Fair Haven, NJ Pest & Bedbug Control Professional

This customer in Fair Haven, NJ was looking to sell his home, but first wanted a Wood Destroying Insect (WDI) report of his property, so he called Cowleys for help and we were sent out. During our inspection of the property, we found something concerning in the crawl space - termite mud tubes! We took a closer look at them and realized that they were active and full of subterranean termites. We told the owner who immediately opted in for a termite treatment.

Since subterranean termites live beneath the soil, in order to effectively target them, we drilled into the crawl space and around the home. Next, we injected a liquid termiticide into the drill holes as well as around the entire exterior of the home. Afterward, we injected a foaming version of the termiticide into the walls of the crawl space and filled in the drill holes. 

Once the termites come in contact with either of these applications, they're going to bring these treatments back to their colony and transfer them throughout their nest. The termiticides then spreads throughout their colony, and in a short amount of time, the termites are exterminated.

As this homeowner in Fair Haven, NJ, was leaving for work one day, he noticed several birds flying in and out of a small hole in his gable vent. The owner immediately searched for a reputable wildlife removal company, found Bird Solutions by Cowleys, gave us a call, and we were sent out. Over time, the gable vents get old & weathered and start to crumble. If not checked regularly and/or replaced then birds, raccoons, squirrels, and bats have no problem ripping away these vents to find shelter inside a home!

As we inspected the attic, we found a lot of bird nesting debris throughout the area. So we carefully removed all the nesting debris and then disinfected the entire attic with a solution that targets bird mites. Bird mites are parasites that feed on the blood of birds and when the 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 begin feeding on the homeowners and their pets! To make matters worse, bird mites are tiny and semi-transparent, so they are extremely difficult to detect.

Once we finished, we went back to our trucks to fashion a louvered vent guard and then installed it over the gable vent. This material is made out of heavy-duty Galvannealed steel (which means it won't rust) and is designed to properly exclude all nuisance birds, wildlife, and bats from the gable vent.

This customer in Fair Haven, NJ was having an issue with moles destroying her lawn and decimating her garden! So she called Little Rascals for help and we were sent out. In order to guarantee that we're eliminating the moles, we're utilizing our Burrow RX. The Burrow RX is a carbon monoxide device that uses a smoke-oil tracer. The smoke-oil tracer shows us where the majority of the carbon monoxide is going, how far we're reaching in the mole tunnels, and if there are any leaks around the property. If we notice any leaks, we fill them in.

The gas isn't toxic to the homeowner or her family, because there's no residual that is left behind and we are outdoors in a well-ventilated area. The Burrow RX is much more humane than using pesticide or a trap and it guarantees that we are effectively exterminating the moles.

After noticing an abundance of ants crawling by her front door, this new customer in Fair Haven, NJ immediately called our office for help and we were sent out. Once we arrived and took a closer look at these ants, we identified them as pavement ants. Pavement ants are about 1/8 of an inch long and are dark brown to black in color. Their name comes from nesting under sidewalks and driveways and piling dirt removed from the nest in a mound on top of the pavement, often located between sidewalk cracks.

To eliminate the ants, we treated their trails, the front door, and the entire exterior of the home with a liquid non-repellant residual. Afterward, we treated the grassy areas and the shrubbery with a granular bait. The worker ants are going to come in contact with either of these products, return to their nest, and unknowingly transfer the treatments throughout their nest by feeding one another, grooming one another, and eating their own dead. A short while later, the ants will be exterminated.

We were sent out on a service call for a new customer in Fair Haven, NJ, to treat for Asian ladybugs. Most ladybug species don't pose a health threat to humans, except for one — the Asian lady beetle. The Asian lady beetle was released in New Jersey over a decade ago to combat an invasive plant species that were causing millions of dollars in damages to NJ's agriculture. This ladybug species is known to aggravate asthma and cause allergic reactions in some people. In addition, they exude a sticky, yellow, foul-smelling defensive fluid that stains whatever it touches.

After inspecting the infested area from top to bottom, we determined that the Asian ladybugs were able to infest the home through the gaps and cracks in the window frame in the living room. We informed the owner and he mentioned that, once the Asian ladybugs are gone, he will replace the window frame and seal it properly.

For treatment, we vacuumed up all the Asian ladybugs around the interior and exterior of the window frame. Next, we treated all the exterior window frames with a liquid residual application. The Asian ladybugs will come in contact with the liquid treatment as they go about their normal routine, and a short while later, they will be eliminated.

We received a call from a property manager in Fair Haven, NJ, stating that one of his tenants was having an issue with cockroaches in his apartment. As soon as we stepped foot into the apartment, we saw several cockroach running across the floor to the kitchen. Since cockroaches are primarily nocturnal, if you ever spot a couple of cockroaches during the daytime that means that there is a large infestation of them.

Sure enough, we found cockroaches and their feces all over the pantries, inside the bagged food, underneath the fridge, and throughout the appliances! First, with the landlords and the tenants permission, we carefully disposed of all the contaminated items throughout the apartment. Afterward, we treated the entire apartment from top to bottom with 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 applied a knockdown aerosol product to every single crack, crevice, appliance, and baseboard throughout the apartment. This treatment flushes the cockroaches out of hiding, into the growth regulator, and rapidly exterminates them. Lastly, we placed several monitoring devices throughout the apartment and scheduled several follow-up visits to monitor the infestation and apply any additional treatments until the cockroaches are gone for good.

Our Attic Systems Division was sent out to a home in Fair Haven, NJ, to replace the old, worn out fiberglass insulation in the attic and add new blown-in cellulose insulation. First, we carefully removed all the deteriorated insulation, disposed of it, and disinfected the attic. Next, we air sealed all the gaps and cracks in the attic. This will eliminate air flow between the living space and the attic, improving energy efficiency. Afterward, we added over 10 inches of TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation.

TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation has a higher R-value than standard fiberglass insulation, has the highest Class-1 fire safety rating, is resistant to mold and pests, and is eco-friendly! TruSoft is the perfect choice for attic insulation as it maximizes home comfort and optimizes energy usage for year-round peace and savings. Lastly, we installed SilverGlo™ on the walls of the attic. SilverGlo™ is a waterproof foam insulation that seals the walls from outside moisture and humidity.

This homeowner in Fair Haven, NJ contacted our Little Rascals Nuisance Wildlife Division after spotting a groundhog digging underneath her deck. As we inspected the property, we noticed that a portion of the lattice surrounding the deck was weathered, damaged,  and falling off. The homeowner knew about it, but wanted to wait until it was summer to repair it. Unfortunately for her, the groundhog didn't wait and used that opening to harbor underneath the deck.

First, we removed the old lattice surrounding the deck and installed two layers of new lattice. Next, we installed Dig Defense® around the entire deck and then installed a positive set over the main access point. A positive set is made up of a nose cone, which will safely guide the groundhog into a two-gaited, heavy-duty device. Dig Defense® is a below-ground fence system that is 15 inches deep and 4 feet across and protects structures against nuisance wildlife and feral animals. 

Once we safely retrieve the groundhog, we will relocate it to a new, humane location, fill in the burrow, and install another layer of lattice and Dig Defense® over the main access point.

A new customer in Fair Haven, NJ called our office after finding "winged insects" by her living room window and thought that they might be termites! Once we arrived and took a closer look at these pests, we immediately identified them as carpenter ants, not termites. The difference between a flying carpenter ant and a flying termite (called termite swarmers) is the carpenter ant will have a larger fore wing and smaller hind wing, whereas the termites' wings are equal in size. The body of the carpenter ant has a constricted waist while the body of the termite has a broad waist. Lastly, the antenna of the ant is elbowed (bent) whereas the antenna of the termite is not.

Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood; rather, they excavate it for their nests. They are known to cause the most damage out of all the different species of ants that commonly infest structures. As we inspected the area, we noticed that the carpenter ants were actually harboring inside the window frame and the living room wall! For treatment, we injected an aerosol application into the wall and the window frame. This treatment rapidly exterminates the carpenter ants and flushes them out of hiding. Next, we also injected a foaming residual application into the wall. Afterward, we treated the cracks, crevices, and baseboards of the living room and the entire exterior of the home with a liquid non-residual product. 

Once the worker carpenter 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 carpenter ants are eliminated. 

This homeowner in Fair Haven, NJ called Cowleys after her husband was stung several times by yellow jackets while he was pruning his landscape. Fortunately, he wasn't allergic. Once we arrived and started inspecting the exterior we noticed the yellow jackets were flying around a utility pipe. We took a closer look and discovered that the yellow jackets were nesting inside a small gap around the utility pipe.

For treatment, we injected a knockdown dusting application, which will exterminate the yellow jackets almost immediately. Once they’re gone, we removed the nest, dispose of it, cleaned the area, stuffed the opening with chew-proof metal mesh, and sealed it with a premium waterproof adhesive. 

Recently, I was sent to a home in Fair Haven, NJ to help a homeowner with a mouse infestation. Mice were entering the home and nesting in the crawl space. The focus of my rodent inspection is to identify and seal their entry points. Mice are tiny — they are even smaller than they look because of all their fur. Weighing less than an ounce, mice can squeeze through openings as small as a dime.  

Rodent inspections have to be systematic and methodical. I look for any daylight through gaps or cracks, and I also follow their droppings.  A single mouse can easily produce 50 pellets a day, and their trail of droppings can help me locate their entry points. Here, I followed a hole that started in the garage and went straight into the crawl space. Venturing down in the crawl space, I found three different nesting holes chock full of droppings. I used chew-proof copper mesh to seal the hole in the garage to block further access. Also, I set three rodent bait stations in the crawl space to eliminate any mice that were still lurking down below. It won’t take long for this infestation to be completely resolved. 

Recently, a homeowner found that a pumpkin can deliver its own Halloween surprise! A homeowner in Fair Haven, NJ contacted us because of a swarm of small gnats hovering around her front porch. She was at a loss as to where there were coming from. Upon arrival, I started to inspect the front porch looking for any clues as to the source of these flies. The newest item brought onto the porch was a giant pumpkin. I took a closer look at the suspect pumpkin. I’m no pumpkin expert, but this particular round orange squash didn’t look particularly healthy. It’s stem didn’t look right and appeared rotted. I slightly moved it slightly, and saw that it was very soft and falling apart. As I was moving the stem, a swarm of fruit flies came flying out. This pumpkin was rotting from the inside out and turned into a fruit-fly breeding facility. I treated the entire porch area and removed the pumpkin. The homeowner contacted the business who sold her the pumpkin and she will be getting a fresh, new one.  

If you are heading out to the nearest pumpkin patch this year for a nice house decoration or to carve the neighborhood’s best jack-o’-lantern, I located some good tips for picking a healthy pleasing pumpkin free of fruit flies or other insect infestations. A healthy pumpkin is firm and orange all over with no mushy spots, brown spots, or discoloration. And check the stem just like I did! The stem should be hard and either dark green or black. As i saw first-hand, if the stem bends or breaks, it could be a sign that the pumpkin has started to rot.

Although clover mites aren’t harmful to people or their pets, they can be quite the nuisance pest for three reasons. One is their sheer number. With clover mite infestations, there can literally be hundreds or even thousands of them. Two is their size. Clover mites are pinhead small, so they are able to find their way inside homes without too much trouble. These insects are so small that they can even fit through the mesh of most screen windows and doors. And three, when squished or crushed these bugs leave a nasty red pigmentation stain on carpets, curtains, and your clothing should you sit on them. 

Clover mites are most active in cooler weather, especially early spring. And this year, clover mites hav been out in droves. If you are seeing an army of tiny red bugs outside your home or around your garden, they may well be clover mites. These insects feed off a variety of plants and vegetation, including their namesake, clover. They are especially attracted to highly fertilized grasses. These mites like to lay their eggs in all of the cracks and crevices that form around a home’s foundation. The eggs that are laid in the fall become dormant during the winter and when spring rolls around, they hatch. Spring is, by far, the most common time for homeowners to be dealing with a clover mite infestation inside their home. When these bugs get inside, they soon die, but while there they are a nuisance and cleaning up after their stains can become an exercise in frustration. Fortunately, they do not infest food and contaminate kitchens like ants and all of those beetle and weevil pantry pests. 

Just like with stink bugs, another common nuisance pest, with clover mites, it’s best to vacuum them up instead of crushing them to avoid staining.

To prevent clover mite and other pest infestations, it’s helpful to clear up any vegetation immediately around the outside perimeter of the home and thoroughly inspect around the foundation and windows for any cracks. Sealing these gaps will stop clover mites from laying eggs around your home, and eventually finding their way inside. 

To treat this infestation in Fair Haven, NJ, I used an application around the outside foundation that will quickly knock down the clover mite population.

With the arrival of warm weather, when outside, we all have to be vigilant about ticks. They can be hiding anywhere waiting to find a host for their next blood meal. Recently, I was performing a routine termite treatment. I happened to notice that an insect had rudely latched onto me for lunch. Upon closer examination, I noticed that this was a lone star tick. Although these ticks are mostly found in the southern part of the state, they do reach as far north as central New Jersey and Monmouth County. Although deer ticks get the most attention since they are the primary transmitter of Lyme disease, lone star ticks can transmit diseases to humans as well, most notably a bacteria that causes ehrlichiosis as well as other diseases. Lyme is the most serious tick-borne illness and happens with the most frequency, but everyone should know that, here in New Jersey, there are other types of ticks and other tick-transmitted diseases out there.

Whenever I’m working outside, I perform frequent tick checks, especially if I’m walking through tall vegetation or grasses. In areas of high vegetation, ticks can often be found “questing.” They will crawl up the stems of grass or perch on the edges of leaves patiently waiting for passerby to latch onto. They know we are coming by our emission of carbon dioxide when we breathe. 

This particular tick in Fair Haven, NJ decided to choose me! If you are bitten by a tick, removing it immediately can make all the difference. A tick must have taken a blood meal to transmit tainted blood, and it usually takes 24 hours before feeding begins. Getting the tick off your body during this pre-feeding window substantially reduces the chance of receiving a tick-borne illness. Also, tick control in your backyard can go a long way. I tell any customer who asks me what they can do to make their yard safer and keep down tick and mosquito populations to keep their lawn mowed, remove any standing water, and consider a professional tick and mosquito control treatment program throughout the spring and summer months. 

About seven months ago, I completed a wildlife job for a homeowner in Fair Haven, NJ. I successfully trapped and evicted a raccoon that decided to take up residence underneath her front porch. Although raccoons are not burrowing animals, this little rascal was able to dig up enough of a hole in the surrounding pebbles and dirt to gain access to the private area underneath the porch. 

Before I set up the trapping, I had recommended to the homeowner for Cowleys to install a Dig Defence system around the porch to prevent future wildlife intrusions. Dig Defence is an underground fencing that we can easily install without the need for extensive digging or trenching. The Dig Defence underground fencing panels can be placed directly into the ground. At the time, the homeowner declined our recommendation, so we simply trapped and relocated the animal. Although we replaced the dirt and pebbles, we left knowing that this area under the porch was susceptible to a re-infestation. Why would lightening strike twice? I was concerned that the pheromones and urine left behind by the raccoon would serve as an attractant for other raccoons. After all, if this spot was good enough for one of my “brothers,” why wouldn’t it be good enough for me?

As it turned out, my reservations were well-founded. Fast forward seven months. The homeowner once again called Cowleys for a wildlife infestation. Same problem, most likely a different raccoon considering that we relocated the first one far away. For this homeowner, experiencing the same problem twice proved to be enough of a reason to install the Dig Defence panels. These panels are buried at least one foot underneath the ground with the top staying flush with the bottom of the porch. In order to trap the raccoon, I installed a one-way device where a small section of the Dig Defence was left out (for now). The idea is to funnel the animal into the one-way since the access to the rest of the patio is now blocked. The one-way device, just like a one-way valve, allows the raccoon to leave, but prevents it’s return. I’ll return in a few days to remove the one-way once I’m assured that the raccoon has vacated underneath the porch. 

I’ll then complete the Dig Defence so it will serve as a complete barrier for critter control underneath the porch. Once the Dig Defence is fully installed, this entire front porch will be protected against further wildlife intrusions. Unfortunately, it took a second infestation for this homeowner to decide that critter control to prevent further access underneath the porch would be a worthwhile home investment. But the good news is that this second infestation will be the last time that a raccoon will decide to take up residence underneath her porch.

I was sent to a home in Fair Haven, NJ to help a homeowner who found mouse droppings in her basement. Their daughter had put storage bins in the basement while she was home for the summer. While getting ready to return to college, she ventured back down to the basement to retrieve the bins. When she moved one of the bins, she observed a pile of droppings and immediately relayed the discovery to her parents. 

Mice droppings are spindle-shaped with pointed ends and are about the size of a grain of rice. Their color ranges from blackish brown to grey depending on the mouse’s diet and the age of the droppings. Like the fall leaves, mouse droppings change color. Fresh droppings start out as black, then turn brown, and finally a powdery grey. Fresh droppings are soft while older droppings crumble on contact. Never touch these pellets. Mouse droppings contain dangerous pathogens that can easily become airborne when disturbed. Even though mice are small, they are prodigious poopers, leaving behind up to 75 pellets a day. Also, they poop as they move, rather than staying in one location. You’ll often see a trail of droppings along their pathways that they use to forage for food.

Mice can find their way through very small openings — as small as 1/4” — and finding potential mouse entry points, which are often around the home’s foundation where they first enter the crawl space or basement before venturing to the living areas of the home, especially the kitchen. 

To treat this infestation, I conducted a thorough inspection of the basement and home perimeter to find potential mouse entry points. I also set interior and exterior bait boxes and glue boards. The bait boxes do not trap the mice. They simply provide an attractive bait that later kills the mouse. I also set interior glue boards to help me monitor the level of rodent activity before my next visit. With the access points sealed and the bait boxes set, I’m confident that this hidden mouse infestation in the basement will be quickly resolved — well before the daughter returns home for Thanksgiving Recess!