Rodent Control Methods

WINTER PARK, Fla. – The pest control industry mourns the loss of Harvey L. Massey, founder and chairman of Massey Services, Orlando, Fla. Massey passed away on Jan. 24, at 81. In addition to building Massey Services into one of the largest pest control companies in the country, Massey gave back to the pest control industry in countless ways, including as a founder of the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA). He was also a renowned philanthropist and community leader in the Orlando area. A native of Melville, La., Massey's humble roots included growing up in a one-bedroom home. After school and on weekends, Massey often worked with his father at the family's ice business and with his grandfather at his general store. In 1963, the same year he married wife Carol, he went to work as a salesman for Orkin. In quick succession, he went from salesman to sales manager to branch manager to district manager and finally, in 1974, at the age of 32, he became the youngest vice presi...

Sitting around the dining room table surrounded by houseplants in the dead of winter is a satisfying feeling. We even have some of our geraniums blooming in the sunny, South-facing window. But upon closer inspection things aren't all well in the houseplant jungle. We're not the only ones appreciating the greenery this time of year. I see little black flies flying around my houseplants. These are most likely fungus gnats. Although they look ominous, they generally don't harm our houseplants. The larval form is mostly interested in feeding on the potting soil's organic matter. They hatch into adult black flies that lay eggs in the potting soil and the cycle continues. They can be annoying though. To control them, repot the houseplant with fresh potting soil, cover the potting soil with a layer of sand to dry out the eggs or use an organic, yellow sticky trap in the pot to catch and kill the adults. I also notice some white, cushiony growth on the backside of some fig leav...

2‐methyl‐4‐chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) is poorly a understood, yet frequently used herbicide, and further insights into its ecotoxicological effects are required. The herbicide 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) and its breakdown products have the potential to negatively impact human health, largely through drinking water. Across Ireland, most drinking water is abstracted from rivers and lakes, and high MCPA concentrations have been detected in many of these sources, often exceeding the EU drinking water limit of 0.1 µg/L and even the WHO's recommended limit of 2 µg/L. This consequently leads to expensive treatment processes to remove MCPA to ensure safe, clean drinking water. MCPA is used to selectively control a variety of weeds in arable fields and on grassland. Across Ireland, MCPA is primarily used to reduce the growth of rushes ( Juncus species) to improve sward growth in upland a...

The impact of the man-made climate crisis on Antarctica is scientifically undeniable: stable ice shelves are retreating, air temperature increased by 3 degrees Celsius, krill numbers are declining, melting ice is contributing to sea level rise, and polar bears and seals are getting displaced. Now, a new study adds further insight into the plight: Existing conservation efforts are insufficient to protect Antarctic ecosystems. Published in the journal PLOS Biology, the study finds population declines are likely for 65% of the continent's plants and wildlife by the year 2100. "Antarctic biodiversity could decline substantially by the end of the century if we continue with business as usual," Jasmine Rachael Lee, lead author of the University of Queensland study, tells Treehugger. "This is the first time anyone has carried out a comprehensive and continent-wide assessment of how vulnerable Antarctic species are to threats and what we can do about i...

Also known as herbicides,  weed killers are chemicals  applied to control and eliminate unwanted vegetation like weeds and crabgrass. They can inhibit a weed's cell division or photosynthesis and disrupt its amino acid production. Other weed killers mimic natural plant growth hormones and cause deformities. You can spray them onto foliage or soils, and one of the best-known weed killer chemicals is glyphosate. This chemical is an amino acid disrupter with a broad spectrum and low toxicity to animals. Chemical-based weed killers are more common, but natural herbicides can also work pretty well. Some contain citrus oil and vinegar, which causes weeds to dry out, curl up and die. These are good for people who have pets and small children, but the chemical counterparts can be just as safe when applied according to the label directions. The best ones work in 24 hours or less, so it's best to keep everyone away from the area for the time specified on the product...

For most gardeners, pulling weeds is a fact of life, but by applying the best pre-emergent herbicide, time spent weeding can be significantly reduced. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Photo: amazon.com Stopping weeds early—before they can emerge from the soil—is the goal when applying a pre-emergent herbicide. A pre-emergent herbicide prevents the sprouting of undesirable weed seeds, so it's a beneficial partner in the war against weeds in lawns, flower beds, and even vegetable gardens. The best pre-emergent herbicide product will vary depending on the size of the area requiring treatment and the type of weeds the gardener wants to kill. This guide points out what to look for when shopping for a pre-emergent weed killer and lists several top products that can all help prevent these unwanted grasses. BEST OVERALL: Espoma Organic Weed Preventer BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Environmental Factor Turf Maize Liquid Fertili...

Weeds are simply plants growing in unwanted spaces, but they can be incredibly annoying for gardeners who have spent lots of time making their outdoor space look perfect. Luckily, according to the RHS, there are "several options" to help tackle weeds which grow on hard surfaces, such as driveways and cracks between paving. The RHS said: "Paths or patios are sometimes deliberately planted with thymes or other low-growing plants to add interest.  "However, many unwelcome weeds find their way into drives and the cracks between paving. There are several options to tackle them." Cracks which grow between paving and less worn areas at the edges of paths and driveways are "colonised by unwanted vegetative growth". This can make the area "unsightly", not to mention uneven or even slippery when wet. If not treated, other growths such as moss and algae can also grow. READ MORE: Improve radiator 'efficiency' and prevent 'b...

Lolitha Brannon eagerly welcomed a visitor into her 11th-floor apartment at Georgia King Village, a sprawling affordable housing complex where she's lived for the past seven years in Newark's West Ward. But she wasn't proud of what she had to show him. Brannon, 60, had pulled her stove away from the kitchen wall, revealing a sticky trap on the floor where two furry gray mice lay dead, their skinny limbs splayed grotesquely on the gooey paper mat. She couldn't reach the trap and was waiting for someone from the complex's owner, L + M Development Partners of Larchmont, N.Y., to pull the stove out and get rid of them. Adblock test (Why?)

Pets can experience periodontal disease and other dental conditions. Staying aware of signs of dental issues can keep pets healthy. Provided/Metro Creative Pets use body language and other cues to let their owners know how they are feeling. While certain actions, such as a vigorously wagging tail signaling that a dog is quite happy, are easy to read, it's not always so easy to determine how a pet is feeling. Pet parents who are trying to provide the best care possible recognize that pets may make them aware of certain health issues. Diseases of the mouth may cause issues elsewhere in the body if left untreated. Fortunately for pet owners, dental issues are often easily recognized. Halitosis Bad breath is a strong indicator of a dental problem. Halitosis may stem from tooth decay and gum issues, as well as gastrointestinal problems. In either case, it's best to address a pet's bad breath with a veterinarian. Visible pr...

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More Great Content: ↓ Continue Reading To See This Amazing Video Key Points Spider infestations are no joke. A spider egg sac can release thousands of spiders into the home! Ensuring that doorways, vents, and windows are correctly sealed is key to keeping arachnids out of the home. Have you ever experienced a spider infestation? Whether you have or have not, this video is sure to send chills down your spine. The video was released by a German couple on their social media platforms, such as YouTube and TikTok. In the video, the mother, Aleks, pokes a long stick underneath a vending machine in a subway station. With her son watching in anticipation behind her, Aleks backs away to reveal what lurks underneath the vending machine. Suddenly, a swarm of creepy crawlies escape from under the vending machine. The arachnids scurry quickly around the subway floor as Aleks and her son run away in fear. As terrifying as the escapade may appear, the spider infestation was faked. Family Booms, Al...

Like many human inventions, pesticides come with numerous benefits but at a high cost. Just like plastics are simultaneously useful and toxic, the chemicals we spray to kill bugs, weeds and fungi can protect our farms but wreak havoc on the planet and our bodies. But it's not like we can simply allow our fields to be overrun by pests. The resulting decline in crop production would likely trigger mass starvation. "Without the use of pesticides, there would be a 78% loss of fruit production, a 54% loss of vegetable production, and a 32% loss of cereal production," a study published last year in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reported. That's why finding effective alternatives to the most toxic pesticides are crucial. Not only would it slow the devastating rate of insect decline, which could destabilize the planet's entire ecosystem if not addressed; but also, more environmentally friendly pest control would im...

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - A Rapid City neighborhood is facing a stinky situation. They believe their properties are being overrun with skunks. Living in the Black Hills it comes as no surprise when people come face to face with wildlife, but for John Burke, the increase in skunks in his neighborhood is a cause for concern. "We're right downtown, we're half a block off West Boulevard and so we're not on the outskirts of the city were not by the woods, we are right downtown," said Burke. Even though he lives less than a mile from downtown Rapid City, Burke has trapped four skunks in the last month. Additionally, animal control Officer KP Davidson says the Humane Society of the Black Hills has received an uptick in calls regarding skunk removal. "So I'm wondering if there is a den that might be quite large that's got multiple skunks that are kind of traveling the area because a skunk will stay in like a four-mile radius of its den usually because they ca...

When I was growing up , my family would occasionally buy canned or boxed chicken broth, and my mom would always say, "but it's not as good as the real thing." The real thing being, of course, homemade: that golden, translucent, endlessly versatile nectar with tiny circles of fat shimmering on its surface. I was raised to love this liquid, the best versions of which ensure that chicken soup tastes nuanced and complex rather than just salty. I still, as often as possible, make giant batches of homemade stock in the biggest pot I have, then freeze it for future meals. I even wrote about the virtues of homemade chicken stock in my upcoming cookbook, The Don't Panic Pantry Cookbook . But when I set about trying to explain, in the recipe's headnote, why homemade stock was better than store-bought, I realized that I didn't actually know. I wondered, How can two things that are supposed to be the same, taste and feel so wildly different? My quest to find the answe...