Garage Sale Blog - Part 1

With the coming of spring and summer months, the bugs aren’t the only things stirring. Home owners everywhere gear up for the garage sale season. Every Saturday it seems impossible to drive through a neighborhood without seeing the signs.While wheeling and dealing for those great prices on used furniture and clothing, make sure your not taking home more than you paid for. The saying Caveat emptor, “Buyer Beware” holds especially true when buying anything that was once in someone else’s home, (whether from a garage sale, thrift store or an Internet purchase). Couches, chairs, desks, dressers and even clothes can be harborage areas for all sorts of insects including brown recluse spiders and even bed bugs. Before you hand over that hard earned cash for anything, make sure you do a full inspection of what you’re buying. Check all cracks and crevices underneath and behind every drawer or door. Anything that looks questionable should be seriously reconsidered as a purchase, no matter how cheap it is. Preemptive examination of used goods is one of the small steps you can take to save yourself a potentially big problem. Once these pesky invaders get in, you may be paying for more than you bargained for to get them out. Stay tuned to Swat Pest for more tips and tricks on buying 2ND hand.

Ticks Part 3 - Lyme Disease

The first stage of Lyme disease is considered the "primary" or early stage. Not everyone infected with the Lyme disease bacteria gets ill. Among those who do become ill, the first symptoms resemble the flu and include:

• Chills
• Fever
• Headache
• Lethargy
• Muscle pain

There may be a "bulls eye" rash -- a flat or slightly raised red spot at the site of the tick bite often with a clear area in the center. This spot can be larger than 1 - 3 inches wide.

Symptoms in people with the later stages of the disease include:

• Body-wide itching
• Joint inflammation
• Stiff neck
• Unusual or strange behavior

Note: Deer ticks can be so small that they are almost impossible to see. Many people with Lyme disease never even saw a tick.

Treatment
Everyone who has been bitten by a tick should be watched closely for at least 30 days. Most people who are bitten by a tick do NOT get Lyme disease. A single dose of antibiotics may be offered to someone soon after being bitten by a tick, if all of the following are true:

• The person has a tick that can carry Lyme disease attached to their body. This usually means that a nurse or physician has looked at and identified the tick.
• The tick is thought to have been attached to the person for at least 36 hours.
• The person can begin taking the antibiotics within 72 hours of removing the tick.
• The person is over 8 years old and is not pregnant or breastfeeding.

A full course of antibiotics is used to treat people who are proven to have Lyme disease. The specific antibiotic used depends on the stage of the disease and the symptoms.

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi). Certain ticks carry these bacteria. The ticks pick up the bacteria when they bite mice or deer that are infected with Lyme disease. You can get the disease if you are bitten by an infected tick. Lyme disease was first reported in the United States in the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut, in 1975. Cases have now been reported in most parts of the United States. Most of the cases occur in the Northeast, upper Midwest, and along the Pacific coast. Lyme disease is usually seen during the late spring, summer, and early fall.
There are three stages of Lyme disease. Stage 1 is called primary Lyme disease. Stage 2 is called secondary Lyme disease. Stage 3 is called tertiary Lyme disease. Risk factors for Lyme disease include:

• Having a pet that may carry ticks home
• Doing activities that increase tick exposure (for example, gardening, hunting, or hiking)
• Walking in high grasses

If diagnosed in the early stages, Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotics. Without treatment, complications involving the joints, heart, and nervous system can occur. Rarely, a person will continue having symptoms that can interfere with daily life. Some people call this post-Lyme disease syndrome. There is no effective treatment yet for this syndrome.

When your out walking in the woods or hiking be sure to wear light colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks, try to avoid walking through tall grasses, use an insect repellent over your skin and all clothing, if possible wear long sleeves and pants and tuck your pant legs into your socks or boots. When you return home remove all clothing and thoroughly inspect all skin area including your scalp.

If you have more questions or concerns regarding Lyme disease, please give us a call at 812-476-9708 or visit us at http://www.swatpest.com/.

Ticks Part 2 - Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is an infectious disease brought on by a specific type of bacteria carried by ticks. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii (R. Rickettsii), which is carried by ticks. The bacteria spread to humans through a tick bite.



Symptoms usually develop about 2 to 14 days after the tick bite. They may include:

1. Chills
2. Fever
3. Severe headache
4. Muscle pain
5. Mental confusion
6. Rash -- usually starts a few days after the fever; first appears on wrists and ankles as spots that are 1 - 5 mm in diameter, then spreads to most of the body. About one-third of infected people do not get a rash at all.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Abnormal sensitivity to light
• Diarrhea
• Excessive thirst
• Hallucinations
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Treatment involves careful removal of the tick from the skin and antibiotics to eliminate the infection. Treatment usually cures the infection. Complications are rare but can include paralysis, hearing loss, nerve damage, and, rarely, death.

Prevention
When walking or hiking in tick-infested areas, tuck long pants into socks to protect the legs, and wear shoes and long-sleeved shirts. Ticks will show up on white or light colors better than dark colors, making them easier to see and remove from clothing.
Remove ticks immediately by using a tweezers, pulling carefully and steadily. Insect repellent may be helpful. Because less than 1% of ticks carry this infection, antibiotics are not usually given after a tick bite.

Call your health care provider if symptoms develop after exposure to ticks or known tick bite. The complications of untreated Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be life threatening.

Next week we will be finishing up our discussion on Ticks with information on the signs and symptoms of Lyme Disease. If you have any questions or concerns with Ticks or any other pest, please give us a call at 1-800-894-8024 and we will be happy to answer them for you.

Ticks

Camping Season Is Here Again

We've all done the great outdoors at some point with our families during the summer months. And consequently we know that while we love to be close to nature, sometimes nature has a way of being a little too close for comfort in some areas. Ticks and tick borne diseases are one of the many items that we humans have to be cautious of and use diligence to avoid for our own health. Within the Tri-State alone I know of many parks that are perfect breeding grounds for ticks, where there food supplies are great. In Indiana the following Ticks are most common:


The American Dog Tick






The Lone Star Tick



The Black Legged Tick





The Brown Dog Tick





There are eleven more species, but they are not usually encountered by the average family or pet. Both the American Dog Tick and the Lone Star Tick can harbor Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Most ticks can carry the most widely spread tick borne infection Lyme Disease. The risk for encountering Ticks and Tick Borne Infections can be lessened by taking several precautions while staying in the Great Outdoors this summer. The following are some guidelines that are practical and also may help your family avoid illness and infection.




Be aware of areas where ticks like to live. This most common idea is really simple, but sometimes with small children hard to avoid. I know first hand you can tell your child "Don't go near that spot." and they will to a certain extent in order to test boundaries. Ticks like to live in grassy areas where there is lots of vegetation. This is also a place where they will lay their eggs. Ticks cannot fly like mosquitoes, or jump like fleas, there main course of transportation is finding a host and feeding while they travel.

If you hike or have to travel in brushy areas or near the edges of the wood line here are some tips for lessening the chance of a tick choosing you for a host:

· Wear hats or scarves around your scalp.
· Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants and boots.
· Check yourself often and have others check your back and scalp for these travelers.
· Use Tick Spray, which can be purchased at most camping stores.
· Use insect repellent on your skin in case one does make its way through your clothes
· Stay on the marked path. There's a reason the rangers don't want you walking through the high grass or cutting through the brush of the forest.
· If you have access to a dryer, tumble dry your clothes on high heat at night.
· Check kids and any animal companions regularly.

The best medicine is to be cautious If you can catch the tick before he starts to feed you have lessened the risk greatly for Tick Borne Infection. I know we keep talking about this Tick Inspection and here are some areas to definitely check, remember a tick can and will latch on wherever it feels it can get a steady supply of food and not be seen.
· Check your scalp (prime location)
· Check your legs both in between and behind the knees.
· Check under your arms (armpits as well)
· Have someone in your party check your back thoroughly.
· Check Everywhere once more, ears, bellybutton you name it.

Next week we will be posting another part from Swat Pest's Tick series including signs & symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease.

The Saw Toothed Grain Beetle

Tiny saw-toothed grain beetles are found throughout the world. These beetles attack such foods as cereals, breakfast foods, biscuit mixes, sugar, macaroni, flour, rice, dried meats, and dries fruits.

They are primarily found where these foods are stored. Their presence in the food makes it undesirable for human consumption. However displeasing the sight of them may be, there are no diseases associated with the insects.

Saw-toothed beetles are unable to break or eat through hard shelled seeds such as corn, but they may be found in grain containing broken kernels or in processed cereal products.

Saw-toothed grain beetles are most likely to be found in foods that have been stored for a long period of time. Food containers that are refilled without being emptied and cleaned out are also a target for these insects.

The adult beetle is brown and about an eighth of an inch long (1/8 in.). Their flat, narrow bodies make it easy for them to enter cracks in storage areas or packaged materials. The middle section of the beetle's body, has saw-like projections on each side. Although they have fully developed wings, these beetles rarely fly.

To lessen the chances of grain beetle infestations, store food in glass, plastic or metal containers with tight fitting lids.
For more information about this pest and many others, please visit our website at www.swatpestpro.com or give us a call at 1-800-894-8024.

We look forward to serving you!

Swat Pest 2009

2009 was an amazing year at Swat Pest. We expanded our fleet of pest technicians, added to our management team, we broadened our teams for Healthy Spaces, and our sales force doubled! We have amazing owners, our management team is second to none, and as for the rest of the team...WOW, there are not enough great things to say. At Swat we're not only co-workers, we're family. And, let's not forget about the amazing customers we have, obviously with out them Swat Pest would not be what it is today.

To end our year at Swat Pest Tim and Stacey took all of us to the Log Inn in Warrington, IN for a family style feast. Everyone arrived all dressed up and ready for a wonderful evening. As you can see in the picture 2 of our guys decided to take the whole "dress up" thing a bit farther. Damon as Mrs. Claus and Jason as Santa. We all got a big laugh when those two walked in! Throughout an amazing dinner of fried chicken, roast beef, ham, and all the fixins...we all enjoyed some good stories, lots of laughs, and making memories.
Every year awards are given out for outstanding achievements. This year our office staff received an award for taking major strides in the right direction. In this picture you have (R-L) Pest Manager - Ryan Denk, Office Assistant - Tonuya Roy, General Manager - Jimmy Schaefer, Office Assistant - Alison Damm, Office Assistant - Stacey Williams, Office Assistant - Ashley Storrie, and PR - Brooke Cromley.

Eric Davis (center) received the award for Rookie of the Year for Healthy Spaces. With him in the picture are Steve Phillips and Jimmy Schaefer.
Stephen Joseph (2nd from the left) was awarded Employee of the year for Healthy Spaces. Pictured with him are (L-R) Jimmy Schaefer, Donnie Stuteville, and Steve Phillips.

Zach Nalley (2nd from the left)received an award for Most Improved Pest Technician also in this picture are (L-R) Brad Weir, Ryan Denk, and Kyle Black.
David Cosby (2nd from the L) received the award for Pest Technician Rookie of the Year. Pictured with David ar (L-R) Brad Weir, Ryan Denk, and Kyle Black.
Shaun Waters (2nd from R) received the award For Pest Technician Employee of the Year.

Our sales team consisting of Jim Schaefer, Damon Cheatham, Rick Hall(not pictured), and Dennis Nickins.

As you can see, we are blessed and would like to say a BIG thank you to everyone in our Swat family, to each of their families for allowing them to put in crazy hours and give so much back to their daily jobs, and to each one of our customers for making us the great company we are today. We love you all!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! WE LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT 2010 WITH ALL OF YOU!

Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given--when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes."
Wishing all of you a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

The Houes Mouse

The house mouse is one of the most troublesome and economically important rodents in the United States. House mice thrive under a variety of conditions; they are found in and around homes and commercial structures as well as in open fields and agricultural lands. House mice consume and contaminate food meant for humans, pets, livestock, or other animals. In addition, they cause considerable damage to structures and property, and they can transmit pathogens that cause diseases such as solemnises, a form of food poisoning

House mice are small rodents with relatively large ears and small black eyes. They weigh about 1/2 ounce and usually are light brownish to gray in color. An adult is about 5 to 7 inches long, including the 3- to 4-inch tail.
Droppings, fresh gnaw marks, and tracks indicate areas where mice are active. Mouse nests are made from fine shredded paper or other fibrous material, usually in sheltered locations. House mice have a characteristic musky odor that identifies their presence. Mice are active mostly at night, but they can be seen occasionally during daylight hours.

Native to Central Asia, the house mouse arrived in North America on ships with settlers from Europe and other points of origin. A very adaptable animal, the house mouse often lives in close association with humans, along with Norway Rats and roof rats; however, mice are more common and more difficult to control than rats.

Although house mice usually prefer to eat cereal grains, they are “nibblers” and will sample many different foods. Mice have keen senses of taste, hearing, smell, and touch. They are excellent climbers and can run up any rough vertical surface. They will run horizontally along wire cables or ropes and can jump up to 12 inches from the floor onto a flat surface. Mice can squeeze through openings slightly larger than 1/4 inch across. House mice frequently find their way into homes in the fall of the year, when outdoor temperatures at night become colder.
In a single year, a female may have 5 to 10 litters of about 5 or 6 young. Young are born 19 to 21 days after mating, and they reach reproductive maturity in 6 to 10 weeks. The life span of a mouse is probably 9 to 12 months.

Because house mice are so small, they can gain entry into homes and other buildings much more easily than rats. As a result, house mouse infestations are probably 10 to 20 times more common than rat infestations. Effective control involves sanitation, exclusion, and population reduction. Sanitation and exclusion are preventive measures. When a mouse infestation already exists, some form of population reduction such as trapping or baiting is almost always necessary.

A key to successful long-term mouse control is the limitation of shelter and of food sources wherever possible. Trapping works well when mice are not numerous, or it can be used as a follow-up measure after a baiting program. When considering a baiting program, decide if the presence of dead mice will cause an odor or sanitation problem. If so, trapping may be the best approach. Removal of mice should be followed by taking steps to exclude them so that the problem does not recur.

Exclusion is the most successful and permanent form of house mouse control. “Build them out” by eliminating all gaps and openings larger than ¼ inch, through which mice will enter a structure. Steel wool makes a good temporary plug. Seal cracks in building foundations and around openings for water pipes, vents, and utility cables with metal or concrete. Doors, windows, and screens should fit tightly. It may be necessary to cover the edges of doors and windows with metal to prevent gnawing. Plastic screening, rubber or vinyl, insulating foam, wood, and other gnawable materials are unsuitable for plugging holes used by mice.

For more information on this and many other pests in the winter...please visit www.swatpest.com or give us a call t 1-800-894-8024. We look forward to serving you!

Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!
Hope everyone is having a great Friday!