The Importance of Regular Pest Inspections for Alberta Homes and Businesses

A professional pest control technician is working.

Your property may look perfectly clean and safe, but pests could already be inside. Throughout Alberta’s changing seasons, everything from ants and cockroaches to mice and other wildlife can silently invade walls, machines, basements, storage areas, crawlspaces, and attics, causing costly damage and health hazards before you notice them. Regular pest inspections become more than … Read more

How to pest-proof your home for winter

Winter is the season for indoor entertaining and feasts of delectable foods. The last thing you want at this time of year is to spread your hospitality to unwelcome guests from the animal kingdom. You can make your home inviting to humans and clear of pests by taking a few precautions. As an extra bonus, … Read more

Fall pest prevention tips

As the temperatures drop, it won’t just be you and your family who want a warm place to cozy up for the cold months. To feel entirely at ease in your home, you’ll want to be sure you aren’t sharing it with unwelcome guests. Here are some tips to help pest-proof your home before winter. … Read more

Pest Spotlight: Rats

Norway Rat

Scientific Name: rattus Common Names:  Sewer Rat, Roof Rat, Brown Rat, Norway Rat, Black Rat Color: Colors vary, generally grey, brown, or black in color Size: The length and weight of rats depend on which species we are talking about and young vs adult sizes. Sizes range from approximately 10 to 40 cm in length. … Read more

Pest Spotlight: Cankerworms

spider and cankerworm

Now that it’s springtime, the bugs are starting to re-emerge. And among them – cankerworms. You’ve probably heard of these bugs, but how much do you know about them? Here in Canada’s prairies, there are two major groups of cankerworms: spring cankerworms and fall cankerworms. Fall cankerworms lay their eggs in the fall, whereas spring … Read more

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bug - side view

The biggest pest problem threatening any populated area in recent years is the bed bug. Their population had declined steadily since the 1930s, to the point of near extinction a few years ago. Unfortunately, due to numerous circumstances, bed bugs have returned with a vengeance, and exist everywhere. Bed bugs have been with us a … Read more

Carpenter Ants: More Like Demolition Experts

Carpenter Ant Damage

Carpenter ants are one of the biggest insect threats to Canadian homes. They’re found in all areas of the province, and infestations often remain undetected, until repair becomes very costly. Most of the time, when people think about insects causing property damage, they think about termites. Carpenter ants, unlike termites, don’t consume wood fiber, they … Read more

Pest Spotlight: Fall Webworm

Fall Webworms

You may have been seeing them – unsightly webs in trees, in parks or around your home. These particular webs are surprisingly not caused by spiders, but instead, caterpillars. The most likely culprits: the fall webworm and Eastern tent caterpillar. In this blog we are showcasing the fall webworm. A bit of a description: Fall … Read more

Pest Spotlight: Groundhog

Groundhog

Scientific Name: Marmota monax Common Names: Groundhog, Woodchuck, Whistlepig, Marmot Color: Brown/Grey Weight: Approx. 10lbs. Length: 16 – 20 inches FACT: Groundhog Day is a common tradition in Canada and the USA, people gather around to watch the rodent predict if there will be an early spring. Evidence has shown that Groundhogs are wrong in … Read more

Pest Spotlight: Ant Swarmers

Ant Swarmers

At this time of year, ants are working hard at setting up for winter – but they also have to deal with those thoughts of lust that start to occur. Ants are social creatures that communicate with each other, it’s important that ants have genetic diversity within their colonies. Diversity is so important to ants … Read more