Mercer County, NJ Pest Control

A Cowleys bed bug team was dispatched to a home in Pennington to treat a bed bug infestation. The inspection, the most critical part of any bed bug service, must be thorough and systematic in order to identify those areas in the home where there is an infestation. Hopefully, the infestation is localized, but if the homeowner waits too long, the infestation inevitably spreads throughout the home. We focus on those areas where people sleep and rest — beds, sofas, and recliners — and surrounding areas where they may hide. The bed bugs hide in the nooks and crannies of furniture and surrounding areas waiting for us to sleep or rest, so they can feed on us for their blood meal. Bed bugs are parasites that feed exclusively on blood, preferably that of humans. We look not only for bed bugs in all their stages — eggs, nymphs, and adults — but evidence of bed bug activity such as bed bug casings and droppings.

For those rooms in the home with confirmed bed bug sightings, thorough vacuuming is an important initial step before applying any product applications to those areas of concern. With mattresses and box springs, because we want to avoid applications entirely, vacuuming becomes especially important to remove the sticky bed bug eggs and any live, active bed bugs. It is important to vacuum each and every side of the mattress and boxspring, and over every seam and crack and crevice where the bugs can be hiding. After vacuuming, the mattress and boxspring are encased in a protector to completely seal the furniture and prevent any bed bugs from escaping. All vacuums used for bed bug treatments must contain a HEPA filter and operate with a removable bag system. The vacuum bag must be sealed in plastic and immediately removed from the home. 

In the two-week followup, we will thoroughly re-inspect, and apply additional applications to areas of concern. In our final inspection, two to three weeks later, we make sure the home is completely free of bed bugs, again applying a light chemical application to any areas of concern. After this visit, our 90-day “no bite no sight” warranty goes into effect.

Cowleys received  a call from a Princeton homeowner who had been seen “a small army” of  yellow ants in his crawl space and all over the vent cover leading into the crawl space. These particular ants are citronella ants, and get their name from the citronella odor that they emit when threatened or crushed. These ants feed on the excretion of aphids and mealybugs that feed on the roots of shrubs, and the swarmers (winged ants), which are much larger than the workers, are frequently confused with termites.

Upon arrival, I inspected the crawl space and immediately came across a customer DIY moisture barrier. Unfortunately, weekend handyman projects usually don’t have the same results as professional installations. That was clearly the case here. The crawl space was humid and filled with moisture, and this barrier, a jerry-rigged tarp, was doing little to stop moisture and humidity from entering the crawl space. Upon further inspection, I noticed citronella ants surrounding the outer areas of the tarp. I rolled up part of the tarp, which was loose, to better inspect the area and observed numerous citronella ant trails criss-crossing the crawl space.

I treated the crawl space as well as the exterior of the home. In addition, I spread a granular bait that the ants will pick up and bring back to the colony, killing the queen. With the queen dead, the entire colony will soon eliminated. Killing a few foraging ants will not stop the infestation. To successfully resolve an ant or other insect infestation, you must kill the colony. 

Like any rodent, squirrels are compelled to chew on things ... and they are chewing all the time. Rodents are the single largest group of mammals with more than 2,000 species. Besides squirrels, those rodents that we are most familiar with are rats, mice, woodchucks (groundhogs), beavers, and those “adorable” rodents like hamsters and gerbils that kids want to keep as pets.  All rodents (from Latin rodere, “to gnaw”) have one thing in common: four long front-most teeth (incisors), two on the upper jaw and two on the lower.  Their constant gnawing creates perpetually sharp chiseled edges. Like all rodents, a squirrel’s front teeth will grow throughout their entire lives, and they do so at a pretty rapid pace. To prevent them from growing too long, squirrels must constantly gnaw in order to file them down. If they didn’t, we would have millions of scary saber-tooth squirrels running around giving us nightmares! 

This behavior doesn't necessarily mean that squirrels are trying to gnaw their way into your house. Cowleys sometimes receives calls from homeowners who are  concerned (or even convinced) that some crazy squirrels are hell-bent on trying to chew their way inside. After investigating, more often than not, we find that the squirrels just using a part of the house as a file to grind down their teeth. Squirrel gnawing is wildlife dentistry! 

In extreme situations like the one where squirrels are really doing a number on the house, wildlife technicians at Cowleys can perform a "free roaming" squirrel trapping service that will reduce the squirrel populations in the immediate vicinity of the home. We’ll trap and safely relocate as many as we can away from your residence.  

As a wildlife technician, I’m often asked if there is an effective squirrel repellent. The most effective one that I’ve found is a spray made of cayenne pepper. There are plenty of recipes online to make a spicy cayenne pepper broth. Some add other food items for good measure that squirrels hate like chopped onions or chopped jalapenos. Another effective squirrel repellent is red fox urine. If you don’t want to go through the time and trouble of collecting it yourself, you can buy it online or at most hardware stores. It should be noted that any of these repellents are a temporary deterrent at best.

I was called upon to treat a termite problem at a house in Hightstown. Termite damage often remains hidden until there is extensive damage to the home. However, there are two important earlier signs of a termite infestation that homeowners should be aware of. One is the mud tubes formed by termites so they can move from the nest to the wood food source without being exposed to the elements. the other sign of termite trouble, and by far, the more visible of the two, is termite swarms. This homeowner went through the frightening experience of witnessing a termite swarm take place inside his own home.

What are swarmers? Swarmers (flying termites), also known as winged reproductives, belong to a termite colony along with the workers and the queen. They emerge during the spring to search for mates in order to start a new colony. As soon as they mate, they break off their wings. Since termites are attracted to light, homeowners may find piles of termite wings on windowsills or on countertops near light sources. When a termite colony swarms, thousands of winged termites are potentially released. They may enter homes from the underground colony through cracks in the slab construction. Even though nearly all swarmers will die if they emerge inside a structure, it’s still important to contact a termite pest control professional immediately. An inside swarm like the one experienced by this homeowner is a sure sign that there is a hidden termite infestation on the property.

As part of my inspection, I had to determine where these invading insects had entered the home, so I could treat the soil where the termite nest had formed. At the base of a wall in the laundry room, I found a plumbing clean-out pipe. These pipes are used to access the home’s sewer line to clear out clogs. Right next to the pipe, I discovered a termite mud (shelter) tube in the wall void. That was how these sneaky wood-devouring insects were finding their way into the home!

Now it was time to get rid of these property-destroying insects. To eradicate the termite colony, I first needed to drill a small hole through the laundry room floor to gain access to the ground area where a termite nest was buried below. I then injected a powerful termiticide into the soil underneath the slab to reach the termites using a slab injector that I locked down on top of the hole. This non-repellant application is carried back to the nest by the workers where it will be transferred like a virus to the other termites. Soon, the entire termite colony will be killed. This home will now be protected against termite damage from this underground nest.

I was at a Windsor residence conducting one of our inspections that comes with our home protection plan service packages (HPP). I wasn’t expecting anything too unusual on this sunny spring day, but, as I learned a long time ago, the day of a pest control technician is often filled with many “surprises” waiting for us around the corner.

Today I came across a beautiful shiny black spider. It was about a half-inch long with shiny black legs. I later saw that had an interesting hourglass marking on its abdomen. For those who don’t know spiders, it may have looked like just another harmless house spider. But don’t be fooled by appearances. This “itsy bitsy” spider was none other than a Black Widow — the most dangerous spider found here in New Jersey.

Poisonous spiders are those spiders whose venom can cause a serious reaction in humans. Fortunately, there aren’t that many of them. In New Jersey, the most common poisonous spider, by far, is the black widow. This spider gets its ominous name from its most unusual behavior — after mating, the female will, on rare occasion, eat the unsuspecting male spider!

Although black widow venom can cause a serious painful reaction, death is very unlikely. Even though their venom is much more toxic than the venom of a rattlesnake, a single spider just can’t inject that much of it in a single bite. If medical treatment is obtained soon after the bite, most symptoms can be alleviated. Also, you only have to worry about the females. The male black widow’s fangs are too small to break human skin, and the juveniles of either sex are also harmless to humans. Only female black widows can bite through a person’s skin and inject enough venom to cause a painful reaction.

As shown in the photo, this spider was a proud mom that just had lots of newly hatched spiderlings. The female lays several batches of eggs that may contain several hundred eggs each. However, very few, perhaps a dozen or so, manage to survive the incubation period. The vast majority of them are cannibalized by their sibling spiderlings. Talk about a spider-eat-spider world!

Needless to say, these young homeowners were nervous — and for good reason. Nobody likes spiders breeding and multiplying in their homes, especially ones that are poisonous. Also, there were two curious toddlers at home. This was a serious situation and I took all preventative measures to get rid of this spider infestation. Now, the spiderlings would not develop and potentially harm anyone in this family. I also reviewed preventative measures with the homeowners to reduce potential spider harborage areas in and around the home.

I was servicing a regular client in Princeton. I went directly to the unit that was having the issue with the yellowjackets. The resident was even seeing the stingers in her unit. I inspected the exterior and quickly found a nest in the roof sheathing by the gutter. I proceeded to treat the opening with a dust insecticide. 

During the summer, I perform a weekly servicing for a residential community in Princeton, NJ. The property manager informed me of my top priority for the day: I needed to take care of a hornet’s nest that was terrorizing residents by the swimming pool!  Upon inspection, I immediately saw the problem. The nest had blended in perfectly with the tree and,  even though this was a mature, large nest, it was well hidden unless you were really looking for it. A few residents had already been stung because they didn’t see the nest and made the mistake of venturing too close. Pools tend to be a problem with wasps because they are attracted to the food and sugary sodas.

Often, I can tell the wasp species based on the construction and location of the nest. With this wasp nest removal job, I immediately knew that I was dealing with baldfaced hornets. These “hornets.” contrary to their name, are actually a type of wasp. They are close relatives of yellow jackets and have the same nasty disposition. Baldfaced hornets usually build their nests in hidden protected locations, often under the eaves of buildings or hidden away in some corner of the home, Also, like here, you’ll find baldfaced hornet nests built in or trees where the nest is hidden by leaves and branches. They make their egg-shaped nests out of chewed wood and their saliva, and these nests can grow quite large — approaching the size of a regulation basketball! During the summer, a colony can easily grow to several hundred workers.

These wasps are distinctive white markings on their head and body, and they are social wasps that live in colonies. Social wasps are aggressive and territorial. They are very protective of their nest if they feel threatened, and they won’t hesitate to sting. Each wasp is capable of stinging repeatedly. 

Removing a baldfaced hornet nest is a challenge, and doing it the wrong way or not having the right equipment can easily turn into a medical emergency. These wasps attack in swarms, and aggravating the colony can send hundreds of angry wasps in your direction. Just one wasp sting is painful, but multiple stings are a level of pain that you’ll never forget. I’ve been stung by these even wearing a protective suit. 

It was time to get rid of the nest. First, I treated the entry and exit holes with an aerosol that kills the hornets on contact. I wanted to get rid of the nests' first line of defense — the wasps that are guarding the nest’s exterior. I soaked the nest with the aerosol, to quickly knocks down their population. Even though there may be a few more around, it is now safe enough for me to remove the nest. After removing the nest, I packaged it and took it with me. I did not want any remnants of insect activity since these wasps tend to be attracted to the same area. These wasps had already overstayed their welcome at the pool and I wanted to make sure that these wasps had no attractants that would encourage them to return. 

One of Cowleys commercial accounts, an apartment building in Princeton, NJ, is serviced by me weekly to handle any pest complaints of tenants or property management. I have treated a panoply of insects there, from occasional invader insects like clothes moths and pantry pests to our “regulars” like carpenter ants & bees and all types of stinging insects. On my to-do list this week was a call from the property manager that a large yellow jacket nest was discovered in a utility room attached to the main apartment building. He had no idea how long the nest had been there or even if it was still an active nest. Since the room was not heated, I suspected that it was an inactive nest. But with yellow jackets, you don’t take any chances!

I cautiously proceeded inside the utility room and looked around to see if there were any yellow jackets hovering about. The coast was clear. There was not a single yellow jacket and given the size of this nest, this small utility room would have been an airport of yellow jackets flying about. 

I used a putty knife to scrape the nest off the wall. This was an exceptionally mature nest. Had it been active, this colony would have had at least a thousand ornery yellow jackets. This was one time I was glad we were in the middle of winter when stinging insects are generally dormant, although on rare occasions we can find an active nest built inside a heated building. After removing the nest, I inspected the outside of the utility room to locate the entry point for these insects. There was a small gap in the siding where a small aluminum box was attached. The box was bent providing enough of an opening for the insects to come and go. I let the property manager know that the box needed to be replaced or at least sealed against the siding. As long as there was a gap, there was a risk of re-infestation — something I would prefer to not deal with once the temperatures start warming!

This commercial building in Hopewell, NJ was having an issue with mice and fruit flies throughout the kitchen. When we inspected the area, we found gunk in the floor drains, spilled liquids on the sides of the equipment, and food debris underneath the sinks and equipment. There was also a buildup of debris and liquids behind the kitchen equipment. All of these sanitation issues contributed to the fruit fly and mice infestation.

We immediately informed the owner and recommended a few simple cleaning procedures to prevent these types of pest problems. The owner agreed and both he and his staff immediately began to clean all the problems areas. Once they finished, we treated all the floor drains with a liquid application, that removes the bad bacteria from the drain, and a bio-foam solution, that removes the organic build-up, odors, and scum in the drain. Both of these products will exterminate the fruit fly larvae harboring in the drains. We also treated the high infestation areas with a fly bait to control the adult fruit flies.

Afterward, we installed several interior and exterior rodent bait stations. Next, we stuffed all gaps and potential openings throughout the building with stainless steel mesh and sealed them in place with a waterproof adhesive. Before we left we scheduled several follow-up visits to monitor the rodent and fruit fly infestation, replenish the bait in the bait stations, and apply any additional treatments if needed.

Recently, we were sent out on a service call to a homeowner in Pennington, NJ, who had cockroaches infesting his kitchen. The infestation was quite severe. They were all over the dishwasher, the sink, and even harboring in the tiny cracks in the kitchen cabinets!

Because the infestation was so bad, we advised the homeowner that anything that wasn't nailed down needed to be discarded ASAP. After the homeowner removed everything in her cabinets and drawers, we started treating all the cracks and crevices throughout the home with our microinjector that contains an EPA registered insect growth regulator that is combined with a residual product. This treatment affects the cockroaches' reproductive system and prevents them from reaching adulthood. 

Next, we removed all the electrical plates and treated around and inside the outlets with a knockdown dusting application, which will rapidly exterminate the cockroaches. Lastly, we set up several glue monitor traps to monitor the infestation. Because of the severity of the infestation, we will return for several visits and reapply the treatment process until the cockroaches are no longer present in this home.

After spotting a squirrel coming out of her attic one morning, this homeowner in Pennington, NJ immediately called our wildlife division for help. 

We arrived, began our inspection, and noticed a chewed-out hole in the soffit that was the perfect size for a squirrel. First, we temporarily enclosed the area off with hardware cloth and installed a one-way device over the access point. The one-way device allows the squirrels to safely leave the area but is designed to prevent them from getting back in. We also placed several baited devices nearby.

A short while later, we safely retrieved the squirrels, relocated them to a new, humane environment, and disinfected the attic area. Lastly, we sealed up the access point with sturdy metal flashing to prevent reinfestation. 

This homeowner in Hopewell, NJ had a raccoon living in his attic and needed Little Rascals to safely remove it. Upon inspection, we noticed that the gable event was torn apart by the raccoon and there was a large pile of raccoon droppings near the gable vent. We then inspected the attic and saw raccoon pawprints all over the air ducts as well as several piles of raccoon droppings in the insulation. 

First, we temporarily enclosed the gable vent off with hardware cloth and installed a one-way device over it. The one-way allows the raccoon to safely leave the area but prevents it from getting back in. We also placed several baited devices nearby. Once we safely retrieve the raccoon, we will relocate it to a new humane environment, disinfect the attic area, and replace the gable vent with Pest-Blok.

Pest-Blok doesn't restrict the airflow to the attic, undergoes a silicone-protected polyester coating process that makes it last longer, and guards the home against raccoons and all nuisance wildlife. Our Contracting will come out to the home, remove all the contaminated insulation, and reinsulate the attic with blown-in cellulose insulation

A new customer in Pennington, NJ contacted Cowleys after noticing mice droppings in his kitchen. We were sent out to inspect and treat. We inspected the kitchen and although we found some droppings in the area, we couldn't pinpoint how the mice were entering the home. We then searched the exterior of the home and that's when we found a large number of mice droppings in front of a broken crawl space door.

We then inspected the crawl space and found a dead mouse and even more droppings. This was how the mice were entering the home. We reported our findings to the owner and offered to install a new crawl space vent. He declined and mentioned he will seal it up over the weekend.

First, we carefully cleaned all the droppings and installed several interior rodent bait stations throughout the kitchen, the crawl space, and near the broken crawl space vent on the outside. Lastly, we scheduled several follow-up appointments to monitor the infestation and replenish the bait in the bait stations as needed.

As this homeowner in Hopewell, NJ was cleaning out his garage, he noticed a large amount of mice droppings in the area. Concerned that he might have an infestation, he called our office for help and we were sent out to inspect and treat.

After thoroughly inspecting the entire garage, we noticed that the droppings were primarily located by the garage door. We took a closer look and noticed a gap in the garage door. The rubber seal that goes on the bottom of the garage door was missing, giving the mice a clear and easy way to get into the garage. Mice only need an opening the size of a pencil to enter a building. 

First, we carefully cleaned up the droppings and installed several rodent bait stations near the garage door, throughout the garage, and along the exterior of the building. After showing the homeowner the gap in the garage door, we installed an Xcluder® Rodent Proof Door Sweep underneath the garage door. This will create a barrier that is impenetrable to rodents and other pests. Lastly, we’re going to schedule several follow-up visits to replenish the bait stations and monitor the mice activity.

A homeowner in Princeton Junction, NJ kept hearing "running" noises in her attic during the day. She knew that something had to be living in her attic, so she called Little Rascals for help. Minutes into our inspection we found a small portion of the soffit near the downspout that was damaged. We examined it and found squirrel hair stuck in the opening. Looks like squirrels were infesting this home and this was the main access point for the squirrels.

Using hardware cloth, we temporarily sealed off the access point and installed a one-way device in front of it. The one-way will allow the squirrels to safely exit the attic but prevent them from getting back in. We also installed several baited devices. Once all the squirrels are safely removed from the home, we'll properly seal up the area with metal flashing and then disinfect the attic.

We were sent out to a home in Princeton Junction, NJ to take care of a large hornets nest in the backyard. Upon inspection, we identified the stinging insects as bald-faced hornets. Bald-faced hornets are aggressive stinging insects and will attack anyone or anything that invades their space, unlike other stinging insects that may only rarely sting when they feel extremely threatened. After inspecting this one area, we found another bald-faced hornets nest in another tree!

After equipping our protective bee suit, we treated the nests with a knockdown aerosol application and then a knockdown dusting application. Both of these products will almost immediately exterminate the bald-faced hornets. We waited several moments and then removed both the nests, and the branches they were attached to, and properly disposed of them.

As we were treating this property in Pennington, NJ, we noticed a small pile of mice droppings in the corner of the crawl space. So we started investigating the insulation and found several mice tunnels and droppings throughout the area! One insulation was so saturated with mice urine that it was hanging down and deteriorating. Mice will often tunnel in the insulation to create a warm nesting place.

We're going to carefully clean up the droppings and install several rodent bait stations throughout the crawl space and along the exterior of the building. Lastly, we scheduled several follow-up visits to replenish the bait in the bait stations until the mice are no longer present in the home. Once they're gone, our Contracting team will come out, dispose of all the contaminated insulation, disinfect the area, and install new insulation in the crawl space.

During a spring service for one of our Home Protection Plan customers in West Windosr, NJ, we found active subterranean termites in one of our termite monitors. Our termite monitors act like an early warning system to detect the presence of termites, which is fortunate for the homeowner, because the termites were chomping on our monitoring devices and not her home! The purpose of these termite monitors is to give you peace of mind. 

For an effective treatment, we’re going to drill into the concrete in the crawl space, since termite live beneath the soil, and then inject a liquid termiticide. We’re also going to treat the entire exterior perimeter of the home with this application. This product will bind to the treated area and create a protective zone that the termites can’t detect. The termites will come in contact with the termiticide as they go about their normal routines and transfer it throughout their colony. In a short amount of time, the termites are exterminated and the home is protected for years to come!

As we were replenishing the bait in our rodent bait stations at this commercial property in Pennington, NJ we came upon one that had a black widow inside of it! Black widow spiders are most recognized for the red hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomen. Their venom is reported to be 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake! Fortunately, they only bite humans when they are disturbed.

We applied a knockdown product directly to the black widow, which will rapidly eliminate it. Afterward, we replenished all the bait in the bait stations and then, as a precaution, treated the entire exterior of the building with a residual application that is specifically labeled to eliminate spiders.

We were sent out on a service call to a commercial establishment in Pennington, NJ to treat for fruit flies. The manager had mentioned that he was seeing a large number of them in the sink room, so that's where we looked! When we did, we noticed that several of the floor drains had a buildup of discarded food and liquids inside them. We continued our inspection to the garbage room and discovered several dirty trash cans filled with old, soiled rags and more fruit flies.

We showed the manager and advised him that proper sanitation will prevent pests from infesting the business. After our conversation, the manager and his staff began cleaning the garbage area immediately. 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. Afterward, we applied a bio-foam solution in the floor drains, which removes all the organic build-up, odors, and scum inside them.

Next, we placed several fruit fly traps near the areas of the highest volume and treated them with a fly bait. What happens is the attractant in the traps draws the fruit flies close and the bait exterminates them within moments of contact. Lastly, we scheduled several follow up inspections to monitor the infestation and apply any additional treatments if needed.

A new customer in Pennington, NJ called our office after his wife found a mouse in the crawl space. Once we arrived and inspected the area, we noticed that the crawl space door was severely damaged and barley hanging on. This was how the mice were able to infest the home! We told the owner and mentioned that he will continue to experience a mice issue, and other pest problems, until the crawl space door is replaced. He agreed and scheduled an appointment with our Attic & Crawl Space division. 

In the meantime, we carefully cleaned up the droppings and installed several Ready-to-Use rodent bait stations in the crawl space and in the high infestation areas around the exterior. Lastly, we scheduled several follow-up visits to replenish the bait in the stations and monitor the infestation. 

As this Home Protection Plan customer in Titusville, NJ was relaxing on her deck, she noticed a number of yellow jackets flying around her soffit by the back door. Since her daughter is highly allergic to bee stings, she immediately called Cowleys for help. As we inspected the area, we noticed that the yellow jackets were actually nesting underneath a portion of the soffit.

For treatment, we injected a knockdown dusting application to the infestation area. This application rapidly exterminates the yellow jackets. Once they were gone we removed the nest, disposed of it properly, and applied a liquid residual to the area to eliminate any returning yellow jackets as well as prevent them from rebuilding another nest. 

After finding a mouse in her trash can, this customer in Princeton Junction, NJ immediately picked up the phone and called Cowleys for help. As we inspected the area, with the owners permission, we moved the oven away from the wall and discovered a large hole in the wall and a plethora of mice droppings behind the oven. We also inspected the exterior of the home and noticed several openings around the utility pipes that were the perfect size for mice to squeeze through!

First, we carefully cleaned up all the droppings inside and outside of the home. Next, we installed several rodent bait stations in the kitchen, the adjacent rooms, and along the exterior of the home. Afterward, we stuffed the openings around the utility pipes with chew-proof stainless steel metal mesh and sealed them with a waterproof adhesive.

Lastly, we scheduled several follow up visits to replenish the bait stations as needed and monitor the infestation. Once all the mice are removed from the home, the owner will have her husband patch up the hole behind the stove. The homeowner was so impressed with her service that she signed up for a Home Protection Plan. 

Recently, we were sent out to a property in Princeton Junction, NJ to handle a rat issue in this customers home. As soon as we began our inspection, we found a ton of rat droppings throughout the garage! Judging by the amount, the rats have been active in this area for quite some time. As we continued, we found a wide hole around a utility line that led outside. This was how the rats were entering the garage.

First, we carefully vacuumed up all the droppings and, at the owners request, disposed of all the contaminated items. Next, we installed several rodent bait stations throughout the garage, in the adjacent room, and along the exterior of the home. Afterward, we stuffed that hole around the utility line with chew proof metal mesh and then sealed it with a premium, waterproof adhesive. Lastly, we scheduled several follow up visits to monitor the infestation and replenish the bait stations as needed. 

As this customer in Hopewell, NJ was cleaning her kitchen to get ready for a party, she noticed a large amount of ants in her sink. She had heard about Cowleys through Facebook, so she found our number and gave us a call. 

During our inspection, we did find a ton of ants crawling on the kitchen countertops, but we needed to find out where they were coming from. So we followed their trail and it lead to a small crack in the window right above the sink. We then went outside and continued following their trail to a small shrub about 15 feet from the home.

For treatment, we applied an ant gel bait along the kitchen counter and then treated the cracks of the kitchen window with an aerosol flushing agent. Next, we went outside and applied a granular bait along the landscape areas of the home. Lastly, we treated the ant trail on the outside of the home and the entire exterior of the home with a liquid residual. Once the ants come in contact with any of these products, they'll return to their nest and transfer the treatments throughout their colony. A short while later, the ants are exterminated. Once the ants are eliminated, the homeowner will repair the crack in her window. 

After having a relative sleep on their couch for a few nights, this elderly couple in Pennington, NJ noticed a bed bug underneath the cushion. They searched on the internet for a reputable & local pest control company, found Cowleys, and we were sent out to investigate and treat. 

Upon inspection, we didn't just find a few bed bugs underneath the couch cushion, we found a ton of them in every single corner of the couch and even on the throw rug! First, we vacuumed up all the bed bugs and their eggs throughout the couch and the throw rug. Next, we treated all the cracks and corners of the couch with a bio-pesticide application. This product creates a barrier that infects and exterminates the bed bugs over a short period of time. Afterward, at the owners request, we treated every outlet in the living room with a residual dusting product. Lastly, we scheduled several follow-up visits to monitor the infestation and apply any additional treatments if necessary.

A new client in Pennington, NJ called our office after her contractor found a large number of ants behind a wall in her basement. Once we arrived and starting inspecting the basement, we immediately identified them as carpenter ants. Carpenter ants are wood-destroying insects and received their name because they excavate wood in order to build their nests. Carpenter ants build their nest inside a home, seeking out water-damaged, decaying wood that they can easily excavate. In doing so, they can seriously damage the structure of the home.

They also nest outdoors in damp, decaying wood like tree stumps, logs, or hollowed-out trees, so after we finished inspecting the basement, we went outside to examine the exterior of the property. Sure enough, we found an old, rotten tree stump that was loaded with carpenter ants! We informed the owner and mentioned that she would need to hire a professional to remove the tree stump ASAP as leaving it on the property will continue to attract, not just carpenter ants to her home, but termites as well. She agreed and made an appointment.

For treatment, we applied a granular bait around the tree stump and across the landscape of the property. Afterward, we treated the exterior of the home with a liquid residual. Next, we went inside and treated the cracks, corners, and baseboards of the basement with the liquid residual. Once the carpenter ants come in contact with either of these products, they'll return to their colony & unknowingly share these treatments throughout their nest. A short while later, the carpenter ants are exterminated.

We were sent out on a service call for a homeowner in Titusville, NJ who reported seeing a large number of ants by the sliding glass door in her living room. When we inspected the area, we noticed that a small bottom corner of the door seem to be damaged and there was a gap about the size of a dime in it. This was how the ants were getting in the home. To find the main harborage area for the ants, we followed their trail outside to a small shrub about 20 feet from the home. We informed the owner what we found and told her that the glass door needs to be fixed or replaced ASAP or she will continue to have problems with pest, especially rodents, in her home. We were happy to hear that she will have the door fixed once the ants are gone. 

First, we applied a liquid residual application to the ants that were by the sliding glass door, the two adjacent rooms in the home (at the owners request), and along the entire exterior of the home. Afterward, we treated the area where the ants were harboring outside, as well as the entire landscape area, with a granular bait. Once the worker ants come in contact with either of these products they will bring them back to their nest and share the treatments with their reproductive queen and the other ants in the colony. A short while later, the ants are exterminated. 

We were recently sent out to a home in Hopewell, NJ to handle a mouse infestation in her laundry room. When we arrived and started inspecting the property, we noticed that one of the exhaust vents was exposed. As we took a closer look, we found multiple mouse droppings around the area. This was how the mice were getting access into the home.

First, we carefully cleaned up all the mouse droppings in the laundry room and outside the home. Once we were finished, we installed several rodent bait stations throughout the laundry room and along the exterior of the home. Lastly, we scheduled several follow up visits to replenish the bait stations and monitor the mice activity. On our next visit, our Little Rascals Nuisance Wildlife Division will come out and install a DryerWallVent® over the exposed exhaust vent. The DryerWallVent® is made out of heavy-duty galvanized steel and its large opening and angled damper provide maximum airflow efficiency for safe venting. Integrated magnets keep the damper closed when not in use, preventing pests, bats, birds, and all nuisance wildlife from infesting the home.

We were recently sent out on a service call to a home in Titusville, NJ, to handle a severe cockroach infestation. The cockroaches were behind the fridge, under the stove, in the kitchen cabinets, and even on the ceiling! Cockroaches can spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, 6 kinds of parasitic worms, and 7 other kinds of human pathogens. After the homeowner removed everything in her cabinets and drawers, we moved everything that we could away from the walls and started treating all cracks and crevices with our microinjector that contains an EPA registered insect growth regulator combined with a residual product.

This treatment affects the cockroaches' reproductive system and prevents them from reaching adulthood. Next, we removed all the electrical plates and treated around and inside the outlets with a knockdown dusting application which will rapidly exterminate the cockroaches. Lastly, we scheduled several follow-up visits to apply any additional treatments if needed and to monitor the infestation. 

As we were servicing this property in Pennington, NJ, for ants, as we were treating around the backyard, we came upon a large Black Widow spider that was hanging out by one of the bilco doors! Black widow spiders are most recognized for the red hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomen. Their venom is reported to be 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake! Fortunately, they only bite humans when they are disturbed.

For treatment, we applied a knockdown product directly to the black widow, which rapidly exterminates it. Afterward, we performed a crack and crevice treatment around the entire exterior with a residual application that is specifically labeled to eliminate spiders.

This homeowner in Titusville, NJ, called our Pest Control Division after finding a hornet's nest in one of her shrubs! Once we arrived and took a closer look at these stinging insects, we were able to identify them as bald-faced hornets. As we were heading back to our truck, we found another bald-faced hornets nest in another tree in the backyard! Bald-faced hornets are social stinging insects that are a close relative to yellow jackets. The surface of their upper midsection almost looks triangular from the side, and they have 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.

For treatment, we injected each nest with a knockdown liquid and a knockdown aerosol application. Both of these treatments rapidly exterminate the bald-faced hornets. A short while later, we removed each of the nests and properly disposed of them. 

This homeowner in Hopewell, NJ, called our Pest Control Division after getting stung by several yellow jackets while doing some chores in the laundry room! So we were sent out to inspect, find the source, and treat. As we surveyed the exterior of the home we noticed that a number of yellow jackets were hovering around an exhaust vent. As we took a closer look, we noticed that the exhaust vent was damaged and that the yellow jackets were actually harboring inside of it! This was why the homeowner was seeing the yellow jackets inside her home.

To exterminate the yellow jackets, we injected a knockdown aerosol application into the gaps of the exhaust vent. This product will quickly neutralize the yellow jackets. Once they were eliminated, we then treated the area with a liquid residual to prevent any future yellow jackets from re-infesting the area. Before we left, we advised that homeowner to replace the broken exhaust vent ASAP to prevent any future infestations and mentioned that our Wildlife Division can come out and replace for her. She was happy to hear that and scheduled an appointment.

While tending to his yard, this customer in Princeton Junction, NJ, noticed a lot of yellow jackets near the bottom of his fence. Since he is highly allergic to them, he quickly ran inside, called our Pest Control Division for help, and we were sent out to inspect and treat. Yellow jackets are most active during the day, so this is when you're most likely to be stung. If you see a yellow jacket flying around, it's important to stay away from it. These insects are attracted to movement, so if you wave your arms or run away, you're more likely to be stung.

As we examined the area, we discovered that the yellow jackets actually had a in-ground nest underneath the fence! To exterminate the yellow jackets, we injected a knockdown dusting application directly into the nest. This treatment rapidly neutralizes the yellow jackets. After a few moments, we dug up the nest, disposed of it, and filled in the burrow. 

After noticing a large number of bees hovering around her back deck, this customer in Princeton Junction, NJ, immediately called our Pest Control Division for help and we were sent out. Once we arrived and inspected the area, we identified these pests as carpenter bees. We also spotted multiple drill holes and yellow fecal stains all along the deck.

Carpenter bees are solitary, wood-destroying pests but they don’t eat wood like termites do. They can be intimidating just by their size but are typically harmless, just not to your home! Like carpenter ants, carpenter bees can cause significant property damage, as the female bees drill perfectly circular ½-inch diameter holes into fascia boards, porches, decks, siding, sheds, and other wooden structures. If not treated, the carpenter bees will reuse the same galleries year after year and cause extensive damage to that area.

For treatment, we applied a residual dusting product into each gallery. This treatment rapidly exterminates the carpenter bees and leaves behind a residual that will eliminate any eggs inside their gallery as well as any returning carpenter bees.

During a schedule service for a new Home Protection Plan customer in Titusville, NJ, we found a Western Conifer Seed Bug on the front porch. The Western conifer seed bug has the habit of entering buildings at the onset of cold weather in the late summer or early fall as it seeks a protected site to spend the winter. These bugs do not bite or sting, nor do they cause damage to the home. They will, however, give off a pungent odor if you handle them, which is part of the insect's defensive strategy. They also may make a buzzing sound when flying.

They're commonly called leaf-footed bugs, and like many members of the Coreidae family, it has a flattened, leaf-like expansion on the hind legs. The adult is about 3/4 inch (16-20 mm) in length and is dull brownish. There is a faint white zigzag stripe across the midpoint of its upper surface. In spring these bugs move out of doors to coniferous trees nearby. The bugs feed on the developing seeds and early flowers of different species of conifers.

For treatment, we applied a liquid non residual directly to the pest, as well as around the entire exterior of the home. This product will eliminate the Western conifer seed bug in a short amount of time.

As this customer in Pennington, NJ, was returning home from work one day, he noticed a large yellow jackets nest right behind a column that was close to the front door! Since he was a Home Protection Plan customer, he called our office and we were sent out to eliminate these aggressive stinging insects! 

After we equipped our protective bee suit, we grabbed our extendable pole, attached a knockdown dusting application to it, and applied it directly into the nest. This treatment will exterminate the yellow jackets almost immediately. A short while later, we removed the nest, disposed of it, and then applied a residual application to the area. This product will eliminate any yellow jackets that return to this area as well as prevent them from building another nest. 

One day, this customer in Titusville, NJ, opened up her master bedroom window (which was located on the 2nd floor) to get some fresh air. So quickly regretted it as a nasty swarm of hornets started to fly into the bedroom! She quickly closed the window and, since she is current Home Protection Plan customer, called our office for help!

Once we arrived, we spotted the soccer ball sized hornets nest attached to the soffit that was just above the master bedroom window. After we equipped our protective bee suit, we grabbed our extendable pole, attached a knockdown dusting application to it, and injected it directly into the nest. This treatment will exterminate the hornets almost immediately. A short while later, we removed the nest, disposed of it, and then applied a residual application to the area. This product will eliminate any hornets that return to this area as well as prevent them from building another nest.

Originally, our Pest Control division came out to inspect and treat this customers home in Pennington, NJ, for mice. During their inspection of the crawl space, they noticed that the insulation was so badly contaminated with mice urine that is was falling down! We brought this to the owners attention and they contacted our Crawl Space division to come out and remove all the contaminated insulation and encapsulate the crawl space. 

First, we removed all the debris and contaminated insulation, leveled the ground for proper draining, and installed drainage matting. The drainage matting is a dimpled plastic mat that allows all excess moisture to work its way over to the sump pump. Next, we installed a vapor barrier. A vapor barrier is a heavy-duty, 20-mil 7-ply sandwich of high and low-density polyethylene with a polyester-cord reinforcement. Afterward, we installed ComfortTherm® insulation. ComfortTherm® insulation provides excellent temperature and noise control, and comes with a vapor-retarder for use in hot, humid climates.

By encapsulating the crawl space & installing the vapor barrier over the foundation walls and floor will create a continuous air and moisture barrier. The vapor barrier is extremely durable and is treated with an antimicrobial to prevent mold. Now the homeowner have a clean and healthy crawl space as well as an additional area in their home for storage.

The owner of a commercial property in Hopewell, NJ, called our Pest Control division after one of her staff members found a mouse in one of the offices. Although, during our interior inspection, we found several mouse droppings in 3 separate offices, we needed to inspect the exterior of the building to find out how to mice were getting inside. Sure enough, we found several wide gaps around a couple of utility pipes that led inside. 

First, we cleaned up all the mice droppings on the inside and outside of the building. Next, we installed several rodent bait stations throughout the inside of the building and several exterior rodent bait stations on the outside. Afterward, we stuffed all the gaps around the utility pipes with chew-proof metal mesh and then sealed them with a waterproof adhesive. Lastly, we scheduled several follow-up appointments to monitor the infestation and replenish the bait in the bait stations as needed.

Even though the weather outside has been chilly, this hasn't stop yellow jackets from thriving at this home in West Windsor, NJ. Yellow jackets will die off from weather exposure only if there's been 5-7 days of weather under 45 degrees in a row. Unfortunately, over this past week, the weather was cold for two days, and over 50 degrees for the rest of the week! So they were out and about, although a little lethargic. 

We grabbed our extendable pole, attached a knockdown aerosol application to it, and injected it directly into the nest. We then waited a few moments, and then applied a knockdown liquid application. Both of these treatments will rapidly exterminate the yellow jackets. After several moments went by we removed the nest and disposed of it properly. 

After one of the workers spotted a live mouse running along one of the shelves, the manager of this warehouse in Robbinsville, NJ, immediately contacted Cowleys for help and we were sent out to inspect and treat. As we inspected the inside of the warehouse we found a massive amount of mice droppings in the break room and on the shelves in the main packing area. We also found gnaw marks on some of the packaging.

We then continued our inspection to the exterior of the building and that's where we found a large opening around one of the utilities pipes that was surrounded by mice feces. This was how the mice were able to infest the warehouse! First, we carefully cleaned up all the mice droppings. Next, we installed several rodent bait stations along the exterior of the building, the break room, the main packing area, and in several other locations inside the warehouse.

Lastly, we scheduled several follow up visits to monitor the mice activity, replenish the bait in the bait stations as needed, and then properly seal up any and all potential openings on the exterior of the warehouse.

As this customer in Princeton, NJ, was starting to tend to his landscape for the spring season, he noticed several holes throughout his mulch bed. Since his neighbor had used Cowleys before, he asked them for our contact information, gave our office a call, and we were sent out to inspect and treat. When we arrived, we took a close look at these burrows and were able to identify them as rat burrows. 

Rats create these burrows to travel from their nest to a food source and to escape predators. They usually contain a main entrance and one or two exit holes away from the main entrance. Rat burrows can be identified by their fan-shaped openings, smooth walls, and oily residue around the entrance. The openings are usually between two and four inches in diameter, and the walls are smooth and hard-packed soil surrounds the opening. The residue is due to the rodents' fur, and can look like brown marks.

In order to exterminate the rats effectively, we installed several rodent bait stations close to each one of the burrows. Next, we installed several snap traps near the burrows. The snap traps are inside temper-proof, child resistant boxes. Lastly, we scheduled several follow-up visits to monitor the rat infestation and replenish the bait in the rodent bait stations as needed.

A new customer in Hightstown, NJ called our Bird Solutions division after noticing a starling building a nest on one of her exterior lights! Once we arrived and inspected the property, we immediately noticed the nesting debris! 

The first thing we did was carefully remove and dispose of the bird nesting debris. Afterward, we disinfected the area with a solution that targets and eliminates bird mites. Bird mites are parasites that feed on the blood of birds. When birds leave their nests, the mites are left behind without a suitable host for their next blood meal. They will make their way into a home and, once inside, they will take over! What makes bird mites even scarier is they're tiny and semi-transparent - which means that they are extremely difficult to detect. Bird mites are one of the reasons why extreme care is needed when removing a nest. 

Once we finished with that, with the owner's permission, we installed an Intimidator bird flasher near the porch light. The Intimidator reflects the suns rays as the wind spins it around and gives off Ultra Violet "flashes." Ultra violet is a color that birds can see but humans can not and the starlings, as well as all nuisance birds, will relate the UV flashes as a danger and stay away. This is a humane and effective visual deterrent to prevent all nuisance birds from nesting and causing any further damage to the home.

As we were treating the home of a Home Protection Plan customer in Pennington, NJ we noticed that one of the railroad ties in the backyard appeared to be damaged. So we took closer look and came upon a huge carpenter ant nest! 

Carpenter ants are wood-destroying insects and are so named because they excavate wood in order to build their nests, typically outdoors in damp, decaying wood like tree stumps, logs, or hollowed-out trees. Occasionally, carpenter ants build their nest inside a home, seeking out water-damaged, decaying wood that they can easily excavate. In doing so, they can seriously damage the structure of the home.

For treatment, we treated the area, and the exterior of the home, with a liquid residual. Next, we applied a granular bait to the railroad ties as well as to the landscape. The worker carpenter ants will come in contact with either of the applications, bring them back to their nest, and, unknowingly, transfer the treatments to the other ants in their colony and their queen. A short while later, the carpenter ant colony will be neutralized. 

This homeowner in Hopewell, NJ had a massive digger bee infestation throughout her front yard and backyard! Digger bees are solitary insects that nest underground. They can be shiny metallic black, dull black or brown in color, can either have or not have white, yellow, and/or red markings, and can range in size from 1/4 to 1/2 on inch. The first sign of digger bees in lawns are little mounds of soil with a hole nearby and digger bees flying over the area. Digger bees are solitary bees that live one colony per hole, but there may be many holes in an area creating digger bee communities. They're not generally aggressive stinging insects, as the males don't even have the ability to sting, and typically only sting if they're stepped on or handled directly. However, people who are allergic to bee stings should be careful.

In order to exterminate the digger bees, we applied a granular bait to every single digger bee mound and then injected a residual dusting application into each one. Both of these treatments will rapidly eliminate the digger bees.

Recently, we were sent out to the home of a new customer in Hightstown, NJ, to treat for termites. We found the activity on the exterior of the home. The termites were found on the bottom of a corner piece on the home. After a thorough inspection of the interior of exterior of the home, we only found evidence of termites in this one location.

First, with the owners permission, wee drilled into the corner piece of the home and injected a foaming termiticide. Next, we treated the entire exterior of home with a liquid version of the termiticide. Both versions of the termiticide bind to the treated areas and creates a protective zone that the termites can't detect. As the termites go about their business, they'll come in contact with the termiticide and bring it back to their colony. They will then transfer the treatments throughout their nest. In short amount of time, the termites will be exterminated.

This homeowner in Titusville, NJ was cleaning his back deck one day when he noticed a bird fly off the deck column. He took a closer look and found a birds nest! Since his neighbor had used Bird Solutions by Cowleys before, he got our number from his neighbor, gave us a call, and we were sent out.

First, we carefully removed the nesting debris and then disinfected the area with an application that eliminates bird mites. What are bird mites exactly? Bird mites are blood-sucking parasites that feed on the blood of birds. Once birds leave their nests, the mites are left behind without a suitable host and then make their way into a home. Once inside, they will then feast on the blood of yourself, your family, and your pets! To make matters worse, bird mites are tiny and semi-transparent, so they are extremely difficult to detect!

Once we finished disinfecting the area, to prevent any future intrusions from all nuisance birds, we installed a Bird Slope on each one of the columns and ledges. Bird Slope is a physical bird deterrent used to block birds from landing or nesting on open ledges. It's unique angled design makes it impossible for birds to land or nest in 90° areas such as ledges, window sills, or eaves making it an effective bird deterrent against all nuisance birds.

As this business owner in Robbinsville, NJ was taking inventory and checking his exterior storage units, he spotted two groundhogs running across the lot and then go underneath one of the units. Since he had used Cowleys for his home, he knew we had a Nuisance Wildlife division, gave our office a call, and we were sent out.

Once we arrived, we searched the area where the groundhogs were spotted and discovered three burrows around the storage unit. So, in order to safely retrieve the groundhogs, the first thing we dig was install Dig Defense® around the entire perimeter of the storage, except for the burrows (we left those areas uncovered for the moment). Dig Defense® is a below-ground fence system that is 15 inches deep, 4 feet across, and protects structures against all nuisance wildlife.

Next, we installed a positive set over each one of the burrows and then baited and camouflaged them. A positive set consists of a nose cone that is attached to a two-gaited device. The purpose of the nose cone is to safely guide the groundhogs into the device. It's called a positive set, because we are positive that the groundhogs will enter the device! As a matter of fact, a short while later, we safely retrieved the two groundhogs! We then filled in the burrows, installed another portion of Dig Defense® over them, and relocated the groundhogs to a new, safer environment.

During a regularly scheduled summer service for a new Home Protection Plan customer in Hopewell, NJ, we found something interesting on the side of the home - a northern black widow spider. I'm sure you're thinking, "What's the difference between a black widow and a northern black spider?" The southern black widow has a complete hourglass marking, while the northern has a "broken" hourglass with the thinner middle section often being disconnected or having a series of red dots. Behavioral wise, they're both the same and their venom is reported to be 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake! Fortunately, they only bite humans when they are disturbed.

We applied a knockdown liquid application directly to the black widow, which will rapidly exterminate it. Afterward, we performed a crack and crevice treatment around the entire exterior of the home with a residual application that is specifically labeled to eliminate spiders.

As we were treating the property of this Home Protection Plan customer in Princeton Junction, NJ, we noticed a large amount of ants on the left side of the home.  After a thorough inspection, we determined that the ants were harboring in the mulch bed. This isn't unusual as ants are attracted to mulch beds. It provides a moist environment for them as well as the ants are naturally drawn to the decaying materials found in mulch.

For treatment, we treated the entire perimeter of the home with a liquid non-repellent. Afterward, we applied a granular bait to the mulch beds as well as around the entire landscape. When the worker ants come in contact with either of these treatments, they're going to bring them back to their nest and then transfer the applications to the other ants and their queen. A short while later, the ant colony will be exterminated.