Ground squirrels are invading Santa Barbara! Among the top three reasons our Santa Barbara pest control customers call us for pest control service, ground squirrels have been wreaking havoc across the county. These rodent pests are known for their voracious appetite for destruction and are currently on a very small, sometimes cute rampage in our communities.

All About The Common Ground Squirrel

Ground squirrels are a member of the squirrel family of rodents which are of course unique in that they live on or in the ground as opposed to some of their tree dwelling brothers and sisters.

Ground squirrels are often confused with their larger cousins known as marmots or prairie dogs or their smaller cousins the chipmunk. Not unlike their prairie dog pals, they are well known for their tendency to rise up on their hind legs whenever sensing danger or when needing to see over brush and tall grass.

An omnivorous rodent, ground squirrels will eat whatever comes their way whether it be nuts, seeds, fruits or fungus but also occasionally insects, eggs and even small animals when given the opportunity!

A highly social species, ground squirrels typically live in large groups.

Damage Caused

Damage, of course, varies from infestation to infestation but ground squirrels are known to kill brush, landscaping, and even kill trees by girdling. It is quite amazing the amount of damage these rodents can cause when their populations are uncontrolled.

DIY Ground Squirrel Pest Control

Santa Barbara’s Best Ground Squirrel Live Animal Trapping

With years of experience under our belts and hundreds of satisfied customers in our portfolio, we are well known throughout Santa Barbara County as ground squirrel trapping experts. We use only the most advanced trapping and baiting systems available that are not only effective but humane as well. Can’t get control of your ground squirrel problem? Call us or e-mail us today!

Overwhelmed by the Santa Barbara ground squirrel problem?

Here’s a funny video of humans fighting back against their squirrel problems.

With summer at a close and colder winter months ahead, many insect families will be on the hunt for additional food sources and shelter. If you’re having an ant problems, spider problems or other pest infestation problem, we’ve compiled a few of the most effective ways to handle your insect problem in-house.

5 safe and easy ways to rid ants from your Santa Barbara home

1. Vinegar / Water Solution – This solution made up of equal parts water and vinegar can be used just about anywhere in the home and has proven successful in repelling ant colonies with its unfavorable odor and flavor. Simply add the solution to a spray bottle and apply to any ant trails you find as well as the perimeter of your house. Re-apply as needed.
2. Lemon Juice – Lemon juice has found to be an excellent deterrent of ants and other insects. Working especially well on ants, you can use this as a barrier around the perimeter of your house that ants wont cross for days. You can use either lemon juice concentrate that is usually found in a squeeze bottle or mix up your own using 2 parts lemon juice and one part water. Add the mixture to a spray bottle and apply to existing ant trails as well as the perimeter of your home. Reapply as necessary.
3. Diatomaceous Earth – This method of ant control can be highly effective! Spread diatomaceous earth around the ant trails and other points of entry so that the ants have to walk directly through it and you’ll notice fewer and fewer of them every day. DE works by damaging the ants’ exoskeleton and causing them to simply dry out. Apply the powder regularly until your ant problem is gone!
4. Mint – Mint is a natural ant repellent. Its’ strong odor disrupts the ants’ sense of smell so it has a harder time sticking to their chemical trail and also have a harder time finding food. All you need for this is a bottle of mint essential oil and a spray bottle. Add 10 drops of the mint essential oil to every cup of water and apply liberally to the affected surfaces, twice a day at first then once a day until your ant problem disappears!
5. Grant’s Ant Stakes – Highly effective when used properly, Grant’s Ant Stakes work in ways that other home remedies and DIY options don’t by stopping the queen from reproducing and effectively killing off the colony. Able to be used both vertically and horizontally, these bait stakes are attractive to scout ants who then take the bait back to the colony. Once in the colony, the bait is fed to the queen, rendering her unable to reproduce. The pros of this method are that this product has the potential to take out entire colonies. The cons of this product are that the results are not instantaneous and may take weeks to see noticeable results.

Preventative measures Santa Barbara residents can take to make your home less appetizing to ants and other insects.

1. Put away food in sealable containers – Never leave food out for extended periods of time. Once you’re done with it, put it away!
2. Keep your kitchen areas clean – Cleaning your kitchen regularly prevents your unwelcome guests from feeding themselves and their colony!
3. Sweep and vaccum your living spaces regularly – Food almost always drops on the floor which is perfect for any ants in your home. Keeping your floors and carpets free of food particles encourages your visitors to look elsewhere for food.
4. Seal your entry points – Use caulking to seal any obvious entry points.

Still can’t get rid of your ant problem? Call Us for professional help.

While many times these home remedies will assist in getting your ant problem under control, they are by no means foolproof. If your ant infestation doesn’t bat an eyelash with any of these quick and easy treatments, it may be time to call us for some professional Santa Barbara pest control assistance. Our team of pest control experts have years of experience in exterminating these pests and can help you take back control of your home or other property from ants, spiders and other pests.

Rats are inherently curious creatures and will try to get into any space they can fit in to. Bundle that with the dropping temperatures and that makes any home or office a prime target for cold rats to nest. There are a number of ways rats commonly enter the home and there are several steps that you can take to stop them.

Ground level

Ground level is the easiest and most common ways rats find entry into your abode. Gaps between the base of your home and the ground, holes in your stucco. If your homestead is used by many and frequently trafficked, you may want to consider automatically closing doors. Simple things like closing doors regularly, and closing small penetrations are great steps to take.

Roof access

While we think they should be, many roofs were not built with rooftop intruders in mind. Designed to enhance water runoff and protect from weather, the many overlapping pieces of the modern roofing system may leave gaps that become perfect penetration points when not closed properly. If you have found gaps you think are penetrable, we recommend hiring a reputable roofing professional to ensure the best results. Above sealing your roof access, you will also want to look at anything touching your roof such as tall shrubs and bushes. Trees should be trimmed away from the house as well as these are excellent ladders to the rooftop.

Its all about opportunity and access

Sometimes, you have to think like a rat. If there is a way for one to crawl to an opening, you either need to close the opening or remove the pathway. If you have a rat problem you need some professional help with, don’t hesitate to give us a call or email us with the form below! Should you need immediate service, click below.

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In a worrying trend recognized around the world but especially at home here in Santa Barbara, CA, bee colony numbers have been on the downward trend since the 1940’s for multiple reasons. With more than 20,000 different species of bee worldwide, bees are vital to the pollination of crops and more than 1/3 of the world’s crops rely on bees to happen. We have been getting this question a little bit from our Santa Barbara County customers this year, so we thought we would elaborate a bit on the most common causes for the great reduction in the numbers of bees colonies nationwide and a few tips on how you can help stimulate bee colony expansion in your area.

Pesticides

Bees feed on the nectar of many common flowers. Insecticides & herbicides containing pyrethroids, fungicides and neonicotinoids have been devastating bee colonies around the world. Because many of the new insecticides actually travel within the plant and make it so that the killer compound is contained throughout the tissue of the treated plant. When bees work their way to a treated plant, they ingest the poisons while they feed on the nectar.

Diseases & Parasites

Colony Collapse Disorder

The phenomena known as colony collapse disorder has been plaguing keepers of European honeybees for decades. Previously known by disappearing disease, spring dwindle and may disease to name a few, it was officially renamed as Colony collapse disorder in 2006 due to the phenomenal rise in occurrence.

Parasites

Parasites can have a big effect on  honeybees, as well. Latching on to the back of an unsuspecting bee, it siphons off blood and nutrition and passes on diseases to any honeybee is feeds on. While these don’t mean imminent death, they sure do take a toll, and end up with an eventual demise..

Farming Techniques

Reduced use of centuries-old farming techniques like the use of cover crops, planting flowering crop borders and flowering hedgerows are also considered contributors to the decline.

How Do I Help?

Here’s a couple of easy ways that you can help on a local level.

Plant Bee-friendly Flowers

Planting a diverse assortment of bee-friendly flowers and shrubs anywhere you can on your property is an excellent way to bolster your local bee population. Pollen and nectar-rich flowers like manzanitas, ceanothuses, or california poppies are great flower choices. If you’re in need of nice shrubbery, the California Buckeye shrub, Woolly Bluecurls or the Holly-leaved Cherry are great options. Let us also never forget, the Sunflower.

Don’t Use Pesticides On Your Flowers

Just don’t do it! Don’t confuse this with common perimeter treatments for insects like ants and spiders. You won’t usually find bees hanging out in the same areas so bees don’t typically happen upon these treatments. We’re talking about application of the products directly to the plants or in the soil near the plants, especially those that are especially attractive to bees.

Safety First

While there is great concern about the bee’s reduction in numbers, you should always consider safety first. That means if bees (or any other winged hive or nest maker) make their home in the close vicinity of you or your loved ones recreational areas, do not ignore it. The number of people with possibly-lethal allergies to bees, wasps and hornets are many.

More Information

Some of the information found here was heard on this very informative TED Talk w/Marla Spivak regarding the precarious situation of the dwindling bee population.