Maryland Bat News Update October 31, 2019

Bat News Update October 2019

In recent news regarding bats in Maryland, things such as high-powered wind turbines and a cold-loving fungus, known as white nose syndrome, have been severely dwindling the populations throughout the state. White-nose syndrome has killed more than 5.7 million bats in the eastern United States since its appearance. In Maryland alone, there has been a 90-99% drop in bat populations and some caves were found to be completely bat-less.

In a more positive story about bats, one Maryland resident is advocating for the winged-creatures, and not just for use as Halloween decorations. She is attempting to highlight the important role that bats play in our environment by pollinating plants and helping to regenerate forests, such as after a wildfire in California. Since bats play such a vital role in our ecosystem, the Maryland resident is trying to do whatever she can to protect them and has even built a "bat house" on her property that can hold around 30-40 of the animals.

Learn more about bats here: Wildlife Control

On The Fly Pest Solutions:

Address: 5 Church Lane, Unit 102 Pikesville, MD 21208

Phone: 410-982-5050

A not-so happy Halloween for Maryland’s bat population

Halloween is known as one of the spookiest times of the year, filled with witches, ghosts, and scattering bats. But Maryland’s flapping, black creatures may be less prevalent this year, like years in the recent past.

From cold-loving fungus to high-powered wind turbines, Maryland’s bats have been getting annihilated.

Maryland’s bat population has been decimated by white-nose syndrome since its first documentation in Allegany County in 2010.

White-nose syndrome is a disease caused by a fungus that affects hibernating bats. The fungus grows on the bats, irritates them, and can wake them up during hibernation, said Dana Limpert, eastern regional ecologist at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Read more

Did you know Maryland has 10 species of native bats? Researchers at @UMCES_AL work to study some spooky diseases affecting these winged mammals. 🦇🦇 #BatWeek https://t.co/zg8z7wGPFn pic.twitter.com/MDilPNJ1zl

— UMCES (@UMCES) October 29, 2019

Summary: Maryland's bat population is taking a hit this year from things like flying into wind turbines and a cold-loving disease. White-nose syndrome has been on the rise in the last decade amongst bat populations and effects the hibernating animals.

Not just a ‘Halloween thing’ for advocate, who says bats benefit environment year-round

The winged creatures of the night that dominate Halloween decor every fall are celebrated by Taneytown resident and Bat Conservation International (BCI) advocate Jillian Childs all year long, and she wants more people to recognize the importance of this misunderstood mammal.

“I don’t think of them as a Halloween thing,” Childs said.

Not surprisingly, though, because of their association with Halloween, this is Bat Week, an annual celebration of the role bats play in nature. Read more

Summary: Bats, oftentimes associated with being Halloween, are also misunderstood, according to a Maryland advocate for the winged creatures. Bats play an important role in nature by pollinating many of the plants that we know and love and help to regenerate forests, such as in California, by eating seeds and dispersing them.

See Source Here: Maryland Bat News Update October 31, 2019

source https://ontheflypestsolutions.com/maryland-bat-news-update-october-31-2019/

Will Homeowners Insurance Cover Nuisance Animal Damages?

Homeowners Insurance Animal Damage Coverage

The other structures protection in a homeowners insurance coverage plan assists shield frameworks on your home that aren't connected to your residence, such as a fencing, shed or separated garage. If that deer damages component of your fence, the various other structures protection in a house owners insurance plan may assist with the prices of repairs.

You may wish to assess your policy's deductible, which is the quantity you pay of pocket prior to your insurance coverage advantages begin. You may also wish to examine your coverage limit, which is the optimum amount of insurance coverage your plan offers, so that you understand just how much protection you have in location should a wild pet damages your building.

Animal removal services near me:

Columbia MD Wildlife Control Services
Towson MD Animal Removal Services
Pikesville MD Wildlife Control Services
Owings Mills MD Animal Removal Services
Timonium MD Animal Removal Services
Baltimore MD Wildlife Control Services

DOES A HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE POLICY EXCLUDE CERTAIN TYPES OF ANIMAL DAMAGE?

While damage caused by a wild pet to your house or other frameworks on your home might be covered by a homeowners insurance coverage, this protection typically will not reach animal damages to your personal effects. For example, if a raccoon devastations your garage, homeowners insurance policy may assist spend for repair work to the structure, but damage to the items you've stored inside the garage commonly won't be covered. So if the critter claws with a wall surface, your home owners insurance plan may help pay for new drywall, yet if it ruins your lawnmower, your policy will possibly not assist with the expense of changing it.

Damage to your home or various other frameworks from bugs, rodents (for example, rats, mice, squirrels and chipmunks) or birds is typically not covered by a typical home owners plan (although a home window broken by a bird might be an exception). Pet infestations and also damages from animal waste or secretions are likewise normally omitted from home owners insurance coverage. Should a marsupial (a participant of the rodent household) take up residence in your attic, property owners insurance policy is not likely to assist spend for removal, clean-up or repair services to any type of damage it leaves behind.

Keep in mind that home owners insurance plan additionally generally do not offer coverage for damage to your residential or commercial property triggered by an animal or various other residential animal, such as a pig, cow or poultry. If Rover chews his method with a door, your house owners insurance coverage most likely will not cover the price of a replacement.

Review your plan to see what sort of protection it may supply if a wild pet damages your residential property. If you have any inquiries, speak with your local representative.

 

Read more On

Who to call to remove wild animals?

Original Source Here: Will Homeowners Insurance Cover Nuisance Animal Damages?

source https://ontheflypestsolutions.com/homeowners-insurance-animal-damage-coverage/

Pest-Proofing Your Home and Garden This Spring

“Spring showers bring May flowers,” they say, but for homeowners spring also brings pests.

The Bug Barometer, a seasonal forecast of pest pressure and activity in the U.S. released biannually by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), predicts residual winter moisture and wet weather ahead will cause pest populations to spike this spring all the way through summer. The most common spring pests in the contiguous United States include ticks, mosquitoes, ants, termites, cockroaches, stinging insects, flies, rodents and earwigs or springtails.

The Dangers of Spring Pests

More than being unwelcome visitors, spring pests can also be dangerous to have around. Aside from being a nuisance, they also transmit diseases and cause costly property damage. For example, an NPMA report states “termites alone cause over $5 billion in property damage annually, a cost not covered by homeowners insurance.”

Pest-Proofing for Spring

April is National Pest Management Month, and it’s a timely reminder for homeowners to be vigilant in preparing for and preventing pests from ruining your springtime cheer. Here are some tips to proofing your home and garden against the most common spring pests. 

Ticks

These small parasitic arachnids, potential carriers of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and many other diseases, oftentimes sit in tall grasses waiting for their next victim.

So, regularly cut the grass low, and wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and closed-toe shoes when outdoors. Apply bug repellent with at least 20% DEET for an extra layer of protection against stinging insects.

Before going inside the house, check your whole body—as well as your pet—for any ticks, which you can remove with tweezers. Then throw your clothes into a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill the ticks. 

Mosquitoes

Like ticks, these pesky bugs also carry various diseases, such as malaria, dengue and Zika virus. They thrive in stagnant water, so eliminate any possible breeding areas in your house and yard, including birdbaths and clogged gutters. Protective clothing and insect repellant will also work to prevent mosquito bites when going outside.

Termites

Chewing through your flooring, wallpaper and other wood items, termites can damage your home without your knowledge. Drawn to moist, secluded areas, these “silent destroyers” can be stopped by installing gutters, splash blocks, and downspouts that divert water from your home’s foundation. Removing wood or mulch from contacting your house’s exterior will also help.

Flies

Flies are notorious for contaminating food and transmitting diseases, such as tuberculosis and Salmonella. To prevent flies, regularly remove garbage in well-sealed containers.

Rodents

Mice and rats are known carriers of the plague, typhus, jaundice and more. They can squeeze through holes and tight spaces, so seal any cracks that they can use to enter your home.

Welcome Spring Pest-Free

If you suspect any pests living in your attic or yard, it’s important to act quickly. Being able to seek the help of professionals can help prevent or get rid of pests at the first sign of infestation.

Call us today and get the professional pest control help you need. We offer a warranty on all our work, keeping the bugs and rodents away in-between our monthly servicing.

See Website Here: Pest-Proofing Your Home and Garden This Spring

source https://ontheflypestsolutions.com/pest-proofing-your-home-garden-spring/

Maryland Squirrels Species

The critters take center stage for UMD student

Spencer Lin is a full time student at University of Maryland and has found a hobby in photography during his spare time. He runs an Instagram account that has garnered as many as 300 followers and posts about the various squirrel sightings around campus. Squirrels on the campus are notorious for being unafraid of humans and therefore they are easier to get great pictures of. Lin says his most frequent sighting is a black squirrel with red markings on its tail.

Maryland is home to five different species of squirrels. The red squirrel, gray squirrel, southern flying squirrel, eastern fox squirrel and the Delmarva fox squirrel. All of these squirrels are abundant and usually easily spotted throughout the state. Squirrels do a lot for our environment, one of the most notable is by helping the process of reforestation. This is achieved by the little critters forgetting where they buried their nuts and thus allowing a new tree or plant to grow.

For more on squirrels in Maryland, visit On The Fly Pest Solutions.

The Instagram account that documents the squirrels at UMD

Spencer Lin is a sophomore psychology major at the University of Maryland. He works with Scholars in Action, a service organization on campus, and likes to take photographs in his spare time.

He also happens to run an Instagram account with more than 300 followers documenting squirrel sightings around this campus.

The account, @umd_squirrels_, showcases Lin’s original photographs of the furry denizens as well as submissions from others on the account’s story.

“The squirrels here and near metropolitan areas are more friendly, so you can get nicer pictures of them since they don’t run away,” Lin said. Read more

Summary: Spencer Lin is a full time student at University of Maryland and has found a hobby in photography during his spare time. He runs the popular "UMD Squirrels" Instagram account that has amassed around 300 followers.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Who doesn't love wings? (Sound On)

A post shared by UMD Squirrels (@umd_squirrels_) on Jul 20, 2019 at 10:00am PDT

Wild Backyard - Squirrels in Maryland

Five species of squirrels can be found in Maryland: red squirrel, gray squirrel, southern flying squirrel, eastern fox squirrel and the Delmarva fox squirrel. All but the Delmarva fox squirrel are common species found throughout most of Maryland.

Red squirrels, also called pine squirrels, are red. These squirrels are less common and smaller than gray squirrels. Red squirrels prefer evergreen trees and mainly live in Western Maryland. Red squirrels eat a variety of foods and are even known to tap sugar maple trees to feed on the sugary sap. Learn more

Summary: Maryland is home to five different species of squirrels. The red squirrel, gray squirrel, southern flying squirrel, eastern fox squirrel and the Delmarva fox squirrel.

See Source Here: Maryland Squirrels Species

source https://ontheflypestsolutions.com/maryland-squirrels-species/

Bed Bug Control

Bed bugs aren't easy to find, and their bites aren't easy to diagnose. People react differently to the bites. Some are left with bite marks, others with rashes and others have no reactions at all. Bed bug bites can easily be confused with spider bites or rashes, but experienced pest control technicians are trained to find and control infestations. Since bed bugs like to hide, one of the first signs of an infestation is usually the fecal matter. Bed bugs leave behind rusty reddish-black marks and fecal spots on sheets, pillows, mattresses and just about any surface close to where they’re feeding. Bed bugs usually feed about 3 times a night, resulting in multiple bite marks and lots of feces. Bed bug cases will also be found when they shed their exoskeletons as they grow. Eggs are laid every night in mattress folds. The bed bugs themselves hide in box springs, mattresses, outlet covers, rugs and just about any tight spot close to the feeding sites. Populations grow fast and can easily be transferred from one area to the next. If you've traveled recently, you're at risk of carrying bed bugs back into your home. Once they’re in your home, an extensive treatment is needed to get rid of them. If you feel you might have bed bugs, contact On The Fly to schedule an inspection.

Original Source Here: Bed Bug Control

source https://ontheflypestsolutions.com/bed-bugs/

Common Myths About Rodents

Eradicate These Common Myths About Rodents and Get Rid of Pests More Effectively

Rodents. You think you know them, but do you really? Or are you holding on to fictitious beliefs rather than facts?

Comprising 40% of mammal species, rodents aren’t just composed of mice and rats; they also include squirrels, guinea pigs, hamsters, gophers, beavers, gerbils, porcupines, and chipmunks. (But since mice and rats are the most common rodent pests, we’ll focus on them in this article.)

Humans have long considered rodents to be pests, and we’re still struggling on how to deal with them today. It can be frustrating to get rid of them, even more so if your solution is based on a myth. So, let’s debunk the most common rodent myths asap!

Here are five myths about rodents that you should eradicate right now:

Myth 1: Cats will take care of your rodent problem.

The truth: Unfortunately, cats aren’t very effective at eliminating rodents, specifically rats. A study funded by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) found that cats don’t successfully kill and control rat populations. The researchers observed that “less than 1% of cat and rat encounters resulted in a rat being killed; despite stalking behavior being observed 20 times.”

Scientists also found that, indeed, when the cat is away, the mice—in this case, rats—will play. For every cat sighting, the researchers observed, rats were nearly 20% more likely to move toward a shelter. But while the sight of a cat might get rats hiding initially, “the rodents will patiently wait them out and return undeterred once the cats lose interest and leave the scene.”

Myth 2: Rodents love cheese.

The truth: Despite what “Tom and Jerry” and other cartoons might have us believe, mice—and other rodents—aren’t tempted by cheese.

A 2006 study found that a mouse’s diet consists primarily of grains and fruit. So if you’re thinking about what to put in that mousetrap to attract mice, Procter Rodent Control, a family firm which has been producing Britain’s best-selling mousetrap since 1897, suggests peanut butter and chocolate.

Myth 3: Rodents eat anything and everything.

The truth: Sorry, but rodent’s aren’t nature’s living garbage disposal. Like humans, they do have a diet, and it consists of what can be found in their environment.

In a 2018 study, researchers studied the bones of rats and found that those living in the city had “a higher-quality and more stable diet than rural rats did,” while rats in the country ate whatever food they could find—confirming Aesop’s “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse” story.

“Rats are really interesting, because their diets are a reflection of foods people leave lying around,” said Eric Guiry, an archaeologist at Trent University in Ontario and lead author of the study. For example, city rats ate a lot more meat than rural rats.

Meanwhile, homeowners might mistake chewed up books, papers, wires, and insulation as getting eaten by mice. But in reality, female mice use these shredded materials to build a nest.

Myth 4: Rodents that ingest poison get dehydrated and go outside to look for water.

The truth: Rodent baits, or rodenticides, can take effect as quickly as two days or up to 10 days, depending on how fast-acting or lethal it is. The poison works by reducing the rodent’s blood-clotting ability, which damages its capillaries and causes internal hemorrhage. So the rodent dies of internal bleeding—not dehydration—but the delay can mean that the rodent can die in its nest, inside your property or outside.

Myth 5: Seeing rodents during the day means you have a rodent infestation.

The truth: While rats and mice are nocturnal, that doesn’t mean they don’t come out during the day. These rodents are just so good at keeping out of sight that you might only notice a mouse or rat scampering in your house or commercial building when there’s already a severe infestation. Telltale signs of rodent infestation include droppings, stale smells, chewed holes in walls or floors, and shredded materials.

Don’t let it come to this!

Now that we’ve debunked myths about rodents, you’re one step closer to getting rid of those pesky rodents more effectively.

Don’t wait for a severe infestation. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.

Original Website Here: Common Myths About Rodents

source https://ontheflypestsolutions.com/common-myths-about-rodents/

Intelligent Nocturnal Raccoons. Facts On Raccoons.

Raccoons are notorious wildlife pests. They break into your yard or house and wreak havoc on your property. Typically coming out at night, they sometimes venture out of their dens in the daytime searching for food. 

You’ve probably tried different ways to keep them off your premises but to no avail. They’re smart creatures after all, with a series of studies in the mid- to late 20th century showing raccoons can solve problems and remember the solutions up to 3 years later.

So how do you outwit these intelligent creatures? The first step is getting to know them. 

Raccoon Habitat and Diet

Raccoons are native to North America, and in the U.S. can be found almost everywhere, except in parts of the Rocky Mountains and southwestern states. They are adaptable and live in a wide range of habitats—from mountains  and forests to farms and cities. However, since the first urban sighting in Cincinnati in the 1920s, they have become more prevalent in suburban areas than rural areas due to the abundance of food and shelter, lack of predators and restrictions in hunting and trapping.

 

A raccoon’s diet is also adaptable. Being opportunistic feeders, they’ll munch on anything from nuts and fruits to insects, reptiles, fish, birds and eggs—even worms, bird seed, pet food and garbage. 

 

You’ll likely catch raccoons “washing” their food, but they’re actually feeling it with their very sensitive fingers, removing unwanted parts in the process. (Raccoons have poor eyesight but have well-developed sensory nerves at the bottom of their feet.)

 

Raccoon Damages and Diseases

A threat to a homeowner’s peace and wellbeing, raccoons leave telltale signs, so depending on where you live, look out for these common indicators that a raccoon has been in your premises.

• Damage to shingles, walls, insulation, electrical wiring or other parts of your house or building
• Droppings, urine stains or a nest made from built-up materials
• Dispersed thrash and/or raided and tipped trash bins
• Raccoon paw prints 
• a lot of holes in your lawn or mulch pile
• wrecked garden
• injured or dead chickens or birds, missing or eaten eggs and disturbed nests
• toppled stalks and ripped or half-eaten ears of corn (or other crop)
• empty bird feeders
• devoured pet food

 

In addition to causing damage, contact with raccoons or their waste also spreads diseases that pose serious health risks to people and their pets. Raccoons are a primary carrier of rabies in the U.S. and are responsible for 60% of the rabies cases in Maryland. In 2018 alone, the Maryland Department of Health recorded 704 rabies cases. They can also transmit parvovirus and canine distemper to domestic dogs, plus roundworm, leptospirosis and Salmonella or E. Coli.

 

Long-term Raccoon Control and Removal

Because racoons are not only a nuisance but also a potential health hazard, it’s understandable why homeowners are itching to remove these pests from their properties. However, dealing with these nocturnal pests requires proper training, protection and equipment. (If you do this on your own, you could be bitten, scratched or worse, exposed to diseases.)

Your best bet for a long-term solution would be to contact a pest control professional. 

Are raccoons wracking your nerves tonight? Contact On The Fly Pest Solutions so you can sleep soundly again.

 

See Website Here: Intelligent Nocturnal Raccoons. Facts On Raccoons. 

source https://ontheflypestsolutions.com/intelligent-nocturnal-raccoons-facts-on-raccoons/