Atlantic Highlands, NJ Pest Control Company

We were recently sent out on a service call to the home of a new Home Protection Plan customer in Atlantic Highlands, NJ to treat for yellow jackets. After we arrived and equipped our protective bee suit, we inspected the front of the home (because that's where the owner had spotted the yellow jackets). Minutes into our inspection, we noticed that the yellow jackets were flying into an opening underneath the rock siding. 

Using our extendable pole, we injected a knockdown aerosol application into the opening. We then waited a few moments and injected a knockdown foaming application. Both of these treatments quickly exterminate the yellow jackets. 

This client in Atlantic Highlands, NJ had an issue with a groundhog at his home. The groundhog was burrowing right against the pool foundation! We found multiple burrows against the foundation and around the property. To stop the groundhog, as well as any other nuisance wildlife, from burrowing, we installed Dig Defense® around the entire pool foundation 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.

Once we finished, we installed a positive set over the exposed opening in order to safely retrieve the groundhog. We also installed two positive sets over the other two burrows made by the groundhog. A positive set consists of a nose cone (which safely guides the groundhog) that is attached to a two-gaited, heavy-duty device. It's called a positive set, because we are positive that the groundhog will enter our device.

Once we safely retrieve the groundhog, we will relocate it to a new, humane location, fill in the burrows, and install another portion of Dig Defense® over the opening by the pool.

Especially after extremely dry condition, a heavy rainstorm seems to rejuvenate and give ant colonies new life. Also, ants start looking for higher ground as their nests become flooded with rainwater and we see a noticeable increase in ant infestations. Here, after we had some much-needed rain, this homeowner in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, found himself with odorous house ants. We call these small dark brown or black ants “odorous” ants for good reason: They emit a foul odor that smells like rotten coconuts when crushed.  Odorous ant colonies can become quite large, and often, in addition to the parent colony, these ants expand by forming multiple satellite nests with more than one egg-producing queen.

These particular ants construct shallow nests in the soil, usually under lawn debris, wood piles, and under brick pavers. I happened to find this particular nest in a termite bait station during an inspection. Because their nests are so shallow, they are prone to flooding after heavy rains. With the ants stranded and looking for someplace safe, ant infestations in homes skyrocket. The lesson is that when we experience those typical New Jersey weather swings of dry conditions followed by heavy rain, homeowners should be on the lookout for ant infestations. 

Often, raccoons, especially mother raccoons seeking a quiet, private place to raise their young, use attics and chimneys as dens. But they can and will make their nests almost anywhere. We’ve dealt raccoon nests in crawl spaces, barn lofts. and with this home in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, the mother raccoon didn’t even bother to break into the home. Here, the mother set up shop underneath some patio furniture that was covered for the winter.  So, when you are ready to start using your patio furniture and remove the protective covering, please be cautious. There may be a family of wildlife squatters that have already decided to use your covered patio furniture as their own little backyard campsite! before you do!

I set up a few traps and loaded them with my secret irresistible bait recipe. It did not take long to trap the mother raccoon. As you can see from the photo, she was giving me quite the dirty look for trapping her. I rounded up the babies and safely relocated the family to a location safer for them and safer for these Atlantic Highland homeowners. Raccoons may look cute and cuddly, but they are large aggressive animals that can be quite dangerous if they feel cornered or threatened. Mother raccoons are especially protective of their helpless kits. Wildlife is wonderful, but it’s much better situation for everyone when wildlife stays in the wild and enjoyed at a distance, far away from human habitats.

I homeowner in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, was having a problem with yellow jackets somehow managing to find their way inside her home. Out of all the stinging insects that could invade a home, to me, there is nothing worse than yellow jackets. These are nasty, territorial, aggressive, predatory wasps that often seem to sting for no reason at all. She was at a complete loss figuring out how these intruders were able to gain access inside her home. There were no obvious entry points. Her home was in great condition. They were no ripped window screens and all of the doors to the outside were kept shut. At first blush, there were no entry points allowing these insects to get inside. It was as though they just magically appeared out of nowhere. Finally, after too much unnecessary frustration, the homeowner decided to contact Cowleys to determine the problem and get it resolved. 

I just love pest control assignments where I have to put on my detective cap. Upon arrival, I first inspected the attic. My initial thought is that if there were no entry points for these insects to gain entry from the outside, this may be an “inside job” with an inside nest. And the most likely place for a yellow jacket nest was the attic. However, after a thorough inspection, I came up empty handed. I could not find a single sign of insect activity up above. But for me, eliminating the attic meant I was one step closer to finding the solution. I then moved my inspection to the outside perimeter of the home to look for any possible ways that yellow jackets could gain access. Something caught my eye that could have been easily overlooked since it was not at eye level. I noticed a broken dryer vent. I hopped on my ladder and, sure enough, I was greeted by an active yellow jacket nest inside the vent.

I treated and removed the nest for the homeowner. I also happened to have a dryer vent cover on my truck. I asked the homeowner if she would like me to install  a new cover while I was there, and she agreed without hesitation. With the nest removed and a new cover for the dryer vent in place, this homeowner will no longer have the problem of mystery yellow jackets invading her home.

Solar panels are becoming more and more popular with homeowners for obvious reasons. Solar panels save on utility bills and it’s a “green” thing to do — solar is a renewable environmentally friendly energy source . However, we sometimes see one downside to these panels. Solar panels provide pigeons and other nuisance birds with a great hiding spot from predator birds. 

Pigeons are one of the worst nuisance birds out there. With their prodigious (not to mention toxic and acidic) droppings, pigeons can make a mess of your roof and the surrounding area of your home. Also, if you’ve ever been around a flock of pigeons, they make constant sounds. I have yet to meet anyone who enjoys having pigeons nesting and roosting on their roof. Without exception, any home or business owner want these messy, nasty birds gone!!  

Bird Solutions by Cowleys is experienced in installing a variety of bird deterrent devices. For this home in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, we excluded the birds by creating a solar panel exclusion system using bird netting. This netting will keep pigeons and other birds away from the solar panels — and it won’t harm them in any way. We make homes and commercial properties inhospitable to birds, so they’ll move elsewhere. Even though this homeowner will no longer have to deal with pigeons thanks to Cowleys and the Bird Solutions crew, there is a good chance that these birds will become someone else’s problem. Pigeons are attracted to human habitats for food and shelter and when evicted from one location they soon find another.