West Long Branch, NJ's Pest & Rodent Control Company

As we were conducting a routine spring service for a new Home Protection Plan customer in West Long Branch, NJ we found something interesting in the back corner of the basement - a giant ant nest! Turns out these insects were getting into the basement through a tiny opening around a utility line. 

With the owner's permission we treated the ant trails in the basement as well as around the baseboards throughout the area and around the entire exterior of the property with a non-repellent liquid residual. Once we had completed that, we then treated the landscape with a granular bait. Once the worker ants bring these applications back to their colony they will then transfer the treatments to their queen and the other ants by feeding one another, grooming one another, or eating their own dead. This is what we call, the transfer effect. In a short amount of time, the ants will be neutralized. Once the ants are gone the homeowner is going to seal up that opening around the utility line.

We were sent out to a condominium association in West Long Branch, NJ to handle a wasp issue. A number of the residents had spotted their nest right above the entrance to the main office. When we arrived we took a closer look at these stinging insects and identified them as yellow jackets. Yellow jackets are aggressive, territorial wasps, with distinctive yellow-and-black coloration, that are known for their propensity to sting anyone and anything that they perceive as a threat, such as those who venture too close to their nests or their food.

For treatment, we grabbed our extendable pole, attached a knockdown dusting application to it, and then liberally treated the nest. This application rapidly exterminate the yellow jackets. After a short period of time, we removed the nest, disposed of it, then applied a liquid non-residual to the area. This will eliminate any yellow jackets still lingering around as well as prevent them, and other stinging insects, from building another nest around this area. 

As this customer in West Long Branch, NJ, was cleaning out his attic, he found several flying squirrels roaming around the area! He quickly called our Nuisance Wildlife division and we were sent out. After a thorough inspection of interior and exterior of the property, we discovered that they were entering the home via the gable vent. Squirrels infesting a home via the gable vents is very common as over time, the gable vents get weathered and squirrels (and other nuisance wildlife) have no problem ripping away these vents to find shelter inside a home. After installing our retrieval devices, in a short amount of time, we successfully and safely retrieved all the flying squirrels and relocated them to a new, humane location.

Now, in order to prevent the squirrels from getting back in, we removed the broken gable vent, disinfected the attic, and installed a louvered vent guard. This material is made out of heavy-duty Galvannealed steel (which means it won't rust) and is customized to accommodate vents of all shapes and sizes. Now that it is installed, squirrels and other nuisance wildlife will no longer be able to enter the attic through the gable vent.

Recently, homeowners in West Long Branch, NJ, contacted Cowleys because of a persistent problem with mice and their droppings in the kitchen. Upon arrival, I started my kitchen inspection with the common hiding spots. The droppings left behind are a great indicator of where mouse activity is the heaviest. I moved the oven and found a significant amount of droppings. There was a gap around the gas pipe that went through the sub-flooring giving the mice entry through the basement. Mice usually enter homes through gaps or cracks around the foundation, and once inside the crawl space or basement, they easily maneuver around the home traveling through wall voids and finding holes, especially in kitchens, behind appliances. I cleaned up the droppings and sealed the openings around the gas pipe to block kitchen entry. I also checked another common mouse entry area, under the sink where there are often openings around the plumbing pipe. Any holes where there are pipes are coming trough  either walls in the home or through the exterior of the home are often exploited by mice.  

Next, I inspected the basement and placed bait stations and snap traps to capture those mice still hiding in the house. For good measure, I also placed bait stations in the attic. Mice tend to hide and nest in the private non-living areas of the home, and only venture into the living spaces at night when foraging for food.  

Finally, I conducted an exterior perimeter inspection to locate potential entry points. Overall, this home was well sealed; however, there were two potential entry points. The basement window had a gap in the frame where it was set into the foundation. A crawl space vent had a similar gap. I sealed both openings. With the traps strategically placed in the home and entry points sealed both inside and outside of the home, mouse activity will be substantially reduced. There is always a delay from eliminating mice already in the home and preventing more mice from gaining entry. I’ll be returning for a follow-up visit to re-inspect and replenish the bait as needed.