Everyone enjoys observing wildlife in action. Unfortunately, wild critters can become a lot less entertaining when they move in and take over your home. Thanks to increased urban expansion, many Austin homeowners are starting to notice that urban wildlife is causing major infestation problems. If you’re suffering from a pest issue, it’s essential to understand what types of wild animals can cause problems and how you can prevent them from taking over your property.

Are Urban Animals Taking Over Austin?

Thanks to its warm climate and surrounding lakes and rivers, Austin is a popular destination for many travelers. Of course, not all of these travelers come in on two feet. Many four-footed members of the animal kingdom have also started calling the area home. Urban wildlife found in the area include:

• Deer
• Raccoons
• Opossums
• Squirrels
• Bats
• Birds

Urban coyotes are also a major nuisance for some Austin homeowners. While these animals don’t generally … Read Full Post »

Conquering spiders with your amazing digital powers

Your gender doesn’t matter when you scream like a little girl. Don’t feel shy about your pounding heart and sweating palms. You share that fear of spiders with 7% of the world’s population, but there’s a new weapon for conquering your phobia, and it’s just a quick download away.

There’s an App for That Arachnophobia

When was the last time you considered downloading something to help you with a little systematic desensitization? This form of phobia therapy has been around for more than 50 years, and the process is much simpler than its fancy name implies. Gradual exposure to something frightening gives you the power to control that irrational reaction and wrestle it into submission. Combine this straightforward approach with a touch of digital magic, and you have Phobia Free. This clever smartphone app is produced by Virtually Free and based on their dedication to universal … Read Full Post »

Itchy spit, smelly breath and standing water—they’re all part of the strange world of mosquitoes.

It’s a familiar scenario: You’re outdoors enjoying some beautiful weather when suddenly you feel a tickle on your arm. You slap the spot instinctively only to discover that you just swatted a mosquito. Do you know what attracted it in the first place? How about why you’re just starting to itch? Read on for some fascinating facts about these annoying bugs.

It’s All About Your Breath (and Body Odor)

Mosquitoes can detect the carbon dioxide people exhale from as far as 75 feet away. Sweaty people are also a major draw for them. However, there are some smells that dull or stun their carbon dioxide sensors, including mint, certain fruits, and chocolate.

Beware the Aggressive Female

If you get bit, don’t blame the males. Female mosquitoes are the ones that bite, and even then it’s only to get nourishing protein … Read Full Post »

In today’s world, it’s hard to imagine what life was like before modern pest control was available. What if everyday cockroaches and termites were allowed to multiply freely, feed on our homes, and munch on our vegetable gardens? How awful would it be if bedbugs were our cuddle buddies every night? Here’s a taste of what a world without pest control would be like.

Consequences of Not Controlling Insects

• More people would get sick. Bubonic plague, also known as the Plague of Justinian, killed millions of people during the sixth century. The spread of this disease is blamed on rats, but technically it was spread by bites from fleas who fed on infected rats. Whether you want to blame the plague on rats or on fleas, both problems are managed through routine pest control.

• In a world where mosquitoes are uncontrolled, you’d find it difficult to have an outdoor barbeque without … Read Full Post »

Insects are an inevitable part of warm weather. Every year, the very same bugs appear, buzzing and bumbling where you don’t want them. Even a long Texas winter can’t deter these persistent pests. Have you ever wondered how they manage to make it through the same weather that had you shivering in your boots?

Migration

Perhaps the most obvious way to avoid freezing is to skip winter entirely. Like birds, some insect species simply take a vacation and come back when the warm weather returns.

Freeze Tolerance

Some insects have a unique protein in their bodies that acts almost like antifreeze. These “cryptoprotectant” compounds serve to lower the freezing temperature of the insects’ bodies and are triggered by the environmental changes that signal an oncoming winter, such as shorter days and cooler temperatures.

Lying “Dormant”

Insects can weather the winter in a variety of forms. Some snuggle up in cocoons, spending the season as pupae. Others … Read Full Post »