Education, Prevention First Step for Thurston County’s PCI-Pest Control

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PCI Pest Control implements a three-part solution when a homeowner calls to discuss a problem.
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PCI Pest Control makes it their business to understand the habits of rodents and insects.

A mouse can fit through a hole just slightly larger than the size of a number two pencil. Hornets and other pests love to find standing water in gutters because they create a great water source. Rats prefer a house with vegetation growing right up against the siding because it provides cover from hawks and other predators.

Matt Purcell, owner of PCI Pest Control, makes it his business to understand the habits of rodents and insects because he believes that there is more to controlling pests than spraying chemicals.  Purcell incorporates a concept called Integrated Pest Management (IPM), or Green Pest Management (GPM) into his business.

“We look for all of the reasons that pests are in the home or business, and then we find ways to remove them and keep them away. Typically, pests are looking for food, water and shelter. Remove the pest and at the same time remove or at least restrict the food, water and access, and the next round of pests won’t want to live at your address  ,” said Purcell.

Prevention is important, and often involves common-sense strategies. “Homeowners are busy. They do not always have the time or energy to find entry points. If someone is working 50 hours a week, the last thing they want to do when they get home is go down to their crawl space and set traps, or spend their weekend cleaning gutters and sealing up tiny holes along the perimeter of the home. We want to help home owners take care of these things,” he said.

Typically, when homeowners call PCI to their home the technician will provide a three-step service.

Step 1: Identify the Problem

olympia exterminator
PCI Pest Control implements a three-part solution when a homeowner calls to discuss a problem.

PCI starts the process with a careful inspection. “We need to properly identify the problem. For example, sometimes traces left by bats and mice are misunderstood, so we identify the problem accurately then come up with the right solution. The treatment of termites and carpenter ants are completely different. You have to know what you are dealing with in order to remove the problem from the home,” he said.

Step 2: Propose a Solution

Once PCI properly identifies the pest, the technician will propose a solution. “There are different control methods for different pests. If we find rats in a home, we’ll most often find a mechanical solution, such as a trap. Chemical options exist to remove rodents, but if mice or rats are nesting in the structure chemicals should be the last resort. “There are very few things can make your house smell worse than a dead rat,” explains Purcell.  “There is an urban legend that rat poison makes them thirsty and the rats leave the structure to drink and die somewhere else. That is not true – what really happens is when the rodent knows they’re sick, they will go to their nesting site where they feel safe. When they die they are tucked away in impossible to find areas. We use traps so we can always return and physically remove that problem.”

Step 3: Habitat Modification

Getting rid of the active infestation is just part of the solution. Once PCI identifies the pest and removes it, the next step is to identify access points in the home in order to prevent a future problem. “Once we find out how the rodent, for example, gained access we will seal the building with tight fitting custom built crawlspace access panels, and will make sure there are no holes around the pipes and cables Once the infestation is eradicated you don’t want to have the problem again,” he said.

PCI will make home maintenance suggestions to the home owner, such as suggesting to cut back trees and shrubs that may grow against the siding of a house. “Insects and rodents use vegetation as a freeway; they also trap moisture up against the house. Rodents don’t like to be exposed, so if they have the opportunity to move along a house that is protected with vegetation, they will,” he said.

olympia exterminator
A mouse can fit through a hole just slightly larger than a pencil.

So, Thurston County, to keep your home pest-free, here is a list of seasonal home-maintenance items suggested by PCI to add to that Honey-Do list posted on the fridge:

  1. Clean those gutters! Insects love standing water, especially yellow jackets. In addition, if gutters are full of debris then your home is at risk for overflowing water, causing wet wood and wet soil around the house. If water is not draining properly, hello termites!
  2. Trim away all those trees and shrubs that are touching the house! If you are like me and appalled at the suggestion to trim willy-nilly, Matt adds, “When you look down the wall of your house, ideally you should see nothing but air. Keep vegetation at least 6-12 inches from the home. Aesthetically, it should look just fine. We are not suggesting complete vegetation removal, just prudent trimming. Also remember that bark and soil should not touch wood siding.”
  3. Look for entry points, such as holes in crawl space screens, holes around cables and holes around pipes. Visualize a hole just slightly larger than the size of a number two pencil and a little mouse squeezing through. Seal them tight!
  4. You can help keep your pets and home flea-free by visiting your veterinarian. Vets have quality flea-prevention products, and can make specific recommendations based on a pet’s size and age. Most homeowners can get rid of adult fleas on their own, but it is much more difficult to completely interrupt the life cycle of the flea. Many homeowners try a do it yourself approach that will kill most of the adult fleas but doesn’t affect the next generation which is in the egg stage. They get relief until the next hatching and then they are right back where they started. PCI Pest uses a 3 way attack: take out the adult fleas, interrupt the life cycle so they can’t reproduce, and use a safe residual product that will take care of any fleas in the immediate future.   If you have outside pet bedding you should consider that other animals with fleas can use and transfer fleas when your pets are inside… Also, only feed what your pet will eat in one feeding or bring uneaten food inside at night so other animals aren’t drawn to your home every night.

PCI Pest Control

360.458.8624

www.pci-pest-control.com

 

olympia exterminator
After removing a pest, PCI Pest Control identifies access points to prevent further problems.

Services include peace of mind inspections plus the removal of:

  • Carpenter Ant Activity & Infestation
  • Termite Damage & Infestation
  • Flea Infestations
  • Spider Infestation & Activity
  • Rodent Activity (Mice and Rats), infestation, and damage
  • Thatching Ant Hills & Activity
  • Odorous House Ants (Also known as sugar ants)
  • Bees, wasps, hornet, & yellow jacket nests and activity
  • Bat & Bird Invasion
  • Mole activity/ Invasion
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