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Before and After Pictures from Spring Lake
Squirrels & Birds Nesting on the Deck Joists in Spring Lake, NJ

Squirrels & Birds Nesting on the Deck Joists in Spring Lake, NJ

Before After
Squirrels & Birds Nesting on the Deck Joists in Spring Lake, NJ Squirrels & Birds Nesting on the Deck Joists in Spring Lake, NJ

This homeowner in Spring Lake, NJ, was fed up with squirrels and nuisance birds nesting on the joists of his deck. After doing some research, he called Little Rascals by Cowleys for help and we were sent out! 

To exclude the squirrels, as well as nuisance birds & any other nuisance wildlife, we disinfected the joists and installed Pest-Blok. Pest-Blok undergoes a silicone-protected polyester coating process that makes it last longer and guards the area against squirrels, birds, and all other nuisance wildlife.

Homeowner Finds Opossum Under Her Deck in Spring Lake, NJ

Homeowner Finds Opossum Under Her Deck in Spring Lake, NJ

Before After
Homeowner Finds Opossum Under Her Deck in Spring Lake, NJ Homeowner Finds Opossum Under Her Deck in Spring Lake, NJ

As this homeowner in Spring Lake, NJ was tending to her yard, she spotted an opossum running across the grass and then go underneath her deck. Startled, she searched online for a reputable nuisance wildlife control company, found Little Rascals, and scheduled an appointment. As we inspected the area, we found the opossums main harborage area as well as several other potential harborage areas for other nuisance wildlife.

So to exclude all nuisance wildlife and protect the deck, we installed Dig Defense® around the entire perimeter of the deck except for one area. Dig Defense® is a below-ground fence system that is 15 inches deep, 4 feet across, and protects structures against invasive nuisance wildlife and feral animals. Afterward, we installed a positive set over the exposed opening. A positive set consists of a nose cone that is attached to a two-gaited, heavy-duty device. It's called a positive set, because we are positive that the opossum will enter our device.

Shortly after, we successfully retrieved the opossum, relocated it to a new, humane location, and installed another portion of Dig Defense® over the opening.

Bald-Faced Hornets Nesting Next to the Downspout in Spring Lake, NJ

Bald-Faced Hornets Nesting Next to the Downspout in Spring Lake, NJ

Before After
Bald-Faced Hornets Nesting Next to the Downspout in Spring Lake, NJ Bald-Faced Hornets Nesting Next to the Downspout in Spring Lake, NJ

One warm and sunny afternoon, this customer in Spring Lake, NJ, decided that it was a great day to go out and clean his gutters. However, as he was climbing up his ladder, he was attacked by several angry bald-faced hornets. He quickly got off his ladder and then spotted a soccer ball sized bald-faced hornets nest right next to the downspout, tucked away in the corner of the house. Since he was already a Home Protection Plan customer, he gave our Pest Control Division a call and we were sent out to inspect and treat. 

When it comes to treating anytime type of stinging insects extreme care is needed, especially with bald-faced hornets. They are one of the most territorially and aggressive stinging insects out there and will attack ANYTHING that comes close to their nest. Once we arrived, we equipped our protective bee suit, grabbed our extendable pole, attached a residual dusting application to it, and then injected it into the nest. This application rapidly exterminates the bald-faced hornets.

A short while later, we removed the nest, disposed of it, and then applied a liquid non-repellant residual to the area. This treatment will eliminate any returning bald-faced hornets as well as prevent them, and any other stinging insect, from building another nest. 

Company Awards
Cowleys Receives the Golden Osprey Award for Business Excellence
We are incredibly honored to receive the Golden Osprey Award from the Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce for the Business... [Read more]
Cowleys Voted Best Places to Work in n NJ for a Second Year in a Row
We are honored to be named to the 2022 Best Places to Work in New Jersey list by NJBIZ magazine... [Read more]
Cowleys Wins Asbury Park Press's 2021 Best of the Best Community Choice Awards for Monmouth County!
Cowleys Services has been voted Monmouth County's BEST of the BEST 2021 Pest Control Provider by the Asbury Park Press!... [Read more]
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Spring Lake, NJ Pest, Bird & Wildlife Services

The enclosed pictures are of a dramatic save and rescue of a squirrel that was caught in a crevice between...
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Pest Control & Home Repair Professional in Spring Lake

Cowleys Pest Services is Spring Lake, NJ's leading pest control and home repair contractor, offering a wide variety of services to keep your home healthy, efficient, and safe. We employ a customer-first philosophy when it comes to running our business, so you know you're getting only the best when you partner with us. We are committed to providing affordable, safe, and effective solutions for all your pest control and home repair needs.

Reliable services by Cowleys Pest Services:

  • Pest Control
  • Commercial Pest Services
  • Wildlife Removal
  • Bird Control Services
  • RainDrop Gutter Guards
  • Attic Insulation
  • Crawl Space Encapsulation
  • And more!

Ready to get started on your pest control or home repair project? Contact Cowleys Pest Services today at 1-732-253-4982 or click below to schedule a free, no-obligation estimate in Spring Lake and nearby.

Trusted Pest Control Company Proudly Serving Spring Lake

Have you been dealing with termites, cockroaches, or bed bugs in your Spring Lake home? At Cowleys Pest Services, we understand how unsettling it can be to discover that you have a pest problem. That's why our team works quickly to resolve your pest problem, using only the best pest control solutions in the industry. We've been helping homeowners remove pests since 1991, so we have the experience, solutions, and determination to fix your problem once and for all.

Pests we treat:

  • Bed bugs
  • Ants
  • Bees & wasps
  • Cockroaches
  • Flies
  • Mosquitoes
  • Rodents
  • And more!

Spring Lake Crawl Space Encapsulation Services

One way that pests can make their way into your home is through your crawl space. An unsealed crawl space also lets in moisture, leading to structural damage and mold and mildew growth. Structural damage results in uneven interior floors, which can become hazardous if not resolved. Mold and mildew growth can lead to increased asthma and allergy symptoms for you and your loved ones. Fortunately, Cowleys Pest Services offers a complete crawl space encapsulation system to keep your crawl space and the rest of your home dry, safe, structurally sound, and healthy.

Our crawl space encapsulation products:

  • Vapor barriers
  • Crawl space access doors
  • Crawl space insulation
  • Sump pumps
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Crawl space vent covers

Keep pests out and prevent structural damage with crawl space encapsulation by Cowleys Pest Services! Get in touch with us today at 1-732-253-4982 or fill out our online form to schedule a free crawl space encapsulation estimate in Spring Lake and nearby.

Case Studies From Spring Lake
American
I went out on a follow-up inspection for one of our commercial accounts, an adult community in Spring Lake, NJ. The property previously had an issue...
Exterminators
Recently, I went on a service call for a homeowner in Spring Lake, NJ to treat for voles that were destroying their yard. Voles and moles are often...
A
Recently, a homeowner in Spring Lake, NJ who was renovating his house contacted Cowleys for a preventative termite treatment. Although there was not...
Job Stories From Spring Lake, NJ
Kitchen Crawling with Ants in Spring Lake, NJ

After this business owner in Spring Lake, NJ, return to work after taking a vacation, she was shocked to discover that her business was infested with ants. She searched for a reputable pest control company, found Cowleys, called our office, and we were sent out to inspect and treat. While inspecting the property, we found a massive amount of ants trailing from the nearby trash cans on the outside of the business into a small crack in the siding in building. Looks like the staff forgot to empty the garbages before they left!

After the owner emptied out all the trash cans, we treated the entire exterior of the business with a liquid non-repellant residual. Next, with the owners permission, we treated the baseboards, cracks, and crevices of the inside of the building with the liquid residual. Lastly, we applied an ant gel bait directly to all the ant trails on the inside and outside of the business. The worker ants are coming to come in contact with either of these products and bring them back to their nest. They will then share these treatments with the other ants in their colony and their queen. A short while later, the ants will be exterminated. Once the ants are gone, the business owner will repair that hole in the siding of the building.

Kitchen Crawling with Ants in Spring Lake, NJ - Photo 1Kitchen Crawling with Ants in Spring Lake, NJ - Photo 2
Homeowner Surprised by Bald-Faced Hornets Nest in Spring Lake, NJ

As this homeowner in Spring Lake, NJ, was heading towards her car to leave for work, she was shocked to find a rather large hornets nest on her soffit. As she approached the nest to take a closer look, several of the stinging insects emerged and began to attack! She quickly ran into her car and called Cowleys for help!

Once we arrived, we equipped our protective bee suit and examined the nest. Minutes into our inspection, we identified them as bald-faced hornets. Bald-faced hornets are social stinging insects with white markings on their face. One very important fact that you must know about bald-faced hornets is that they are EXTREMELY aggressive and will not hesitate to sting anything that invades their space.

To exterminate these aggressive stinging insects, we grabbed our extendable pole, attached a knockdown aerosol product to it, and then injected it into the nest. We then waited several moments and then applied a knockdown liquid application. Both of these treatments rapidly eliminate the bald-faced hornets. After a short amount of time we removed the nest, disposed of it, and then treated the area with a residual application to eliminate any returning bald-faced hornets as well as prevent them from building another nest.

 

Homeowner Surprised by Bald-Faced Hornets Nest in Spring Lake, NJ - Photo 1Homeowner Surprised by Bald-Faced Hornets Nest in Spring Lake, NJ - Photo 2
Tons of Mice Droppings Found in the Attic in Spring Lake, NJ

A homeowner in Spring Lake, NJ called our office after hearing "soft, running" noises in her attic and thought that she might have something living up there, so we were sent out to inspect and treat. As soon as we inspected the attic, we found a massive amount of mice droppings throughout the area. What's worse was that almost all the insulation was contaminated with their urine and feces. We informed the owner and mentioned that our Attic Systems Division can, once all the mice are gone, remove all the contaminated insulation, disinfect the attic, and install new blown-in cellulose insulation. The owner was happy to hear that and will schedule an appointment once the mice are gone. 

In the meantime, we returned to the attic and installed several rodent bait stations throughout the area. We also went outside and installed several exterior rodent bait stations. Lastly, we scheduled several follow up visits to monitor the infestation and replenish the bait stations until the mice are no longer infesting the home. 

Tons of Mice Droppings Found in the Attic in Spring Lake, NJ - Photo 1Tons of Mice Droppings Found in the Attic in Spring Lake, NJ - Photo 2
Termites Love Books in Spring Lake, NJ

I went out on a service call for a homeowner in Spring Lake, NJ who contacted Cowleys to perform a termite inspection. As I was performing a thorough termite inspection I found a large mud tube downstairs in the basement along and underneath the fireplace box. I came back upstairs to see if the mud to lead anywhere and realized that there were built-in bookcases on either side of the fireplace. So I moved the recliner chairs and started to inspect the bookcases, as I moved one of the books and what I found was shocking. Termites were not only eating the bookshelves they were literally eating the books right off of the shelves.

This is the kind of damage termites can do one left undetected and or uninspected. Termites are known as "silent destroyers" and each year they cause more than $5 billion in property damage! To make matters worse, those costs aren't covered by homeowners' insurance policies. This is why being vigilant about termite control and termite extermination is so important. I subsequently scheduled them for a full termite treatment and we will stop the spread of these destructive pests.

Termites Love Books in Spring Lake, NJ - Photo 1
Skunk Stinks Up Homeowners Deck in Spring Lake, NJ

Recently, I went out on a service call for a homeowner in Spring Lake, NJ who was complaining about smell under his deck in the morning.  After conducting a thorough inspection around the back deck area we discovered one dig trail going underneath the deck and a burrow not too far under the deck. After examining the size and the disgusting smell emanating from the burrow, I determined that it was a skunk burrow.

Skunks typically dig into the ground to build their homes and use these burrows for resting, raising young, and hiding from predators. Their burrows contain many chambers and entrances to provide plenty of room and a quick escape. Skunks are known carriers of rabies and other diseases that can harm your family or pets. They will also tear open trash bags and topple garbage cans when foraging for food, which can attract other vermin and insects to your home. They are also likely to defecate under your home too, which can permeate throughout the cavity beneath the property, and rise up into the house too.  

After finding the main access point in front of the deck I set up a positive set over the opening. A positive set is a device designated to guarantee a safe capture of the skunk. In fact, within a short amount of time, the skunk was successfully and safely captured and I relocated to a new, humane environment. 

Skunk Stinks Up Homeowners Deck in Spring Lake, NJ - Photo 1
Cave crickets invade Spring Lake, NJ porch.

During a routine outdoor termite inspection in Spring Lake, NJ, we found an infestation of at least 50 to 60 cave crickets, also called camel crickets, preparing to overwinter in a hollowed out front porch of a home. We anticipated that these hump-backed insects that we saw outside were just the tip of the iceberg, and there were probably hundreds more already hunkering down inside. Cave crickets, like many overwintering insects,  move indoors when it gets colder in search of warmth and moisture. Once indoors, they search for damp basements, utility rooms, crawl spaces, garages and occasionally attics. 

Cave crickets are active at night and hide in dark warm places during the day. They are also attracted to light and when discovered, their numbers can be in the thousands.  

For food, camel crickets consume wood, carpet, fungi, cardboard, other insects, and even other camel crickets in some instances.

We will treat this area so that these cave crickets won't cause damage to this home.

Cave crickets invade Spring Lake, NJ porch. - Photo 1
Flying Ant Swarm in Spring Lake, NJ

In early spring, we start getting more and more calls from homeowners after observing an insect swarm. Swarming is a natural phenomenon that occurs periodically with social insects — insects that live in large colonies with a specialized division of labor. Sometimes insects swarm when they leave their nest all at once to move to another location. Another common reason for an insect swarm is when reproductive insects take flight out of the nest for the purpose of mating and starting new colonies. 

Although insect swarms can be frightening to observe, for homeowners, they are often the most visible sign that there is a subterranean nest on their property. Usually, we assume the worst and it is a termite swarm. I was sent to a home in Spring Lake, NJ, to conduct an inspection for possible termite activity. The homeowners contacted Cowleys after observing an insect swarm. Fortunately, these weren’t termites. Rather, they were flying ants. It’s easy to confuse the two. Out of an abundance of caution and considering the potential property damage that termites can cause, it’s always a good idea to have a pest control professional confirm the type of swarming insect. The particular insect determines the particular treatment that’s necessary get rid of the infestation.

Here, after determining these were flying ants, I located the ant nest. Ants had formed a nest in a bait station. It was an active nest filled with larvae.

Flying Ant Swarm in Spring Lake, NJ - Photo 1Flying Ant Swarm in Spring Lake, NJ - Photo 2
Dehumidifier installed in Spring Lake, NJ basement

In Spring Lake, NJ,  a homeowner was dealing with chronically high humidity and moisture build-up in their basement. Musty basement odor permeated the entire house, and the basement conditions were ripe for mold growth. This is a problem that will not go away on its own. Dehumidification is the only long-term solution to this problem. The excess moisture has to be taken out of the air. this homeowner had gone through two store-bought dehumidifiers. These residential dehumidifiers are not meant to be working all the time in basements and crawl spaces. Homeowners cannot be expected to be constantly adjusting the settings and emptying pans of water. Cowleys offers homeowners commercial-grade dehumidifiers that are specifically designed to work in below-grade chronically damp basements and crawl spaces. 

The humidifiers we install have a built-in humidity sensor that enables the machine to turn on and off automatically depending on moisture conditions with no manual intervention. As such, they are ENERGY STAR certified for efficiency. For this homeowner, we installed the SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier, which has the capacity to remove up to 100 pints (12.5 gallons) of water out of the air daily, if necessary, and move over 300 cubic feet of dry air. By keeping the basement’s relative humidity under 55%, dangerous mold growth can’t take hold and dust mites will die off, dramatically improving indoor air quality and removing that sickening musty odor that enters the home’s living spaces, and was, for this homeowner, affecting the livability and enjoyment of her residence. We installed the Sedona so that it would drain directly into her sump pump. The homeowner would no longer have to worry about overflowing dehumidifier trays or buckets of water to empty. The lesson with basement and crawl space dehumidification is that you have to have a machine that’s up for the job — and store-bought machines just don’t cut it.

Dehumidifier installed in Spring Lake, NJ basement - Photo 1
Groundhogs burrow under shed in Spring Lake, NJ

I was recently sent to a home in Spring Lake, NJ. The homeowner contacted Cowleys because groundhogs were actively burrowing underneath a backyard shed. They were causing significant damage to his yard and he was concerned that they would start to bore their way into the shed itself.

To catch the groundhogs, I placed two traps near the burrow holes used by the groundhogs to hide underneath the homeowner’s shed. The idea behind successful trapping is to put the animal at ease and not give them any cause for concern by making the trap look like an old familiar friend! For example, when baiting, I use the same or similar food that the animal is used to eating, and I always put organic materials like mulch, dried grass, dirt on the floor of the trap to project a familiar environment for the animal. I’m confident that my “secret” combination of bait and lures will be too irresistible for even the most cautious and wary groundhog. I’ll check the traps in a couple of days, and told the homeowner to contact me immediately once any critters are trapped. I know how these guys think and how they behave. It won’t take long for these burrowing groundhogs to be captured, and this homeowner’s groundhog problem to come to an abrupt end.

 

 

 

Groundhogs burrow under shed in Spring Lake, NJ - Photo 1
Old bees nests removed in Spring Lake, NJ

I was sent to a home in Spring Lake to conduct a periodic servicing that’s covered under our home protection plan. During these visits, we perform preventative treatments, discuss with the homeowner any pest issues that have surfaced if they have not called us, and perhaps most important, conduct a thorough interior and exterior inspection. We often find problems that have escaped the attention of the homeowner. 

During my visit, I noticed an old bee nest under the homeowner’s deck railing, and removed it. Wasps (as well as baldfaced hornets and yellow jackets, both of which are a type of wasp) and bees have a lot in common — not the least of which is that they are all capable of delivering painful stings and it’s best to not have them on your property!  Of the two, bees are far more beneficial. Chubby, fuzzy bees pollinate and are mild-mannered. They live on a diet of nectar and pollen from flowers. Most bees have a barbed stinger and can sting only once. Streamlined, shiny-looking wasps are voracious omnivores that will also eat other insects. Wasps  are far more aggressive and can sting repeatedly. In short, at least to me, bees are mostly good and wasps are mostly evil!

One way to know the type of stinging insect on your property is by identifying the type of nest. If you have an open nest with hexagonal cells shaped like an umbrella, that’s a paper wasp nest. Hornets build nests with smooth walls that are shaped like a football. Wasps flying in and out of a hole in the ground or in a building are probably yellowjackets. Finally, nests made of a waxy substance is almost certainly a bee hive.  Bees build a wax comb and live on the outside unlike hornets, which live inside their brown or grey paper-like nest.

After I removed the the old nest, I did some further checking to see what else might be lurking under the deck railing. To my surprise, I found another. And then another! By the time I was finished, I removed four small nests from under this homeowner’s deck railing.

Old bees nests removed in Spring Lake, NJ - Photo 1
Termites removed in Spring Lake

Recently, my partner and I were dispatched to one of our commercial accounts, a condominium complex in Spring Lake Heights, to perform a termite treatment. One of the unit owners found herself with a termite swarm in the bathroom. Termites are subterranean insects that live in underground colonies. Termites feed on any product containing cellulose, most commonly wood and processed wood products. They are, by far, the most destructive insect faced by homeowners.

A mature termite colony will produce thousands of winged termites that venture out of the nest when temperatures start to warm in the spring, especially after a spring rain. Their sole purpose is to find a mate and start a new colony. To reach the open air, they will squeeze through the  tiniest cracks and crevices. While termite swarms are the most visible and disturbing of any signs of termite activity, homeowners should consider it as a blessing in disguise. A swarm gives the property owner a big red flag that they have a termite problem. Otherwise, these silent, hidden infestations could easily go unnoticed until there is already significant property damage to the home. 

In this particular swarm, the winged termites (plates) emerged from an exit hole in the sheetrock at the top of the shower wall. This shower wall faces the building’s exterior wall, which had a brick veneer facing. There is also a concrete sidewalk that runs along the side of the building.

To treat termites, the pest control technician must be able to access the soil where the nest is located. Often, the soil is not directly accessible and some drilling is required. With this termite treatment, to reach the soil, I needed to drill through the concrete sidewalk. Once the holes were drilled, I then injected a highly effective non-repellant termiticide into the soil, which will soon kill he entire colony, including the queen. In order to protect the rest of the building, I drilled through more of the sidewalk so that I could extend the treated area to the entire length of the building. In areas where the soil was directly accessible, I trenched and treated the soil with the termiticide. 

Also, we knew that there were termites in the void between the shower wall and the building’s exterior because of the location of the swarm. To reach these termites, my partner drilled through the brick veneer so that he could treat the space with a foam termiticide. The foam application works exceptionally well in wall voids and other hard-to-reach areas.

With this treatment, we quickly resolved this condominium’s termite problem. This building now has a protective underground barrier against further termite infestations that will last for years. In New Jersey, termite infestations are an unfortunate fact of life. Homeowners and residential property managers should periodically have a termite professional inspect for the often subtle signs of termite activity. It’s an easy way to avoid potentially significant property damage and protect your investment.

Drilled concrete sidewalk and Brick veneer. The shower is on the other side of this wall.

Termites removed in Spring Lake - Photo 1