Holmdel, NJ Professional, Humane Pest & Wildlife Removal Company

We were sent out to the home of a new customer in Holmdel, NJ, to handle a mole problem in the backyard. Moles are small insectivores that live and forage underground in broad systems of burrows and tunnels. They are about 4-11" long (including tail), have brown or grey fur with a cylindrical body with a short tail, very small concealed eyes and ears and small hind feet and larger forefeet for digging.

As we inspected the backyard, we found about 15 mole tunnels throughout the yard. In order to effectively eliminate the moles, we used our Burrow RX. The Burrow RX is a carbon monoxide device that uses a smoke-oil tracer that shows us where the majority of the carbon monoxide is going, how far we are reaching in the tunnels, and if there are any leaks. If we notice any leaks, we fill them in. 

The gas isn’t toxic to owners because we're outdoors in a well-ventilated area. Additionally, there’s no residual that is left behind, so the family is in no danger of getting a residue on them. The Burrow RX is much more humane than using a pesticide or a trap and it guarantees that we are eliminating the moles!

During a scheduled summer service of a property of a new Home Protection Plan customer in Holmdel, NJ, we noticed something interesting by the fence - several carpenter bees drilling into it!

Exactly what are carpenter bees? Well, they're wood destroying insects that don't eat wood, like termites do, but instead bore perfectly circular 1/2 holes in wooden structures to create their galleries (nests). Although they look similar to bumblebees in appearance, carpenter bees lack the yellow markings on their abdomens and their abdomens are smooth and shiny. The three most common signs of a carpenter bee infestation are the drill holes into the structure, the yellow excrement stains on the wood directly below their nests, and the pile of frass (sawdust) near where they are digging, which we found plenty of!

For treatment, we injected a residual dusting application into each one of the drill holes. This treatment will eliminate the carpenter bees as well as leave behind a residual that will exterminate any carpenter bees that return to their nest and any newly hatched carpenter bees in the galleries.

A new customer in Holmdel, NJ, called our Attic Systems division to come out and add some much needed blown-in cellulose insulation to their attic. First, we removed all the old fiberglass insulation that was falling apart and disinfected the entire attic. Next, we air sealed all the gaps and cracks in the attic. Doing this eliminates the air flow between the living space and the attic, which improves energy efficiency.

Afterward, we installed Tight Shell Can Light Covers over the recessed lights in the attic. These are made out of a fire resistant material and is specifically designed to stop unwanted air leakage through the recessed lights. Lastly, we added over 10 inches of TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation. TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation maximizes home comfort, has the highest Class-1 fire safety rating & is resistant to mold and pests. Now the customer has newly insulated, energy efficient attic space.

We were sent out to the home of a new Home Protection Plan customer in Holmdel, NJ, to remove a bald-faced hornets nest. As we inspected the backyard, we found the basketball sized nest in one of the trees and, despite the weather being quite cold over the last few weeks, it was still active!

Since bald-faced hornets are one of the most aggressive stinging insects out there, we equipped our protective bee suit and treated the nest with a knockdown aerosol application and a knockdown liquid application. Both of these treatments will rapidly exterminate the bald-faced hornet. After a short period of time we removed the nest, and the branch it was attached to, and disposed of them both properly. 

One evening, this homeowner in Holmdel, NJ, was sitting outside her backyard when all of a sudden, she noticed several bats emerging from her roof! She quickly contacted our Little Rascals Nuisance Wildlife Removal and we were sent out. As we approached the entrance way to the back door, we noticed a large amount of bat droppings around the area and even found a few bats nesting the top of the archway!

Continuing our inspection, we determined that the bats were able to infest the attic of the home by squeezing through the ridge vent. The ridge vent is the very peak shingles that usually has a venting material such as cobra venting or a variety of padded vent shingles, but sometimes they only cover the sides and the ends are forgotten about. To safely remove the bats from the home, we installed a bat cone over one portion of the ridge vent and installed Ridge-Guard® over the remaining portion. Ridge-Guard® secures and reinforces the ridge vent shingles to prevent the bats from entering. Ridge-Guard® will not only exclude the bats from the home, but all nuisance wildlife and birds too!

After a short period of time, all the bats were safely removed from the home. We then disinfected the attic area and installed another portion of Ridge-Guard® over the access point.

A business owner in Holmdel, NJ called our office after noticing a large number of fruit flies throughout the kitchen of his restaurant. As soon as we inspected the kitchen, we found a large number of fruit flies on the walls and throughout the entire area. The reason why there were so many fruit flies was because a lot of the food and liquids weren't stored properly and left out.

Fruit flies are attracted to ripened fruits and vegetables in the kitchen or wherever food is allowed to rot and ferment. Although these pests can't bite or transmit any diseases, they can carry around bacteria from one place to another and contaminate food. There were also several dirty rags loaded with food debris and dirty sugary liquids that were left out. After bringing these issues to owners attention and mentioning a few, simple sanitation procedures, both he and his staff immediately started cleaning the kitchen.

As they were cleaning, we applied a liquid application in all the floor drains and then scrubbed them out with our heavy-duty scrubbing brush. Next, we applied a bio-foam solution that removes the organic build-up, odors, and scum in the drains. Lastly, we treated the infestation areas with a fly bait to control the adult fruit flies. In a short amount of time, the fruit flies will be exterminated.

Recently, we were sent out to a home in Holmdel, NJ to handle a mice issue in the attic. As we began inspecting the attic, we found multiple mice tunnels throughout the blown-in insulation. Mice will often tunnel in the insulation to create a warm nesting place. After completing our inspection, we found a few gaps around multiple wires that where leading outside. Since mice only need the width of a pencil to enter a structure, this was how the mice were infesting the home.

First, we carefully removed all the mice droppings. Next, we installed several rodent bait stations throughout the attic and along the exterior of the home. Afterward, we stuffed all the openings with chew-proof stainless steel mesh and sealed them with a waterproof, premium adhesive. Lastly, we scheduled several follow up visits to replenish the bait in the rodent bait stations and to monitor the mice activity.

As we were treating this commercial property in Holmdel, NJ we came across something interesting by one of the fire hydrant — yellow jackets! As we took a closer look (will our protective bee suit equipped) we discovered that they were nesting underneath the hydrant! 

First, we injected a knockdown aerosol product, waited a few moments, and then injected a knockdown dusting application into the burrow. Both treatments will quickly exterminate the yellow jackets. A few moments later, we dug out the nest, disposed of it, and filled in the burrow.

I was called out to a residence in Holmdel, NJ to help a homeowner having an issue with mice in the crawl space. He needed to enter the crawl space, and when he was down below, he saw the tell-tale signs of mice: dark droppings with pointed ends that look like grains of black rice. The homeowner did not observe any rodent activity in the living areas of the home, but he knew that once they were inside, it would be easy for them to access the home. Mice usually enter homes through gaps or cracks around the foundation to gain access, and once inside they travel through crawl voids around the home to forage for food and water. We see a huge pick-up in mouse infestations during the fall and winter when they enter homes to escape the harsh outdoor elements. 

To resolve the infestation, I placed two RTU bait stations in the crawl space. These triangular-shaped boxes have angled entry holes that mice do not hesitate to enter. They fit flush against a wall or corner so they can be easily placed in the pathways where the mice are traveling. Inside, there are interior baffles that lead the mice to the bait. They are tamper-resistant and automatically lock when closed to keep the bait away from non-target animals. During follow-up visits, we can open them with a special key to replenish the highly effective single-feeding anticoagulant bait as needed. 

I inspected the living areas of the home, focusing on the kitchen and attic, and confirmed that there was no mouse activity. Fortunately, the problem was limited to the crawl space. I also inspected the exterior perimeter of the home to identify potential entry points. I located two possible gaps, one around the crawl space vent and the other under the front stoop. I sealed both of these openings.

As often happens when we service homeowners for wildlife and pest control, we find issues other than the particular one that we were called out for in the first place. Often, the problems are interrelated and one exacerbates the other. For example, high moisture conditions or a water intrusion from a leaky pipe or a roof leak will not only attract insects but also cause mold formation, and then the mold attracts mold-eating insects as well, so one problem compounds another. Also, we often find weaknesses in a home’s structure, such as wood rot of the fascia and soffits caused by water damage, leads to both insect and wildlife infestations. Some insects, especially wood-boring insects like carpenter bees and carpenter ants, as well as wildlife are attracted to soft, rotting wood. For wildlife, especially squirrels and raccoons, softwood gives them easy access for them to claw and chew their way into the attic. 

This homeowner in Holmdel, NJ contacted Cowleys because of a wildlife problem. The homeowner was fortunate to have called us. During my inspection for potential wildlife entry points, I discovered some hidden termite damage and active termite activity underneath a portion of the home that had direct soil contact with the ground. While finding out you have a termite infestation is never good news, it is certainly better to discover a termite problem early so that the infestation can be treated and property damage minimized.

Termites called the silent destroyers of homes for good reason. These wood-consuming subterranean insects rarely make their presence known. These fragile insects avoid the harsh outdoor element and travel either underground or inside mud tubes that they construct in order to traverse from the soil over concrete foundations to reach the wood in the home. If a homeowner does not notice the often subtle signs of termite activity, the problem goes unnoticed until there is either substantial damage to the structure or the termite activity is discovered during the home inspection of a pending sale. Needless to say, the homeowner was extremely grateful that I had found the termite damage during my wildlife inspection.

Outdoor moths come in a variety of shape, size, and color depending on the species. Some are large, such as the two unusual large moths that were perched on the siding of this Holmdel residence, while others are small. Some have brilliant colors while others are the drab brown or grey that we associated with moths, especially indoor infesting moths.   

Moths are a nuisance pest. With indoor moths, it is the larvae that causes property damage, not the adults. Once a moth reaches adulthood, it will lay its eggs amongst materials that supply food for the developing larvae after they hatch. The larvae of webbing clothes moths can decimate entire wardrobes as well as bedding and furniture. These destructive moths consume natural fibers such as cotton, wool, fur, and silk and even synthetic fibers containing some natural fiber content. The larvae of pantry (Indian meal) moths contaminate food. These moths are especially attracted to bird seed, flour and meals, cereals and grain, and pet foods. The larvae will spin webs in the infested food, you’ll often see clumps of webbing and the larvae itself resembles little worms. Needless to say, these tiny pantry moth eggs can cause big problems in the kitchen. 

Outdoor moths are usually seen staying very still on flat exterior walls near light fixtures.  Outdoor moths are certainly a nuisance when they hurl themselves against your patio porch light and disrupt summer outdoor gatherings. But certain outdoor moths are more than an annoyance. They can leave a path of destruction behind them. Most notably, gypsy moths, which unfortunately are found throughout New Jersey, feed on hundreds of varieties of trees and shrubs, and are attracted to maples, elms, and especially oaks. They can strip trees completely of their foliage in one season, and with their larvae boring into wood, they can kill entire groves of trees over several seasons. The gypsy moth is considered the worst pest to endanger hardwood and, according to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the gypsy moth in its caterpillar stage is the most destructive hardwood defoliator to ever occur in the state. Fortunately, this Holmdel homeowner did not have a gypsy moth infestation. If you have oaks and other hardwood on your property, you should periodically insect your trees for defoliation or gypsy moth egg nests. 

Ways to reduce outdoor moths on your property include using outdoor lighting only when necessary since lights are a significant moth attractor. Also, swap your standard white bulbs int outdoor fixtures with yellow ones. Since moths fly to the brightest light, they will fly to a neighbor’s white bulb instead of your yellow one. You can also discourage moths with the smell of certain oils like citronella candles. 

If your outdoor moth population has gotten out of hand and preventative measures aren’t working, Cowleys can help. We are able to reduce outdoor moth populations by applying product through a misting system that will keep moths away from vegetation surrounding your home.

A Holmdel homeowner contacted Cowleys because of a possible wasp infestation in his attic. Upon arrival, I asked whether he had any pest issues in the past. The customer stated that, except for the wasps, everything was good, but a home inspector did find possible bat droppings during his inspection.  Well, that was a pretty big “but!” I was surprised he did not immediately call Cowleys for a possible bat infestation since toxic bat guano is a much greater potential health hazard for a home’s occupants than wasps. Bat guano can be a very dangerous health threat because of its toxic fungi, and if guano particles are inhaled, they can cause histoplasmosis, a serious lung disease. Guano should only be removed by trained technicians using personal protective equipment.

I entered the attic hoping that the inspector was wrong. I could not believe my own eyes!  At one time, this attic had been used as a massive bat cave for nesting. There were tons of toxic bat droppings all over along with holes in the attic space. I immediately knew this was bat guano. Their distinctive droppings are shiny and speckled because of their insect diet. The good news for this Holmdel homeowner is that all of the bats were out of the attic. All that was left was their toxic mess. 

We vacuumed, sanitized, and deodorized the attic until all remnants of a bat infestation were gone, and bat-proofed the home by finding and sealing the entry points. Much of the attic insulation was damaged by the bats, and I informed the homeowner the Cowleys is licensed to install TAP Pest Control Insulation. TAP, which stands for Thermal, Acoustical, and Pest Control, offers superior thermal and acoustical (sound-deadening) properties as well as a pest control component. The paper fibers are treated with a borate solution that is harmless to people, but lethal to many insects including ants, beetles, and termites. The homeowner was pleased with our service to restore his attic, and said he would be happy to arrange a meeting with a Cowleys insulation specialist.