Cowleys Pest Services Before & After Photos
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Good time to fix mice entry point in Middletown, NJ home
I was sent to Middletown, NJ with my colleague Alfonso to help a homeowner who had contacted Cowleys after finding mouse droppings in several areas of their home. With any rodent infestation, our priority is finding any actual or potential entry points. Finding mice entry points is a challenge since they can squeeze through the smallest of cracks and crevices. A mouse needs only about a quarter-inch gap to find their way inside your home. If a mouse is able to poke its snout through a hole, the rest of its body will follow. To successfully resolve a mouse infestation, it is critical that these entry points are located and sealed. Failure to do so means that you’ll likely have ongoing problems with these overwintering pests, even if the ones already in your home are eliminated.
As outdoor temperatures drop, mice, other wildlife, and certain insects will look for harborage in your home to escape the harsh outdoor elements. if there is a weak link for them to gain access inside your home, they’ll find it. Mice commonly look for entry points around the home’s foundation. They’ll enter into the crawl space or basement and then find their way to the living areas of the home when they forage for food and water. One of the most common, and often overlooked, entry points for mice are pipe chases, those spaces where pipes, such as from air conditioning units and the home’s plumbing system, as well as electrical supply lines, are run into the home. Pipe chases often become entry points for overwintering mice and bugs when the original sealant around the pipes starts to become worn and disintegrates, creating a perfect “tunnel” for pests to enter the home. We found several possible entry points around some pipes, and sealed them with chew-proof copper mesh. To reduce the mouse population in and around the home, we set up rodent control bait boxes in the home’s interior as well as the exterior perimeter. Finally, as part of our protocol, we scheduled a two-week follow-up to re-inspect and replenish the bait boxes as necessary. We are confident that with the exclusion and the bait boxes. We’re confident that it won’t take long for the infestation to be resolved, and this homeowner will no longer find droppings and other upsetting signs of mouse activity in his home.
Messy Attic Gets A Makeover in Brick, NJ
A new resident in Brick, NJ recently purchased a home and wanted Cowleys to replace the insulation in his attic with blown-in cellulose insulation.
When we inspected the attic, there was a ton of old fiberglass insulation pilled on top of one another throughout the attic! Apparently, the previous owner just kept pilling new fiberglass insulation on top of the old ones, thinking that this will properly insulate his attic — it did not!
We removed all the insulation throughout the attic, properly disposed of it, and then vacuumed and disinfected the attic. Afterward, we added approximately 10 inches of TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation throughout the attic. Our blown-in TruSoft cellulose insulation exceeds the recommended insulation standards and prevents attic air from seeping into the home. TruSoft won't compress, is treated with non-toxic borate (which creates an incredible resistance to mold & pests), has the highest Class-1 fire safety rating, and is eco-friendly!
Now the attic looks more aesthetically pleasing and organized and the homeowner will save a considerable amount of money on his energy bill!
Raccoons Removed, Now to Add Blown-in Cellulose Insulation in Brick, NJ
First, we removed all the contaminated insulation and then disinfected the entire attic. Next, we added TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation, which will fill the attic to its recommended insulation levels. TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation has a higher R-value than standard fiberglass insulation, has the highest Class-1 fire safety rating, is resistant to mold and pests, and is eco-friendly! Now the attic is transformed from dirty and unhealthy to a clean and energy-saving one!
Exposed Exhaust Vent Causing a Squirrel Problem in Brick, NJ
After spotting a squirrel roaming around in his attic, this homeowner in Brick, NJ immediately called Little Rascals for help. After a thorough investigation, we determined that the squirrels were using an exposed exhaust vent in the attic to infest the home.
We temporarily enclosed the area with hardware cloth, installed a one-way device in front of the exhaust vent, and set up several baited traps nearby. The one-way will allow the squirrel to safely leave the attic, but prevent it from getting back in. A short while later, we successfully retrieved the squirrel and relocated it to a new, humane location.
Additionally, we disinfected that attic and installed a DryerWallVent®. The DryerWallVent® is made out of heavy-duty galvanized steel and its large opening and angled damper provide maximum airflow efficiency for safe venting. Integrated magnets keep the damper closed when not in use, preventing squirrels, birds, and all nuisance wildlife from infesting the home.
Squirrels Use Old Concrete Steps to Infest Basement in Brick, NJ
As this customer in Brick, NJ was cleaning his basement, he was terrified to find several squirrels running around the area! He searched for a reputable wildlife removal company, found Little Rascals, called us, and we were sent out. As we thoroughly inspected the basement, we noticed a small entry point behind the drop ceiling. We then inspected the exterior of the home and found some old concrete steps that were no longer in use underneath the newly installed deck. Turns out that the squirrels were actually squeezing through the small openings in the concrete steps to infest the basement!
To safely retrieve the squirrels, we installed a positive set over each of the openings and temporarily enclosed them in hardware cloth. We also set up several baited devices nearby. A positive set is comprised of a nose cone that is attached to a two-gaited, heavy-duty device. The nose cone will safely guide the squirrels into the device. It's called a positive set, because we are positive that the squirrels will enter our device. A short while later, we safely retrieved the squirrels and relocated them to a new, humane location.
To prevent any future intrusions from squirrels, as well as other nuisance wildlife, we stuffed each opening in the steps with Xcluder® Fill Fabric and then used concrete to seal up the cracks.