Local Pest Services in Oakhurst, NJ

Our Little Rascals Nuisance Wildlife division received a call from a homeowner in Oakhurst, NJ who kept hearing noises in his attic late at night and thought that he might have a raccoon in his attic. So we were sent out to investigate!

As we began investigating the exterior of the home, we noticed a portion of the roof (right above the gutter) look a little odd, so we took a closer look at it. As soon as we did, we discovered that it was ripped apart! As we examined the opening, we found raccoon hair and raccoon paw prints around the area, confirming the owners suspicion! 

In order to safely retrieve the raccoon, we installed a positive set directly over the access point, temporarily enclosed the area off with hardware cloth, and 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 raccoon into the device. It's called a positive set, because we are positive that the raccoon will enter the device. As a matter of fact, a short while later, we safely retrieved the raccoon and relocated it to new humane environment! As a temporary solution, until a roofer can come out and repair the damage, we installed sturdy metal flashing over the access point to prevent reinfestation.

After several residents complained of getting attacked and stung by yellow jackets, this property manager of an adult community in Oakhurst, NJ, called our Pest Control division for help and we were sent out to inspect and treat. 

As we inspected the area where the residents were getting attacked, we noticed that the yellow jackets were nesting in a small gap underneath the siding of the balcony! We grabbed our extendable pole, attached a knockdown dusting application to it, and then injected it into the gap where the yellow jackets were coming from. This treatment almost immediately exterminates the yellow jackets. After a short period of time, we removed the nest, disposed of it, and then applied a residual application to the area. This product will eliminate any yellow jackets that return to this area as well as prevent them from building another nest.

Spider infestations can quickly get out of hand. Here, I am at a home in Oakurst, NJ where a cluster of spiders took up residence in the ceiling area of the front porch. With family members and guests coming and going, it is unpleasant and frightening to say the least, especially for children. Most spiders are not aggressive to people and only bite when threatened. Nevertheless, spiders taking up residence on a porch may find a way to access the home, so it is important to have their often inaccessible nesting areas treated. Here, you can see the immediate results of the product I had applied in the gaps and cracks above — the spiders decided this was not such a good place to hang out! 

To help prevent spiders from taking up residence on your porch, or if there is already a growing spider infestation problem, homeowners should start dealing with the issue by first eliminating their harborage areas. Get any potted plants, hanging flower baskets, bricks, and firewood off the patio. While these may be attractive to us, they are also attractive to to spiders. Firewood is a favorite hiding spot for many pests, including termites, and too many homeowners store their firewood far too close to their homes. Sweep the porch to remove webs and egg sacks, and spraying there area with water also helps. Trim back any shrubs growing next to the porch. It’s always a good idea to have a no-vegetation zone around the home’s perimeter. Finally, if there is an entrenched heavy spider infestation and it is apparent that they are entrenched in deep hiding places, a professional pest control service has the products and equipment to flush them out and keep them out. 

During a routine home protection plan, (HPP), servicing of a home in Oakhurst NJ, I observed mouse activity in and around the home. Mice were able to access the garage area of a home through an opening around an outdoor water spigot.

Gaps around utility pipes or wires going through the foundation wall are a common entry point. Often, the sealant around the pipe erodes from the outdoor elements creating enough of a gap for mice to squeeze through. And it doesn’t take much. Mice can get through extremely small gaps and cracks that are easily overlooked — they only need an opening about the size of a dime.

Here, I used copper mesh and silicone caulking to seal this entry point. The homeowner was unaware of a mouse problem since mice had only gained access to the garage and not inside the home itself. Nevertheless, these mice were too close to the house and it was just a mater of time before they gained entry. This particular job shows the importance of periodic residential inspections for pest activity. We often find pest control problems in their early stages and take care of them before homeowners find themselves dealing with a significant problem.

Rats had invaded this home in Oakhurst.  During my inspection of the home’s exterior to determine potential access points, I observed rats in the backyard slipping underneath the outdoor siding. Apparently, were removing insulation to gain entryway into the home behind the kitchen sink. Often, with rats, you’ll find that if there is not a pre-existing hole for them to gain access into your home, they will create one themselves. And the hole doesn’t need to be that big. Even a hole about the size of a quarter is enough for them to gain access. For mice, gaining access is even easier. Because of their diminutive size, a tiny mouse can squeeze through a hole about the size of a dime. I also found a second access hole in the closet (see photo). The homeowners tried using Brillo to stuff the hole but it did not deter the rats. They simply chewed their way right underneath. 

Upon further inspection, I observed a major rodent attractant that many homeowners are unaware of — bird seed! Bird seed may well attract birds, but it can also attract a host of other unwanted animals onto your property, including rodents.  The homeowners had a bird feeder set up in their backyard, and all the seeds that fell to the ground were in the same area as where the rats made their access point into the home. The lesson learned is that once rodents are on your property, it is often only a matter of time before they find their way inside. The homeowner stated she used to sore the bird seed underneath the kitchen sink, and then move the bird seed into the closet. Wherever there was bird seed, the rats soon followed!

I installed an LP (low profile) bait station outside right near the exit hole for the rats. I also applied a residual tracking powder under the kitchen sink as well as in the closet. I informed the homeowners that, because they have pets, they need to be extremely careful about keeping the doors shut, so the pets can’t snoop around. 

I’ll return for a follow-up visit in two weeks to re-inspect and perform any additional treatments as necessary. At that time, I’ll also seal the points of access into the home.