Cowleys Pest Services Before & After Photos

A resident in Monroe Township, NJ contacted our office after finding squirrels in his attic. Squirrels can be very dangerous and destructive when in a home. Not only do they carry disease, but they like to burrow and make a mess of areas they can get into. Squirrels are rodents that need to chew, and they like the texture of wires or electric wires in the attic, which can present a fire hazard for the homeowner.

We began inspecting the exterior and discovered that the squirrels had chewed their way through this gable vent, which was their main access point to the attic. We then inspected the attic thoroughly and found squirrel feces in the insulation. To safely remove the squirrels, we temporarily sealed off the gable vent and installed a one-way device. A one-way device allows the squirrels to safely leave the attic, but prevent them from getting back in. We also set up a few baited traps in the area.

In a short amount of time, all the squirrels were safely removed from the attic. We then returned, removed and replaced the contaminated insulation, sanitized the attic area, and then replaced the gable vent with a brand new metal one. We also used fine 1/8 hardware cloth and screened it from the outside. The reason why we screen from outside is that it doesn't allow anything to roost or nest in the vent fins.

A short while ago, our Nuisance Wildlife Removal team recently came out to this home in Monroe Township, NJ to safely remove bats in the attic. Although the bats were safely removed and relocated to a new, humane location, they left behind a huge mess and contaminated the fiberglass insulation. At the owners request, we carefully removed all the old fiberglass insulation, cleaned the area, and then added over 12 inches of TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation.

TruSoft cellulose insulation is a safe, non-toxic type of insulation that is 85% composed of recycled material and will reinforce the barrier between the home's attic and other rooms. It 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! The blanket of insulation will create a thermal barrier and help keep the home more comfortable and efficient — which will lead to year-round savings for the homeowner!

I was recently sent to a home in Edison, NJ for a Cowleys home protection plan (HPP) scheduled service. The homeowner had issues with rodents around the home and I found out why she was concerned.

In my inspection, I found an exterior rodent bait station by the shed that was completely depleted from the last service. The interior rodent bait stations in the garage and crawl space were also empty.

After completing the service around the home I rebaited all the existing bait stations. I then performed a thorough inspection around the house to determine how the rodents were entering the structure. I found a sizable gap around the piping where the gas line was passing through the foundation. To close up this access point, I used a copper mesh material which does not rust or disintegrate like steel wool. 

Since this customer's rodent pressure was so high. I added an additional large rodent bait station (LP) to the exterior of the home.

Atlantic City Electric was having a major problem with sparrows and starlings in their warehouse. We decided on using one of our favorite bird deterrents, bird netting to solve this problem for our client. These birds will stay away!

A South River homeowner was having issues with mice in her basement and kitchen, and she contacted Cowleys. I was immediately dispatched to take care of the problem. During my inspection, I concentrated on finding signs of mouse activity such as droppings, rub/grease marks along walls, and loose nesting materials. I am also concerned about locating potential access points. With small rodents like mice, this can present a challenge. These animals are even smaller than they look because of their fur. A house mouse weighs less than an ounce, and can fit through a hole as small as a dime. It is especially important to inspect around the home’s foundation, both indoors and out. Mice, looking to escape the harsh outdoor elements during the winter, often enter homes through the basement or crawl space. 

Sure enough, during  my perimeter inspection, I saw that a pipe entering the exterior of the home into the basement was not adequately sealed. The openings around the pipe’s edges perfect for a mouse — the only thing missing was a welcome mat! There was no doubt that mice were exploiting this opening. Their “business card” — their droppings — were all over. There were pellets sprinkled at the base of the entry point as well as inside the hole itself. 

I showed the homeowner the source of her problem, and explained to her how I was going to get rid of her rodent infestation. She was extremely grateful. First, I patched the area around the pipe with rodent chew-proof knitted wire copper mesh. It is critical to find and seal the entry points. If you don’t, you can set up all the traps you want inside your home, and you still won’t permanently resolve the problem. Finding these small, often hidden or overlooked holes is time-consuming back-bending work, and it helps to know what to look for. We tend to see the same “hot spots” for rodent entry. Fortunately, the area around the pipe was the only observed gap during my inspection. 

I also placed several snap traps in those areas inside the home where there were indications of high rodent activity. This will get rid of any mice that may be still be lurking about, and these traps will also allow me to gauge whether there is still activity when I return for my two-week follow-up. At that time, I’ll re-inspect the home and perform any additional treatments as needed.