchen cabinets, but why do bugs love the bathroom so much? What Makes the Bath Bug Central? Insects enjoy your bathroom's environment because it's warm, damp and offers easy foraging. It's an ideal atmosphere for bugs living and breeding behind walls and under sinks. They raid vanity cabinets munching on paper products and crawl around drains enjoying a constant water source. Pests don't have to travel far or work hard to set up permanent house in your bath. Which Bugs Are the Worst? Most homeowners complain about cockroaches in the bathroom, but these insects rank high on the unwanted bug list because they multiply quickly and they're hard to miss. Those annoying clouds of gnats around your sinks are actually hordes of tiny...

Mice enter homes for many reasons. Most search for food, water, or a place to escape the outside elements. Once indoors, these pests may die from old age or electrocution. A homeowner should understand the signs of dead mice and the correct way to dispose of the problems. The most common indication of a dead mouse is a strong odor coming from behind the home's refrigerator or inside a cabinet. Also, a large amount of swarming flies may signal a dead mouse as well. To locate the rodent, it is necessary to follow the scent of decay or find where the flies are accumulating. After the dead rodent is uncovered, it is essential to act quickly and cautiously. A mouse is a health hazard and must be handled with care. A rodent may carry ticks and fleas and may spread disease. A homeowner must wear gloves and use a plastic bag,...

Is anything as romantic as a chocolate-covered grasshopper? The thought of biting into one the these crunchy treats might make your skin crawl, but people have been eating insects much longer than they’ve been celebrating Valentine’s Day. Grasshoppers, ants, worms, and spiders are all standard menu items from Cambodia to Mexico, and bugs provide a sustainable source of high-quality, low-fat protein for millions worldwide. Lately, however, they’ve been popping up in some unexpected places—such as in your sampler box of chocolates. Why the sudden popularity? There’s the obvious novelty factor, and plenty of people try insect snacks out of curiosity. For many, the true surprise comes when they take that second bite and realize they’re eating something delicious. Other insect-cuisine fans are trying to be more ecologically responsible, and dining on bugs is a great way to eat well while minimizing your carbon footprint.  Chocolate-covered ants and crickets are the most...

When you look at a pile of firewood, it might remind you of all the cozy evenings you have spent in your living-room as the snow falls gently outside. What you might not realize is that the same logs can harbor several types of invasive and destructive insects. Unless the wood is stored in a dry, enclosed place, you might well bring unwanted guests into your house. Take steps to protect yourself before they put a stop to your winter cheer. You would be amazed at the variety of bugs that find firewood to be very appealing. Adult beetles of many kinds, as well as their larvae, can live under the bark and inside of the wood. These include longhorned and boring beetle larvae. If your firewood is dry, carpenter bees may find it irresistible. Horntail wasps also often lay their eggs in dry firewood, emerging when it is brought indoors....

Pests seek warmer places indoors when the cold weather sets in, and they find the most unseen places to invade homes in the winter. From dryer vents to cracks in the roof, pests can detect the slightest change in temperature and find a new way inside. Though some pests can deal with the harsh winter, others prefer to stay indoors and wait for the cold to pass. Where There's an Opening, There's a Way Inside From mice and squirrels to spiders and stink bugs, rodents and insects would rather stay warm inside than risk their lives out in the cold. Once the temperatures start to drop, these pests set out on a search for ways to get inside your home. They circle the perimeter and check for cracks around windows and doors, holes in the foundation and openings in the attic and roofline. Though you might seal windows and doors during...

Many people are familiar with the phrase that if you see one insect or other pest, there are more that you do not see. This is because many pests build their nests and colonies inside walls and in other out-of-the-way places. In addition to ants, cockroaches and termites, other pests that can quickly multiply include rodents, such as mice, rats and squirrels. Many insects and pests can lay hundreds of eggs or produce large litters. The result is a larger infestation that does more damage to your home as these pests weaken structural elements and chew through insulation and electrical wiring. In addition to contaminating food with their droppings, these pests can also carry a variety of diseases that pose a significant health risk to your family. This can be especially troublesome in winter when bugs and rodents try to move indoors to escape the elements. Your home is the perfect...