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BILL'S BLOG - THE PROBLEM YOU NEVER SAW (Posted: 11/18/2016)

BILL'S BLOG - EARLY SUMMER MOSQUITOS (Posted: 05/17/2016)
Like all flying insects, it is impossible to completely remove mosquitos from a large area. However, some simple precautions can substantially increase your comfort level during the mosquito season. Standing water is the common denominator for finding large mosquito populations. Thus, it is the primary target for mosquito control. Here are some suggestions:
“DUNK” YOUR POND
Obviously you can't remove a pond from your backyard but you can “Dunk” it. Dunks are available at most garden centers and home improvement stores. They contain a bacteria that is toxic only to mosquito larvae and completely non-toxic to all other forms of fish, wildlife and humans. They can cover large areas, work within 30 minutes and can last up to 30 days.
CLEAN GUTTERS
Gutters and the areas surrounding downspouts are known water collectors. Clean your gutters out thoroughly so that drainage is unblocked and make sure that the areas under downspout facilitate proper run-off.
WHEELBARROW STORAGE
Left unattended, an upright wheelbarrow can quickly become a breeding pool. Make sure wheelbarrows are kept upside-down and upright. If possible, keep them stored inside a shed or in a dry area.
Remember, mosquitos reproduce and spread quickly, especially if they have access to standing water. Exercising a few precautions will make for a much more comfortable summer season.

BILL'S BLOG - THE SPRING KITCHEN (Posted: 04/16/2016)
As Spring continues, many of you are doing your Spring cleaning. As one who hates clutter, Spring cleaning is one of my favorite activities. It's a great time to purge our lives of things that we no longer use, clean our living spaces and get ready for the warm season. The kitchen is one of the rooms in our house that get the most attention. Here are some tips for making this year's Spring cleaning doubly effective for protecting against pests.
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Wash and wipe cabinets and pantries – Over the winter, the maple syrup dripped, the flour spilled and the cookie crumbs fell. Give the shelves a good wipe down with water and a grease cutting soap.
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Drains – Pull up the rubber drains and clean them thoroughly in the dishwasher. This will discourage fruit flies from nesting and reproducing.
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Microwave Tops and Vent Hoods – These are great grease collectors and often go undetected. Ants and other pests LOVE grease.
Spring cleaning is great for many reasons. Just remember while you are doing it that certain details will double your efforts for protecting your kitchens from Spring pests.

BILL'S BLOG - SPRING BLOSSOMS (Posted: 03/15/2016)
Spring is almost here and if you live in Portland, Vancouver or the Pacific Northwest, you already know that things are blooming already. At Summit Pest Management, we are already gearing up for a busy season. Wet winters always deliver a surge in Spring pest problems. This includes ants, stink bugs, boxelder bugs, bed bugs and more. Yellowjackets, wasps and stinging insects will start searching for a safe place for their queens. Rats and rodents (already a year-round problem in the Pacific Northwest) will seek out nesting areas for reproduction. As all this happens, it's time to prepare your homes and properties for the coming season. Here are some Spring pest prevention tips from the Summit Pest Management team.
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Check window screens for holes. Even the smallest hole is a welcome sign for bugs and crawlers of all kinds.
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Look for holes, gaps and cracks in your foundation, around window frames, exhaust vents and your roof.
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Check downspouts to ensure there is no standing water around your structure.
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Check vapor barriers, attics and under-crawl spaces to make sure there is no excessive humidity.
Remember that even our best practices will not always keep pests out, especially in the Spring when they are most active and persistent. If you detect a problem, don't hesitate to call a pest control professional. Eliminating a problem early on will save you a lot of aggravation and potential costs down the road.

BILL'S BLOG - CHECK YOUR DECK (Posted: 02/19/2016)
A few minutes of your time can prevent bigger problems down the road. In the meantime, enjoy the sunshine! Winter will be over soon.

BILL'S BLOG - CAREFUL WHAT YOU CARRY (Posted: 01/26/2016)

BILL'S BLOG - RAIN AND RATS (Posted: 12/21/2015)
Rains have returned to the Pacific Northwest. Where there is rain there is standing water, and where there is standing water, there are rats. This is especially true when this standing water is close to your home and the small entrances that lead inside. As with all other living creatures, rats need water to survive and it is one of the first resources they look for when seeking home and shelter. Standing water close to your house or structure is also a standing invitation for rats and other rodents to set up camp. With the rainy months upon us, be sure to sweep, drain and clear standing water away from the exterior of homes and buildings. Make sure other vessels that can carry water like flower pots and plant holders are empty when not in use. After a few years of endless blue skies, it looks like we are headed for the type of rainy season that the Pacific Northwest is known for. As we head deeper into the winter season, remember that at the same time rats are looking to get out of the rain. They are looking for a winter home with a water source close by.

BILL'S BLOG - AUTUMN HARVEST (Posted: 10/20/2015)
- Fruit trees – Many residents and property owners in the Pacific Northwest have fruit trees in their yards. If you do, make sure as you harvest that you manage the pieces that fall to the ground. Rotting fruit invites pests of all kinds, bugs and animals alike (ants, rats, raccoons, squirrels, bats and more). Keep your yard clear and clean of rotting fruit. This goes the same for gardens and throwaways from other crop harvests.
- Pumpkin carving – Everyone loves Halloween pumpkins, including raccoons, rats, squirrels and other critters. If at all possible, keep jack-o-lanterns stowed away when they are not being actively displayed. Clean up after pumpkin carving and get rid of them the moment they show any signs of rot. In addition to providing a food source, their proximity to your warm spaces may invite critters to investigate a potential nesting spot.
- Wheelbarrows – After using wheelbarrows in the yard, lean them against a support structure standing up on end. When sitting upside down they become shelters and when sitting right side up they can gather water.
- Inspect your property. It's getting colder and the pests of the Pacific Northwest world know it. They are already seeking their winter shelters. Now is a good time to make sure that cracks are sealed, small holes are filled, crawl spaces are secured and landscaping is trimmed back from your structure.

BILL'S BLOG - YOUR DRAIN, A FRUIT FLY'S PARADISE (Posted: 09/23/2015)

BILL'S BLOG - YOUR YARD AND THE WORLD OF PESTS (Posted: 08/07/2015)
Being a homeowner myself, it would be unrealistic for me to advocate the complete removal of all the things that otherwise enhance our quality of life. However, the list below will hopefully help you make careful choices and maintain a balance between environmental aesthetic and pest prevention.
- Yard Debris – Leaf piles, hedge trimmings and all other yard debris quickly attract rats, rodents and other wildlife that seek shelter. They make for a nice “half-way” house to the even better warmth and comfort of our homes. Make sure that debris is quickly cleared and stowed in sealed containers.
- Logs, Tree Stumps – Firewood piles and decaying tree stumps make for great shelters and attract pests of all kinds. Make sure that firewood is kept as far from your structure as possible. Leaning it up against the house is just asking for trouble. Tree stumps should be ground down if at all possible. As they decay, their hollow areas are great for building nests and their decaying roots invite carpenter ants and other wood chewing insects.
- Fruit Trees – Nothing beats apples from your own backyard. That said, unharvested, decomposing apples and other fruit left on the ground represents an almost unlimited food supply for unwanted insects, rats, rodents and other pests. Harvest and use as much as you can yourself and more importantly, keep the ground clear of unwanted, rotting fruit.
- Bird Baths and Feeders – Just remember that these water and food supplies are not selective to what they attract. If you are going to have them on your property, try to keep them as far from your structure as possible. While they may be great for birdwatching, they are also a leading culprit for pest problems.
- Wheelbarrows – Wheelbarrows are great for yard work but when they are not in use, they should be left standing vertically, never upside down.
- Barns and Tool Sheds – If you have an additional structure on your property, the same rules apply as for your main property.
- Chicken Coops – Chicken Coops are becoming increasingly popular, especially in the Northwest. Unfortunately, where there are chickens, you can almost be sure there are rats. They also attract coyotes and other predators. From my own experience, the liabilities of chicken coops far outweigh the benefits. They almost always result in pest problems. If you are going to have one, keep it as far away from your main structure as you can.
- Vegetable Gardens – Telling people not to have vegetable gardens would surely draw fire. So, that said, I will simply advise to keep them as far away from your structure as possible. Also, keeping them properly contained will deter pests and protect your crops.

BILL'S BLOG -THE VALUE OF SECOND OPINION (Posted: 07/05/2015)
So, to all reading this I advise you to protect yourself with one simple-but-reliable practice, “get a second opinion”. If you have received an $8,000 estimate to do significant structural renovation to your house because of a recent pest problem, seek out 1-2 other opinions to make sure that you actually need all of this work to be done.
If you are looking for a reliable second opinion you can count on us. Call Summit Pest Management (503) 639 – 2500.Our company was built upon 3 core values: Honesty, Experience and Reliability. That means that we will never seek out more work than what is required and that we will treat you with the respect and care that you deserve.

BILL'S BLOG - RENOVATION CAN INVITE PESTS (Posted: 06/18/2015)
COMMON CAUSES
- Cabinetry, Molding and Trim – Ripping out and replacing these items can open up areas that were previously sealed and leave them exposed.
- Bathroom Exhaust Fans – Bathroom exhaust fan installations usually require a hole to the roof or attic if there is not one pre-existing.
- Landscaping / Tree Removal – Landscaping projects can disturb existing habitats and send pests searching for new living space.
- Cabinetry, Molding and Trim – Check all new installations and make sure that they have been properly caulked and sealed.
- Bathroom Exhaust Fans – Inspect roof opening and vent installation after completion to make sure there are no exposed areas.
- Remove all debris and make sure any deliberate leave-behinds (firewood stacks, etc.) are far removed from your structure.

BILL'S BLOG - SPRING IS NEAR! (Posted: 02/20/2015)
Spring is just around the corner and the higher temperatures will mean the emergence of insects that have been dormant over the last few months.
One of these insects is the carpenter ant, a wood-destroying insect!
When the outside temps start to climb consistently above 50 degrees, ants will come out of a deep sleep and start to look for water and old trails that lead them around your home or business. This time of year, if you see larger black ants - or in some cases brown - in your structure, especially around the sink areas, it is an indicator that you have carpenter ants nesting in the walls, subfloors, or anywhere in your structure that is warm, dry, and wood is available. Carpenter ants don’t damage wood by eating it. They do their damage by mining out tunnels inside the wood to use as a nesting site. Keep in mind, that the outside temperature has not yet been warm enough to allow them to forage outside. This time of year, we tend to see carpenter ants inside structures but not on the exterior of buildings. For this reason, we know that they have been in your home or business for some time and you just had no idea.
The carpenter ant is the number one wood-destroying insect in the Pacific Northwest, and even if you only see one or two this time of year, you should be concerned. If you find ants inside your structure this time of year, call a professional pest control company to come out and perform an inspection to determine if you have a problem.

BILL'S BLOG - WELCOME TO OUR NEW WEBSITE! (Posted: 12/10/2014)

BILL'S BLOG - WINTER IS COMING! (Posted: 11/18/2014)
- Inspect the outside of your property. Look for small holes and cracks or around the outside of your property as well as weaknesses in wood or concrete structures that could be chewed or tunneled through. small rodents will be looking for any way to get inside.
- Check any and all crawlspaces and make sure they are well sealed. Rats, mice, raccoons and squirrels can quickly invade these places, set up their nests and do a lot of damage. Make sure that screens, latches and access points are all strong and secure.
- Trim back any tree limbs, tall bushes or growing things so they are not creating a "launch pad" to your roof, window opening or exhaust vent.
- Make sure your outdoor trash and refuse areas are secure. Use containers that are durable and secure when closed.
Taking a few pre-cautionary steps can spare a lot of headaches and save thousands of dollars in restoration work down the road.