Grey squirrels are cute and their babies are even cuter. That doesn’t mean you want them as house guests. Here are some helpful facts about the breeding habits and behavior of grey squirrels, a frequent target of NJ pest control.

When Do Squirrels Breed?

You may sometimes hear grey squirrels referred to as cat or migratory squirrels. This species, commonly found in New Jersey and the eastern United States, usually lives in forests and other natural outdoor areas. Since grey squirrels have little fear of humans, it’s not unusual to see them in urban areas as well.

Grey squirrels breed from December to February and again from May to June. While female squirrels can’t breed until they’re at least a year old, males are extremely active during these periods. Breeding squirrels may even engage in mating dances.

Birth and Lifespan

During the 44-day gestation period, pregnant squirrels may become more aggressive.  Litters generally produce two to six squirrels, although there can be as many as eight babies. According to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, grey squirrels have an average lifespan of 1 to 2 years, but wild grey squirrels can live up to 10 years.

NJ Pest Control for All Creatures Great and Small

Are bed bugs, mice, squirrels or other creatures making themselves welcome at your home? Contact Stern Environmental for information about our comprehensive and cost-effective NJ pest control services.

According to the popular saying, cockroaches would be the only living creatures to survive a nuclear explosion. While our NJ pest control technicians don’t resort to such drastic methods, cockroaches remain a common problem for NYC residents. Here’s a look at some basic information on these stubborn pests.

Main Types of Cockroaches

• American cockroaches are large, approximately 1-1/2 inches long, and reddish-brown in color. This species features full-grown wings that are functional. Since American cockroaches frequent sewer and water lines, they’re sometimes referred to as water bugs.

• German cockroaches are much smaller, only about 1/2 inch in length, with tan or brown coloring. Like American cockroaches, German cockroaches have wings, but they’re incapable of flight.

Household Threats

Cockroaches prefer warm, hidden areas where they have easy access to food and water. They’re also nocturnal, so if you spot one during the day, it’s usually a sign of a large infestation. When their population grows, some cockroaches are forced to venture out in search of new homes.

Diseases are the most significant of cockroach-related dangers. Cockroaches are known carriers of salmonella, dysentery, cholera and other serious illnesses, which can be transmitted when the pests contaminate food sources.

NJ Pest Control Solutions to Cockroach Infestations

We have more than 17 years of experience successfully eliminating cockroaches and other indoor pests. Contact Stern Environmental to schedule an appointment with our friendly and professional technicians.

Squirrels may be an entertaining sight when they scamper around in a park, but not when they’re wreaking havoc in your home. Our NJ pest control experts share these helpful facts about squirrels.

Types of NJ Squirrels

The most common species of squirrel found in New Jersey is the gray squirrel. “Gray” is something of a misnomer, as it’s actually a combination of white, black and brown fur that creates the illusion of gray.

New Jersey is also home to both northern flying squirrels and southern flying squirrels. Instead of wings, these squirrels have membranes from arms to chest and between the legs that allow them to glide, giving the appearance of flying.

The northern flying squirrel prefers to live in wooded areas, high up in the trees. So, if you find flying squirrels in your home they’re likely to be the southern variety.

Why Squirrels Love Your Home

Squirrels breed twice a year, once in winter and once in summer. With its warmth, safety and access to food and water, your attic makes an attractive home for a pregnant squirrel

In order to control their constantly growing teeth, squirrels need to gnaw, which causes significant damage to wood, wires and even pipes. Squirrels also spread disease directly through biting and indirectly through their droppings.

NJ Pest Control for Wildlife and Insects

Surprised by uninvited visitors? Contact Stern Environmental for safe and effective removal.

Rocket Raccoon was a member of Guardians of the Galaxy, but in real life raccoons are not so heroic. Here’s some helpful information about these wildlife intruders from our NJ pest control team.

Raccoons: Cute but Deadly

Raccoons are often associated with being in the country, but these durable critters have made their way into more densely populated areas. They’ve become so acclimated to urban and suburban areas that they find houses to be an appealing place to nest.

While kids in particular may find raccoons cute to watch, their behavior is anything but. Raccoons can be vicious when they feel threatened, and they’ve been known to attack humans and other animals. According to the CDC, raccoons are one of the primary wildlife carriers of rabies, second only to bats.

Destructive Raccoon Behavior

As true omnivores, raccoons will eat just about anything they find. Unfortunately, this often leads them to search dumpsters and garbage cans for meals. As a result, you can become ill just coming into contact with their left-behind fur.

Like squirrels, raccoons living in your attic will gnaw on wood, wires and other materials, resulting in significant structural damage. Their urine and feces contain germs that, if airborne, will create a major health risk.

Trust Stern Environmental for Effective NJ Pest Control

Don’t take NJ pest control into your own hands. Contact us for safe and eco-friendly insect and wildlife removal.

Photos, t-shirts and suntans are great, but bed bugs are one souvenir you don’t want to bring home from spring break. Our NJ pest control experts fill you in on the telltale signs of bed bugs and how to avoid them.

Physical Features and Behavior

Bed bugs are small brown insects approximately the size of an apple seed. They feed on human and animal blood, so they take on a swollen, reddish appearance after feeding.

While bed bugs don’t generally carry diseases, their bites can become itchy and irritated. Bites are usually found around the ankles or other areas where skin is exposed during the night. Other common signs of bed bugs are blood or rust-colored stains on linens, pillows, pajamas and mattresses.

Tips to Avoid Bed Bugs

• Immediately examine the bed, including sheets, blankets, pillowcases, mattress and box springs. Pay close attention to seams and crevices.

• Bed bugs love to latch onto clothing, so check the closet and dresser drawers.

• Keep luggage on a stand or shelf instead of on the floor.

• If you suspect the presence of bed bugs, notify the front desk at once and request a different room.

Bed Bugs Are No Match for NJ Pest Control from Stern Environmental

Removing bed bugs on your own is difficult and frustrating. Contact us for effective and eco-friendly extermination of bed bugs and other pests.

What happens when your apartment building is plagued with bed bugs requiring NJ pest control, but the government is your landlord? Residents of a government-subsidized apartment building in the Bronx are trying to make their voices heard about insects, rodents and drug dealers putting their health and safety at risk.

“House of Horrors”

In October 2019, residents of a building at 3677 White Plains Road told the New York Daily News they had been complaining for at least a year about critical problems. Apartments were infested with bed bugs, roaches and mice, while heat and hot water were sporadic and drugs were being sold and used in the hallways.

One woman displayed a picture of her 10-year-old daughter’s legs covered with bed bug bites, along with bags of the insects she collected as evidence for a lawsuit against building management. Another woman who lives with her five-year-old grandson said he had also received extensive bed bug bites and she was forced to throw away four large bags of his clothing and shoes.

Governor Demands Action

Upon hearing of the allegations, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered state agencies to make a complete investigation. In addition, Cuomo promised accountability for any wrong-doing on the part of the management company and social services provider.

Stern Environmental: NJ Pest Control Experts

Contact Stern Environmental and let our experienced NJ pest control technicians solve your problem safely and effectively.

As a responsible NYC renter, you notify management that your apartment has bed bugs. You’re then presented with a bill for thousands of dollars. Are you required to pay up? Here’s a look at who’s financially liable for NJ pest control.

Landlord vs. Renter: Who’s Responsible?

According to NYC real estate lawyer Bruce A. Cholst, management would have to prove negligence on your part in order to bill you for extermination costs. In the case of bed bugs, negligence would be a specific act such as hoarding or bringing in discarded furniture left outdoors.

Bed Bugs Are All Around

Bed bugs are highly opportunistic, hitching a ride indoors on clothing or in packages, so you could unwittingly be the source. But it’s equally likely that they’ve entered via another tenant, such as through the laundry room or in lobby furniture.

Louis N. Sorkin, an entomologist at the American Museum of Natural History, says it’s difficult for management to create a pre-infestation baseline to prove your actions caused a bed bug problem. Regardless of who’s at fault, it’s in management’s best interest to obtain effective NJ pest control to prevent the infestation from spreading.

Stern Environmental: Providing Effective NJ Pest Control for 17+ Years

Are you feeling helpless against an infestation of bed bugs or other insects? Contact us and let our experienced technicians safely and efficiently restore order to your home.

The most effective method of NJ pest control is preventing infestations in the first place. With NYC ranking number two in the country for bed bug infestations, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) offers helpful suggestions for prevention.

Where Are Bed Bugs Found?

Many people hold the mistaken belief that bed bugs are found only in unsanitary homes. In fact, bed bugs make no distinction between clean and dirty conditions. These pests are transmitted by attaching themselves to clothing, packages and other items entering buildings.

While bed bugs aren’t known to transmit disease, they feed on blood, leaving red, itchy welts in their wake. A lesser-known but equally undesirable effect is the stress, anxiety and depression affecting victims of bed bugs.

Tips for Avoiding Bed Bugs

• Don’t furnish your apartment with items left out on the street or in lobbies. If you buy used furniture, check carefully for signs of bed bugs.

• When you travel, whether you stay in a hotel or a friend’s home, inspect the bed and keep your luggage up off the floor.

• Seal cracks and crevices where bed bugs can gain entrance.

• If you find bed bugs, contact a licensed pest control company.

Stern Environmental: 17+ Years of Providing NJ Pest Control

Don’t let bed bugs make you feel helpless. Contact us and let our NJ pest control experts solve the problem.

Ever wonder just how big an issue NJ pest control is? During the last two years, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has received an incredible 200,000 complaints about bed bugs and roaches in public housing.

Pest Complaints by the Numbers

Data was shared with the New York Daily News by Legal Aid Society, which recently filed a Freedom of Information request with NYCHA. Overall numbers are disturbing:

• Between January and September 2019, Harlem’s Grant Houses logged a total of 1,000 complaints. out of which 894 were for roaches.

• During the same period, the Pomonok Houses in Queens led the way with 156 work orders for bed bug removal. The Wagner and Grant Houses were next with 129 and 106 respectively.

Seeking a Solution

Legal Aid Society is heading up a group of advocates lobbying the state of New York for an additional $2 billion in funding for NYCHA. On the plus side, Legal Aid Society and NYCHA are citing a year-to-year decline in bed bug and roach complaints along with improved response times.

NYCHA spokesperson Rachel Goldblatt says treatment is now focusing on prevention as well as extermination. Bed bug complaints are considered an emergency and receive priority scheduling.

Experienced NJ Pest Control from Stern Environmental

Our trained NJ pest control technicians provide safe and effective extermination for all types of insects and wildlife. Contact Stern Environmental to learn more.

Raccoons are one of the more easily recognizable members of the animal kingdom, but not a face you want to see in your home. Our NJ pest control experts share information you should know about raccoons as house “guests”.

Raccoon Habitats and Eating Preferences

While raccoons live primarily in woodlands and marshes, they can survive in any place that has a ready source of water. Food is seldom a problem as raccoons are omnivorous, eating whatever is available from birds, fish and small mammals to fruits and nuts.

Unfortunately, the tendency of raccoons to eat anything can result in serious damage to their surroundings. Raccoons pose a major threat to agricultural areas, where they feed on crops and kill poultry. Residential areas are susceptible to torn-up lawns as raccoons look for insects and earthworms.

When Raccoons Venture Indoors

Attics, chimneys, decks and crawlspaces are popular winter hideouts for raccoons. Thanks to their nocturnal nature and quiet demeanor, raccoons can easily hide indoors undetected for long periods. Even more dangerous than the threat of destruction is the health risk posed by raccoons, who are known to carry rabies and roundworm.

Need NJ Pest Control? Contact Stern Environmental

Our trained and experienced NJ pest control technicians will remove raccoons and other nuisance wildlife from your home safely and humanely. Contact us at Stern Environmental for more information.