5 Easy Tips to Prevent Pests in Your Kitchen

Ants are a common kitchen pest problem in Albuquerque NM homes - Pest Defense Solutions

From family gatherings and birthday parties to get-togethers with friends and holiday baking days, a kitchen is the hub of any home. No matter how often you use your kitchen, it’s imperative to keep your surroundings clean and sanitized. One of the biggest threats to the cleanliness of your home is a pest infestation. Unfortunately, kitchens are somewhat of a haven for pests with the endless access to food and water. To prevent pests in your kitchen, it’s important to be proactive about making sure your environment doesn’t attract bugs in the first place. The experts at Pest Defense Solutions are here to help with six easy tips for a pest-free* kitchen—read on to learn more!

What Pests Infest Kitchens?

Both residential and commercial kitchens can be prone to all types of pest problems. The most common pests we see infesting kitchens here in Albuquerque NM are:

  • Pantry pests. True to name, these moths, beetles, and bugs infest dried goods and foods in your pantry, which can be any baker’s worst nightmare.
  • Ants. A small ant problem can quickly turn into a large one if ants have found a source of food or water in your kitchen
  • Cockroaches. Roaches love filth and feed on sewer and drain sludge. Many species love to hide behind appliances and are especially troublesome in the food service industry.
  • Flies. From drain flies to fungus gnats, flies can be a true nuisance in the kitchen and can affect your business’ reputation.
  • Rodents. Attracted to warmth and food, small house mice can take shelter behind your appliances and are attracted to food crumbs and garbage.

Infographic on preventing kitchen pests in Albuquerque NM - Pest Defense Solutions

Tips to Keep Pests Out of Your Kitchen

Keeping a pest-free* kitchen requires knowledge of what attracts them in the first place. The best tips to prevent pests around your sink, pantry, or other appliances are:

  1. Maintain a clean kitchen. Always clean up after meals and avoid crumbs and spills. Clean your floors regularly and avoid clutter.
  2. Seal cracks and fix leaks. Inspect your kitchen for leaky pipes or crevices around your windows. Seal off or repair issues as necessary.
  3. Organize. It’s important to seal all dried goods and foods in airtight containers. Regularly go through your pantry and keep things organized.
  4. Check your groceries. When buying certain goods at the store, inspect food items for tears or signs of damage to avoid pantry pests.
  5. Clean up after your pet. All types of pests love pet food! Store in airtight containers and never leave food bowls out overnight.

Kitchen Pest Control Services in Albuquerque NM

An infestation in your kitchen isn’t just gross—it’s dangerous! Pests can contaminate food and transmit dangerous diseases, making it all the more important to have a clean, pest-free* kitchen. If you’ve done all you can and are still seeing pests around your appliances, it’s time to team up with the experts at Pest Defense Solutions. Contact us today to get started!

5 Facts About Mice and Rats

Rat in Albuquerque NM home - Pest Defense Solutions

Here in New Mexico, rodents are a common pest problem all year long. However, rodents are even more common during the fall and winter months. This is because rodents look to get inside homes or businesses to hunker down throughout the winter. To properly prepare and prevent rodent issues in your Albuquerque property, it’s important to learn about common rodent behaviors this time of year. With Rodent Awareness Week in just a couple of weeks, the experts at Pest Defense Solutions are here to help. Read on to learn the top 5 facts about rats and mice that can help you learn how to keep rodents away for good!

Top Rodent Facts

In order to effectively prevent and get rid of rodents, it’s important to understand their unique behaviors and what makes them pests in the first place. The top things to know are:

  1. Rats and mice can get inside homes easily. Rodents are infamous for squeezing their way into homes. Some young mice can fit into holes that are just 5 mm wide, making any tiny crack or crevice a vulnerability.
  2. Rodents have a rapid rate of reproduction. Rats and mice are highly prolific breeders. Mice can have litters of 5 babies every three weeks, and rats can produce upward of 15 litters a year.
  3. Rodent teeth never stop growing. All types of rodents are identified by their ever-growing incisor teeth, which can grow up to 5 inches per year.
  4. Rodents are scavengers and some are omnivores. Rodents are infamous for devouring anything and everything. Most mice are vegetarians. However, many rats will feed on human or pet food, or anything else they come across!
  5. Rats and mice can carry and spread dangerous diseases. According to the CDC, rats and mice alike have been linked to the spread of over 35 different diseases.

Why Are Rats and Mice Considered Pests?

Rodent infestations are considered dangerous for a number of reasons. For one, wild rats and mice can carry and spread many germs and diseases that can lead to contamination and illness. When rodents infest your home, their population can quickly increase and they can create a real mess inside your home or business with their droppings and nesting. In addition to the mess, rodents can chew on electric wires, which can become a fire hazard. Moreover, a rodent problem can become a hazard in your home, making it important to enlist the help of a pest control expert.

Think You Have a Rodent Infestation?

Here at Pest Defense Solutions, we get a lot of calls about rodents this time of year. The key to rodent control is always prevention. Our rodent control experts will help by implementing rodent exclusion tactics throughout your property. To learn more, contact us today!

What Pests Are Attracted to Leaky Pipes?

Cockroaches are known to linger in pipes and plumbing in Albuquerque NM - Pest Defense Solutions

Discovering you have a plumbing issue or water leak in your home is one of the worst things a homeowner can experience. One of the other worst things? A pest infestation! Unfortunately, these two instances often go hand in hand. This is because insects and other pests are attracted to areas with excessive moisture. Needless to say, one broken water pipe or even a leak can quickly lead to pests coming out of the woodworks and into your home. For this reason, it’s important to always be on the lookout for leaky pipes or issues in your home if you want to prevent pest problems as well. The experts at Pest Defense Solutions are here to tell you everything you need to know about leaky pipes and pests in your Albuquerque home.

Pests Attracted to Water

Water is one of the main pest attractants. While most need water just for survival, many others are drawn to the environment caused by excess moisture. The four most common pests that are known to dwell in areas with excess moisture are as follows:

  1. Termites: If a broken pipe has caused water damage in the very structure of your home, you can be sure termites are to follow. Subterranean termites in particular are attracted to moist wood and soil. When there are unattended-to leaky pipes or plumbing issues, you could be leaving your home vulnerable to termites.
  2. Ants: These tiny pests will appear seemingly out of nowhere when excess moisture is abundant. Leaky faucets or spilled water from a pet’s bowl can bring ants out in the hundreds. In addition to your typical house ant, water can be a main attractant to the wood-destroying carpenter ant as well.
  3. Cockroaches: Roaches may be known for their resiliency, but they aren’t as strong as you’d think. Without water for a week, a roach will not survive. Cockroaches also love to linger inside of pipes and plumbing fixtures. An issue can quickly introduce roaches into other parts of the house.
  4. Rodents: Rats and mice alike are always looking for a water supply. Leaky pipes or broken faucets in your crawl space or laundry room can provide a haven for rodents. The last thing you want is rodents scurrying around when you have a plumbing issue, making it important to prevent them.

How to Prevent Leaky Pipes

Preventing pests requires preventing the conditions that would attract them in the first place. Always be on the lookout for signs of excess moisture in your home. Regularly inspect to ensure your faucets aren’t dripping, your drains aren’t clogging, and there are no leaks from your fridge, washing machine, or dishwasher. If there are problems, get them fixed right away with professional help. Additionally, consider running a dehumidifier in areas of your home that are more prone to moisture!

Leaky Pipes & Pests in Albuquerque Homes

The last thing you want is a full-blown infestation, making it important to contact your local exterminator after noticing a pest problem. At Pest Defense Solutions, we will work hard to get rid of any pest problems and provide you with tips to prevent future ones.

Tips to Keep Ticks Away

Tips for preventing ticks in Albuquerque NM - Pest Defense Solutions

Summertime in Albuquerque brings with it a number of pest problems: mosquitoes, termites, wasps, and more. One of the most dangerous pests to keep an eye out in the summertime, however, is the tick. According to a study, tick populations are on the rise as the global climate continues to get warmer and warmer. These tiny parasitic pests are feared for a number of reasons, mainly their ability to transmit Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. While not every tick bite results in illness, it’s still crucial to learn how to keep an eye out for ticks. The best form of tick control is prevention. The experts at Pest Defense Solutions are here to help you learn how to keep ticks away from your property for good.

Ticks in Albuquerque Yards

Ticks are common in heavily wooded or tall grassy areas. So how do they end up in your backyard in the first place? Ticks love to hitchhike by latching onto clothes, people, and animals. They will also gladly take up residence in your yard if there are areas for them to hide. Hiking in nearby trails, especially off the beaten path, can increase your risk (or your pet’s risk) of a tick bite. Another common way ticks get onto your property is when infested rodents or nuisance wildlife carry them into your backyard or home.

Top Tips to Keep Ticks Away

Ticks may be tiny, but you can still put preventative measures in place to keep them out of your yard.

  1. Reduce the clutter in your yard. Not only will this prevent ticks, but also the animals that commonly carry them. Reducing the number of potential hiding spots for ticks can discourage them from sticking around.
  2. Install barriers. A barrier made out of gravel or wood chips that is at least 3 feet wide can deter ticks. This helps create a natural barrier between wooded or grassy areas and the recreational areas in your backyard.
  3. Check your clothing and shower. After being outdoors, inspect your clothing for ticks. Toss your clothing in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes, or wash them in hot water. A shower after being outdoors also decreases the chance of contracting a disease if you were bitten by a tick.
  4. Take care of your yard. Ticks love tall grass and unkempt shrubs. Maintain your backyard by regularly mowing the lawn, placing barriers around your property, and trimming back hedges or trees as needed.
  5. Keep wildlife and rodents out. These pests infamously carry and contribute to the spread of ticks. Wildlife exclusion tactics, such as installing secure fences or screen doors, can help prevent ticks in your yard.
  6. Learn how to identify ticks and tick bites. Your best defense against ticks is learning how to inspect for them. After being outdoors or after a hike, use a handheld mirror to look for tick bites on exposed parts of your body. Check under your pet’s fur for potential ticks as well. If you spot any, it’s smart to know how to remove a tick properly.

Need to Get Rid of Ticks?

If you’ve done all you can to prevent ticks and still notice them in or near your property, it’s best to team up with your local pest control experts. The team at Pest Defense Solutions will thoroughly inspect your yard and implement prevention tactics to keep ticks and the animals that carry them away for good. Contact us today to get started!

Why Do I Suddenly Have Ants?

Why Do I Suddenly Have Ants in my Albuquerque home? Pest Defense Solutions

Out of all pest problems, ants can be one of the most confounding. This is in part due to the fact that an ant infestation can seemingly appear out of nowhere overnight. While this might seem to be the case, an ant problem can always be discovered—and stopped—in its early stages. The key is to know where ant infestations can start and how to make your property less attractive to them in the first place. In doing so, you can avoid the sudden discovery of these pests in your Albuquerque NM home. The ant control experts at Pest Defense Solutions are here to share all you need to know about how ant infestations suddenly start—read on to learn more.

Where Are Ants Nesting in My House?

There are certain spots in your house that are more susceptible to ant problems than others. The most common places to find ants include kitchens, bathrooms, and in your garden. Ants will find their way into your home in search of food and water. As soon as they find what they’re looking for, ants will leave a pheromone trail for their colony to follow suit. Before you know it, a small ant problem can turn into a big infestation. An ant colony can nest in the walls of your home, and crawl into your various rooms through cracks and crevices. This makes it even more difficult to find the root of the ant problem.

Ant hotspots in Albuquerque NM homes - Pest Defense Solutions

3 Steps to Avoid Suddenly Having Ants

No one wants to wake up to a random ant problem. To make your property less attractive to the pests, you can take just the three following steps.

  1. Avoid crumbs and food spills. Ants have a sweet tooth. Crumbs on your floor, even pet food, can be a huge draw for ants. To prevent ants, it’s important to regularly clean up spills and vacuum on a regular basis to deny them access to any of your food.
  2. Eliminate excess moisture. Especially in your bathrooms, crawl space, or bathrooms, excess moisture from leaky pipes or plumbing issues can attract ants. Always fix leaks and other moisture problems as quickly as possible.
  3. Seal up cracks and crevices. Ants will make use of the tiniest cracks or holes to get inside, especially at the base of your foundation. Annually, inspect your home for these tiny openings and consider sealing them with caulk.

I Suddenly Have Ants—What Now?

The key to ant control is prevention. So when you have a serious infestation already underway, it’s crucial to get in touch with your local ant exterminators. At Pest Defense Solutions, our ant control specialists will work to determine where the ants are getting inside in the first place. Our goal is to keep your property impenetrable to ants, year-round. Contact us today to get started!

Do Bed Bugs Spread Quickly?

Bed bugs spread quickly in Albuquerque NM - Pest Defense Solutions

Bed bugs do not crawl or move as fast as some pests, but that doesn’t mean they don’t spread at an alarming rate! These pests are opportunists, meaning they will use a number of means to travel from one area to another. The spread of bed bugs usually happens when these pests latch onto clothing, suitcases, and more. Because of their silent nature, bed bugs can spread from one room to another in your home before you ever discover them. Plus, once established, bed bugs will reproduce at a rate that can quickly turn a small infestation into a large one. Read more with the experts here at Pest Defense Solutions to learn how you can stop the quick spread of bed bugs.

How Do Bed Bugs Travel From One Place to Another?

Bed bugs are unlike their fellow blood-sucking pests (fleas & ticks) in that they do not typically latch onto their hosts. After they are finished feeding, bed bugs will retreat to their hiding place until they are ready to eat once more. So how do bed bugs spread, then?

The spread of bed bugs typically occurs when the bugs latch onto luggage, clothing, bags, used furniture, or other infested items. When these items are moved from one area to another, they can easily introduce the bed bugs into a new area entirely.

5 Tips to Keep Bed Bugs From Spreading

To prevent bed bugs from spreading throughout your home, it’s important to learn how to inspect for bed bug activity. In addition:

  1. When traveling, use hard shell suitcases and thoroughly inspect your hotel room for bed bugs. Always store luggage up off the ground.
  2. Be wary of purchasing second-hand furniture unless you’ve inspected it thoroughly for bed bugs.
  3. Place protective covers over the mattresses and box springs in your home.
  4. When arriving home from traveling, steam clean your suitcase and wash all clothing before storing everything away.
  5. If you utilize shared laundry facilities or a laundromat, seal your clothes in a plastic bag to and from the facility, and always fold your clothes at home.

The Spread of Bed Bugs: How to Stop It

Bed bugs may be slow crawlers, but they can still spread quickly and often silently. Once you discover the first signs of bed bugs in your home or business, it’s crucial to reach out to your local bed bug exterminators as soon as possible. At Pest Defense Solutions, we will work hard to get rid of bed bugs and keep them away from your Albuquerque property for good. Contact us today to get started!

How to Safely Dislodge a Tick

American dog tick found in Albuquerque - Pest Defense Solutions

As you prepare for another hot spring and summer, it’s important to keep in mind that ticks are coming back to bite us. Warm weather means more habitable conditions for ticks, as well as more animals to feed on. Ticks have the capability to transmit many serious diseases, including the infamous Lyme disease. Learning how to remove ticks in the safest way possible can prevent you and your family from contracting diseases this summer.

What Kinds of Ticks Live in Albuquerque?

Here in Albuquerque, we most commonly see cases of the American dog tick biting our residents and their pests. These ticks have oval-shaped bodies with reddish-brown coloration and small white markings on their backs. They are usually about 5mm in length but can grow up to three times larger when engorged with blood.

Fortunately for us, Lyme disease can only be contracted through a deer tick bite – American dog ticks are not known to carry the disease. Deer ticks live primarily in the eastern half of the United States, but there have been some reported cases of Lyme disease in New Mexico over the years.

Tick removal guide - Pest Defense Solutions in AlbuquerqueRemoving Ticks Safely

If you’ve been bitten by a tick, try to remove it as soon as possible to minimize your chances of contracting a disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have set out a course of four steps to remove ticks from your skin as safely as possible:

  1. Using a pair of fine tweezers, grab the tick at the closest point to the skin that you can.
  2. Pull the tick out of the skin using a slow and steady motion. If you turn the tweezers while pulling, the tick’s mouthparts might break off in your skin. Just use the tweezers again to remove the mouthparts if this happens.
  3. Clean the area of the bite with soap and warm water or rubbing alcohol after dislodging the tick.
  4. Do not squish the tick with your bare hands. Get rid of the tick by throwing it away in a sealed trash bin or flushing it down the toilet.

If you’re experiencing rashes or fever that you believe to be related to a recent tick bite, talk to a doctor about your symptoms and the location and time of your bite.

How Pest Defense Solutions Can Help with Tick Control

If you want to take preventative measures for a tick-free summer this year, reach out to your local pest control company. Our tick experts at Pest Defense Solutions are well versed in tick issues around Albuquerque and can tell you all about the best ways to avoid bites in your area. Contact us today for a free estimate!

What to Ask When Choosing a Pest Control Company

Technician servicing a lawn in Albuquerque - Pest Defense Solutions

No one has time to waste once they’ve discovered a pest infestation in their home. You need to act quickly, and you want to know that the pest control company you choose is knowledgeable and reliable.

So who do you turn to? There could be a dozen pest control companies in your area that claim to be the best, but before you decide on one, you should feel confident that they will get the job done quickly and thoroughly. We’ve laid out some questions that you can ask to feel secure in your choice of exterminator:

Where can I read your reviews?

Transparency is an important quality to look for when hiring a provider for any service. In the bottom right corner of the Pest Defense Solutions website, you’ll see that we display an overview of our ratings and a link to read our reviews.

We are proud to show a 4.4 out of 5 star rating that accounts for over 250 reviews! If you are able to quickly find a company’s results and are seeing lots of positive feedback, you can trust that they will provide you with quality service.

How do you assess a customer’s situation?

Every pest outbreak has a different origin and needs a unique plan for its resolution. Talk to an exterminator that you’re considering about what their pest control process looks like. At Pest Defense Solutions, we take a comprehensive approach that has seen much success over our 15 years of business:

  • We start off with an inspection session. One of our experts will come out to the site and take a look at the pest outbreak to discover how it started and how bad it has become.
  • They then draft a plan to remove the pests and shut off the source of the outbreak.
  • A return date is scheduled, and if we don’t fix the problem on the first day, we send our technicians back until the job is completed and your house is protected from repeat offenders.

How safe are your pest control methods?

Some popular pesticides contain harmful ingredients that can unintentionally poison nearby plants and animals. Ask an exterminator that you are considering if they’re using entirely EPA-approved products and keeping up with the newest environmentally-friendly strategies.

At Pest Defense Solutions, we always stay updated on the latest advancements in eco-conscious pest control to continue our quality service with an eye on our impact on the environment.

Is your company licensed and insured?

A trustworthy pest control company will continually train their employees and have their business accredited and insured properly. You should choose a company that has liability insurance in case your home is damaged during the extermination process.

Can you prevent future pest problems?

A good exterminator will remove pests from your home and make sure they don’t return. When a pest control company takes the time to pest-proof your home after getting rid of the pests, it means that they see you as more than just a customer. Our policy at Pest Defense Solutions is to send technicians back to the site until we believe that your home is no longer susceptible to similar infestations.

If you’re experiencing an outbreak right now, reach out to your local pest control experts at Pest Defense Solutions. We are trained to tackle the unique pest problems that Albuquerque homeowners face with care and efficiency. Contact us today for a free quote!

Are Brick Homes Prone to Termites?

Are brick homes prone to termites in Albuquerque NM - Pest Defense Solutions

There is a common misconception that termites only infest wood homes. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Termites are drawn to cellulose, the compound found within not just wood but other materials as well. This makes brick homes or houses made of stone and other materials vulnerable to termite infestations.

This Termite Awareness Week, the experts at Pest Defense Solutions are here to share all you need to know about what may be attracting termites to your Albuquerque home. Keep reading to learn more!

What Attracts Termites to My Home?

Termites will infest a brick home just as quickly as a wood home in the right conditions. But what are the right conditions for termite problems? The following things are the biggest factors that contribute to the likelihood of a termite infestation here in Santa Fe.

  1. Cellulose. Termites may be infamous for infesting wood, but they’re actually after the cellulose contained within! This cellulose is a main component that can be found in wallpaper, plants, mulch, drywall, and more.
  2. Moisture. Leaky pipes, broken sprinklers, or clogged gutters can all lead to moisture problems in your home. In turn, this could attract subterranean termites (not to mention hoards of other pests) inside.
  3. Access to soil. Subterranean termites need contact with soil to live. Any wood items, whether it’s your home, porch, or firewood in the yard, in contact with soil is at risk for a termite problem.
  4. Warmth. Termite problems are generally more common in warmer, humid parts of the world. This puts our southwestern state at a higher risk of termite activity year-round.
  5. Decaying wood. If you have logs, trees, or stumps that are rotten or in decay, you can be sure termites will seek them out.
  6. Landscape. Termites can infest mulch, making it important to keep it away from the perimeter of your home. Also trim back tree branches that may be too close to your property.

Termites in Brick Homes & Wood Homes

Regardless of what type of home you live in, the best way to know if you are protected against termites is to work with a professional termite exterminator. A thorough home inspection will pinpoint anything in or around your property that could put you at risk for termites in the future. Contact the termite control experts at Pest Defense Solutions today to get started!

5 Tips For a Pest-Free Garage

Plastic bins help prevent pests in garages in Albuquerque NM - Pest Defense Solutions

We all know pests love to make themselves at home inside your kitchen or in your attic, but what about the garage? Especially here in Albuquerque, garages are a hotspot for pest infestations. A garage oftentimes provides pests with ample food, shelter, and water, making it a prime spot year-round. Whether you keep your holiday decorations stored away in the garage or your gardening tools, you likely want to avoid dealing with pests every time you have to rifle through your garage. The experts at Pest Defense Solutions are here with their top tips for a pest-free* garage all year long.

What Pests Infest Garages?

More than a few pests will likely find your garage to be a haven. Some of the most common ones we experience here in New Mexico include:

  • Mice & Rats. Particularly in the winter, rodents will seek shelter in garages. They can easily build nests in storage boxes and wall voids or even sneak into your car.
  • Spiders. Arachnids are known to spin webs in boxes and in rarely-accessed corners. You can be sure to come across spiders when pulling out holiday decorations from your garage every year.
  • Silverfish. These tiny insects are especially fond of garages and cardboard boxes. Once they are in your garage, they can feed on a number of items: paper, glue, clothing, flour, and more. While mostly harmless, silverfish are nonetheless a nuisance.
  • Flies. Especially in the hot summer months, flies can be a major nuisance. House flies can be found resting on nearly any surface including on walls, floors, window sills and other various objects found in the garage.

Best Tips For a Pest-Free Garage

Keeping pests out of your garage requires many of the same procedures you’d take to prevent them inside your home. This includes:

  1. Installing weather stripping and using silicone-based caulk to seal cracks and crevices.
  2. Promptly fixing moisture issues by repairing leaky pipes and using a dehumidifier.
  3. Storing all food, decorations, and other goods in plastic bins with tight-fitting lids instead of cardboard boxes.
  4. Keeping your garage clean and tidy by blowing it out once a month and sweeping when necessary.
  5. Storing all items up off of the ground when possible, and staying as organized as possible.

Pests in Albuquerque Garages

Dealing with pests anywhere inside or outside your property can be frustrating and even downright dangerous. If you are having trouble keeping pests out of your garage, the expert technicians at Pest Defense Solutions can help!