Holmdel, NJ Professional, Humane Pest & Wildlife Removal Company

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.