Field notes
Pest control tips,
explained.
We write these to answer the questions we hear on calls: what's actually crawling around homes in Lake Stevens and the rest of Snohomish County, and what to do about it.
Do Wasps Die in Winter? What Happens to Yellowjacket Nests in the Fall
Do wasps die in winter? Most of the colony does, and only new queens survive. Why fall wasps seem angry, what happens to the old nest, and what to do next spring.
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How to Get Rid of Mice in Your House: A Step-by-Step Plan
Learn how to get rid of mice in your house: confirm it's mice, find the entry points, seal them, trap along the walls, and clean up safely, in that order.
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Mice in the Walls: How to Tell, What It Means and How to Get Them Out
Hear scratching in the walls at night? Learn how to tell mice in the walls from rats, what not to do, and how mice are actually removed from inside a wall.
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What Smells Do Mice Hate? Peppermint Oil and What Actually Works
What smells do mice hate, and does peppermint oil keep mice away? What extension sources say about scents, sound devices and mothballs, and what works.
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Mouse Droppings vs. Rat Droppings: How to Tell Them Apart and Clean Up Safely
Mouse droppings vs rat droppings: how to tell them apart by size and where you find them, plus the safe cleanup steps and what to do if you vacuumed.
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How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs, Boxelder Bugs and Western Conifer Seed Bugs in Fall
How to get rid of stink bugs, boxelder bugs and western conifer seed bugs: how to tell them apart, why they come inside in fall, and how to keep them out.
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Mice or Rats in the Attic? What the Noises Mean and What to Do Next
Hearing mice in the attic at night? Here is how to tell mice from rats by sound and droppings, what not to do, and how an inspection finds the way in.
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How to Prepare Your Home and Pets for a Pest Control Visit
What to ask before a pest control appointment, what information to share about pets, and how to plan access, preparation, and aftercare.
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Ants After Rain: A Moisture Checklist for Your Home
Seeing ants after rain near a sink, window or door? Use this moisture and entry-point checklist before assuming the rain explains the whole problem.
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Yellowjackets Around the Trash? Check the Food Source First
How to assess yellowjackets around outdoor bins and patios in Snohomish County, reduce food attractants, and recognize a possible nearby nest.
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How to Keep Mice Out of the Garage Before Fall
How to keep mice out of the garage before fall: door gaps, stored food and clutter to check, and the signs that call for a rodent inspection instead.
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Signs of Rats in Your Crawl Space (and What Each One Means)
An ammonia smell at a floor register is one of the first signs of rats in crawl space insulation. What to check, and when the vapor barrier has to come out.
Read more How Much Does Pest Control Cost in Snohomish County?
How much does pest control cost? What actually moves the price, why an honest quote needs a few questions first, and the ranges we see across Snohomish County.
Read more How to Remove a Wasp Nest (and the Ones You Should Leave Alone)
How to remove a wasp nest safely: timing, which nests are reasonable to handle yourself, why winter nests are not worth touching, and when spray makes it worse.
Read more How to Get Rid of Ants (and Why the Spray Under Your Sink Makes It Worse)
How to get rid of ants: most PNW ant problems come down to four species, and the fix is different for each. What works, what backfires, and when to call.
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Why You Have Mosquitoes in Washington State (and How to Cut Them Down)
Mosquitoes in Washington state are supposed to be rare, so why is your yard unusable in July? What is breeding them and how to take the yard back.
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Spiders in Washington Homes: Which Ones Actually Matter
Spiders in Washington homes: hobo spider, giant house spider or something harmless? What is really crawling around, whether it is dangerous, and how to keep them out.
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Carpenter Ants vs. Sugar Ants: How to Tell What's in Your Kitchen
Carpenter ants vs sugar ants: they look similar but mean very different things. How to tell them apart, what each one is after, and when to call.
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Yellow Jacket vs Honey Bee vs Paper Wasp: Know Before You Spray
Yellow jacket vs honey bee vs paper wasp: how to tell them apart before you spray, and why the honey bees are the ones to leave alone.
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Cluster Flies, Fruit Flies, Drain Flies: Why They Keep Coming Back
Cluster flies, fruit flies and drain flies are three different problems with three different fixes. How to tell which one you have and why swatting never solves it.
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Why Rats Get Into Snohomish County Homes Every Fall
When the weather turns, rats start looking for somewhere warm and dry. Here's how they get into Lake Stevens homes, and how to close the door before they do.
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What Health Inspectors Look For: Pest Control for Restaurants
Pest control for restaurants is a health-code issue, not just an embarrassment. What inspectors check, and what a real restaurant pest control program covers.
Read moreGot something you can't identify?
Send us a photo and we'll tell you what it is and whether it's worth treating. If it is, we'll have someone out within 48 hours.