What is Wildlife Exclusion?

A raccoon and a skunk looking through the garbage at someone's home in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest Control Wildlife exclusion is one of the most important services that we offer here at Dugas Pest Control. Especially as the temperatures wane into winter, wild animals of all sorts are looking to take shelter on our properties, even inside our homes. To prevent wild animals from taking up residence in your home, bringing with them the risks of property damage and disease, it’s important to sign up for wildlife exclusion services administered by your local exterminators. But what exactly is wildlife exclusion? To learn more about how we keep wild animals out of our customers’ homes around Baton Rouge LA, read on!

What Does “Wildlife Exclusion” Mean?

Wildlife exclusion is the professional process of preparing homes or businesses to defend against potential wildlife problems, as well as the safe removal of any active wildlife on the property. It’s an all-encompassing service that shouldn’t just happen once. Many wild animals are adaptive and opportunistic—they will take any opportunity to find shelter or food as soon as it presents itself. By signing up for wildlife exclusion with Dugas Pest Control, you can expect the following services:

  • Identification of present wildlife, which often includes raccoons, squirrels, opossums, mice, or rats.
  • Humane removal of all active animals.
  • Damage repairs, waste removal, and material replacement (wood, insulation, wires, and more.)
  • Entry point sealing using caulk, sheet metal, or otherwise applicable materials.
  • Return visits as necessary to maintain a wildlife-free space.

Benefits of Wildlife Exclusion Services

Trying to deal with wildlife on your own can be ineffective and dangerous. There are many benefits to hiring professional exterminators for wildlife exclusion services:

  • It’s humane. We only take the necessary measures to remove animals from our customers’ properties, prioritizing humane methods in all cases.
  • It keeps animal families together. Many people make the mistake of removing animal mothers and not their babies, leaving the young to die. Beyond being inhumane, this can cause unpleasant odors and new wildlife presence on your property. Wildlife exclusion focuses on getting the entire family out.
  • It’s a long-term solution. Trapping and removing animals does not get to the root of the problem. Professional wildlife exclusion services will discourage future animals from nesting in your yard.
  • It’s affordable. It actually costs less money to deal with pests humanely! Prioritizing prevention with a company that looks out for local wildlife is the best option for your conscience and your wallet.

Can I Keep Wildlife Out On My Own?

There are certain steps you can take to keep wildlife off of your property, like sealing gaps and cracks in your foundation, siding, roof fixtures, doors and windows, and more. Cleaning up your yard by clearing out yard waste and trimming your plants often will also help. However, sometimes you can’t control a wildlife infestation without the help of local pest professionals. At Dugas Pest Control, we bring over 60 years of experience to the table every time we help relocate wildlife. Contact us today for a free quote!

Why Are Mosquitoes Active in the Winter?

Mosquitoes in the winter in Baton Rouge LA - Dugas Pest ControlThe last pest you may think you’ll encounter in the middle of winter here in Baton Rouge is the mosquito. However, these pests can stick around well into the winter months, especially in our region. In general, mosquitoes will disappear when the temperature dips below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. With temperatures still in the 70s in December, chances are you might have an encounter with a mosquito or two while putting up your holiday lights or picking out a tree at your local lot. At Dugas Pest Control, we know how frustrating mosquitoes can be in our region year-round. Read on to learn more about winter mosquito activity, and whether you should be worried about bites this time of year.

What Do Mosquitoes Do in the Winter?

In spring and summertime, mosquitoes are just a given when you spend time outdoors. This is due to the fact that mosquitoes prefer temperatures in the 80s or more. Needless to say, it can be rather startling to come across these pests in the wintertime. Most male mosquitoes will die off when, as mentioned previously, temperatures begin to dip. Even when it begins to get colder, however, female mosquitoes can go into a state similar to hibernation called diapause. 

The reason why we are still seeing and dealing with mosquitoes this time of year is that we are experiencing warm weather well into the winter months. Hardier mosquitoes are able to remain active and even potentially bite you.

How to Prevent Mosquitoes Year-Round

Even if we still are seeing some remaining mosquitoes, they are mostly inactive this time of year. This makes it the best time to start preparing for next year’s mosquito season. Some of the best mosquito prevention tactics you can do yourself in the next couple of months include the following.

  1. Prevent overwintering mosquitoes. Female mosquitoes may look to wait out the winter in your backyard if she lays their eggs nearby. Make sure to inspect your yard and get rid of debris, old tires, or tree trunks that could harbor these insects. 
  2. Get rid of standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, even before wintertime. Remove, overturn, or cover any tires, buckets, birdbaths, flowerpots, and other things that contain standing water. 
  3. Cut back grass and vegetation. Keep your grass mowed and take proper care of your yard to avoid mosquitoes harboring in dense brush.
  4. Try out natural mosquito repellents. While not always effective, planting rosemary, mint, and lavender in your garden could make for a natural mosquito repellent.
  5. Contact your local mosquito exterminators. Your best chance of not dealing with mosquitoes year-round is by teaming up with an expert. Professional-grade repellents can help keep mosquitoes away for good!

Mosquito Treatments in Baton Rouge

Whether you want to prevent mosquitoes in the summer or get rid of lingering mosquitoes this winter, the experts at Dugas Pest Control can help! Our mosquito control team will work with you to implement the best mosquito treatments, no matter what time of year. Contact us today to get started!