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ABC Owners Bike Across Country For Charity

. Posted by in • Houston
Brothers Bike

Three brothers. Two charities. Four thousand miles.

Bobby, Dennis and Raleigh Jenkins, the owners of ABC Home & Commercial Services, will be cycling across the country this summer to raise money for A Child’s Hope and the Moss Pieratt Foundation.

ABC Owners Bike Across Country for Charity

The ride will start in Seattle on May 23, 2017 and end in New York City. The Jenkins brothers are biking to support two organizations that are near and dear to their hearts. You can learn more about the ride, donate and subscribe to email updates on the Brothers Bike website.

This is not the first time the ABC owners have cycled for charity. In 2008, the Jenkins brothers biked from Austin to Canada to fundraise for Caritas of Austin. Afer that trip, they set their sights on a cross-country charity ride. “My brothers and I are willing to put in the sweat equity … Read Full Post »

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Do Possums Carry Rabies?

. Posted by in • Orlando
Do Possums Carry Rabies

Many people find possums scary, even threatening—and that’s perfectly understandable. After all, possums (also known as “opossums”) have those frightening-looking teeth that they’re all too happy to bare when surprised in their natural habitat—which might, unfortunately, include your backyard. They also use an intimidating hissing sound to scare off potential predators. But do these small animals deserve their bad reputation?

Do Possums Carry Rabies?

Many people have limited knowledge about them and might wonder: Do possums carry rabies? Do possums attack? Do they bite humans? To answer these questions, let’s learn a little more about this somewhat misunderstood creature.

Facts About Possums

Possums are smallish animals, about the size of a cat, with long tails, pointy faces, and grayish-white fur. They are marsupials—animals like kangaroos- carrying their young in a pouch on the mother’s belly. And while possums are often seen as pests, they’re quiet animals that usually don’t threaten humans, pets, or property. … Read Full Post »

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Types of Rodents and Wildlife in Houston

. Posted by in • Houston
Types of Rodents

Whether their presence pops into your mind when thinking about the Lone Star state or not, Texas is home to abundant rodents and wildlife. Houston is no different. Our city is one of the state’s most populated and diverse wild animal ecosystems. The greater Houston area offers a combination of lush outdoors, bayous, and urban dwellings, which serve as the habitat for many rodents and wildlife.

Types of Rodents and Wildlife in Houston

One thing is seeing rodents or other types of wildlife when you are out and about. Spotting one of these animals in your yard will likely produce an entirely different reaction. Learn more about the types of rodents and wildlife that might make it into your outdoor spaces and the steps you can take to ensure they get out—and stay out.

Roof Rats

Rats are much larger than mice, so you’ll know the difference when you see one. Roof rats (sometimes … Read Full Post »

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Where Do Bed Bugs Hide On Your Body?

. Posted by in • Orlando
where do bed bugs hide on your body

Bed bugs. Chances are good that you’ve heard of them or even had a friend who ran in with these pests that love to bite humans, feeding on their blood and leaving an itchy, painful rash behind. For most of us, the idea of bed bugs sends a shiver of fear up the spine, yet many people don’t know much about this insect, its habitat, or its habits.

Can you find bed bug eggs in hair, and can these pests live on clothing or our body? Do they fly or cause diseases? And how difficult are they to get rid of once they’ve invaded your living space? The more you know about bed bugs, the better you can protect yourself and your home from a bed bug infestation.

A common question homeowners ask is, “Where do bed bugs hide on your body?” Let’s address this query first. Bed bugs hide primarily during … Read Full Post »

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2017 Orlando Bucket List, Summer Edition

. Posted by in • Orlando
orlando bucket list summer

Temperatures are inching higher here in central Florida, and you know what that means—it’s time for all summer fun activities! Wondering about the top things to do this summer in Orlando, Florida? The Sunshine State is famous for its theme parks and extensive outdoor fun opportunities, but Disney, swimming holes, and great hiking spots are just the beginning of all that central Florida has to offer.

Orlando Bucket List, Summer Edition

Our Orlando Summer Bucket List is below, and don’t worry: This list of summer fun activities truly has something for everyone. Read on to learn about the top things to do this summer in Orlando.

Water and Theme/Adventure Parks

Wekiwa Springs State Park is just a 20-minute drive north of Orlando, and it’s well worth the trip. You’ll get a glimpse of gorgeous, unspoiled vistas that hint at how central Florida appeared to the Timucuan Indians who lived here long ago. There’s truly … Read Full Post »

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Houston Bucket List, Summer Edition

. Posted by in • Houston

Temperatures are on the rise in Houston and so is the humidity. That means it’s time to start planning your Houston Summer Bucket List! Looking for a handy list of the top things to do this summer in Houston, Texas? If so, read on for all sorts of summer fun activities, tips and ideas.

Top Things To Do This Summer In Houston

Whether you’re an indoor or outdoor person, new to Houston or a longtime resident, on a budget or feeling flush, single, partnered or parenting…there’s something for everyone!

Museums and Galleries Galore

Houston is home to a thriving art gallery and museum scene, including Moody Gallery and Anya Tish Gallery, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural Science, and many more. The Museum District alone boasts 19 museums and many of them are free to enter. Enjoy the air conditioning and the educational exhibits and marvel at the beautiful winged … Read Full Post »

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How to Get Rid of Mayflies

. Posted by in • Houston
How to Get Rid of Mayflies

If you’ve ever seen a gathering of flies around your home’s doorways or entryway, you’ve probably encountered a gathering of mayflies. But whether you correctly identified them, well, that’s another story. That’s because mayflies are often misidentified as dragonflies and damselflies. Although these creatures are relatively harmless, chances are you don’t want mayflies inside your home.

How To Get Rid of Mayflies

Warmer months often mean more flies and insects flying around and outside your home. When you start noticing flying insects, the next step is usually taking steps to keep these insects from getting inside your home. Let’s discuss how to correctly identify mayflies, what to do if you have an infestation, and ways to prevent them from infesting your home again.

Identification

Despite their name, the mayfly is unrelated to a housefly or other true flies. And though they might look the same at first glance, the two species are quite different. … Read Full Post »

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Crane Fly vs. Mosquito: What’s the Difference?

. Posted by in • Orlando
Crane fly vs mosquito

Though crane flies are often called “mosquito hawks,” likely due to their appearance—they look like a giant, extra intimidating mosquito, and have also been rumored (incorrectly) to prey on mosquitoes for food—the two insect species are actually unrelated.

Crane Fly vs. Mosquito

As their name might suggest, crane flies are a species of fly. These flying insects don’t dine on mosquitoes, much less on humans or any other type of animal—much to the dismay of homeowners hoping that crane flies might help with mosquito population control. Mosquitoes, on the other hand, consume animal blood as an essential part of their diet. Read on to learn more about these two varieties of insects, including their similarities and differences and which is most likely to win in the crane fly vs. mosquito showdown.

Similarities

The most significant similarity between crane flies, and mosquitoes is the fact that they are flying insects that share a passing resemblance. … Read Full Post »

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How Long Do Flies Live?

. Posted by in • Orlando
How Long Do Flies Live

What’s that buzzing around your outdoor picnic? It’s probably fly. That’s because the housefly (Musca domestica) is one of the most common insects people interact with daily. And with more than 16,000 species of flies in North America alone and an ability to produce an estimated 1,000,000 offspring in weeks, it doesn’t look like they’re going anywhere anytime soon.

How Long Do Flies Live?

Let’s learn more about the lifespan and lifecycle of a common fly and how you can rid your home of them. We’ll also address common myths about flies and dive into the world of these pesky pests.

The Lifespan of a Fly

Contrary to popular belief, the common fly lives longer than a mere 24 hours. Entomologists say that mature house flies can live up to 25 days. And while the typical range is between 15 to 25 days, some reports indicate a lifespan of two full months.

A few … Read Full Post »

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What Attracts Mosquitoes to Humans?

. Posted by in , • Houston
What attracts mosquitoes to humans

For a small insect, mosquitoes can be quite aggravating. A common topic of conversation when mosquitoes are out, and biting is why certain people seem to be the target of mosquitoes and not others.

What Attracts Mosquitoes to Humans?

Let’s take a look at why mosquitoes like to bite us, what makes them choose some people over others, and what we can all do to protect ourselves from these pesky pests.

Why Do Mosquitoes Bite?

Did you know all of the mosquitoes who bite you are females? They seek out warm-blooded creatures for a meal. The mosquito’s proboscis, a part of its mouth, works like a hypodermic needle. She injects a little of her own saliva into our skin, which thins the blood and allows her to draw it out of the capillaries in our skin.

The mosquito doesn’t drink your blood for herself but uses the proteins and other substances in the blood to … Read Full Post »

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