Before & After Photos

A new customer in Plainsboro, NJ called Cowleys after hearing some scratching and "other odd noises" in her kitchen, so we were sent out to investigate. As we inspected the kitchen, we noticed some rodent droppings near the stove. So we asked the homeowner to move it. As soon as she did, we found a massive buildup of mice droppings and candy wrappers behind the stove. 

Apparently the mice were stealing the candy from the bowl on top of the counter and bringing it behind the stove! There was also an opening around the gas pipe that lead outside, which also had a wide opening around it. This was how the mice were able to get into the home! First thing we did was carefully vacuum up all the mice droppings behind the stove. After that, we installed several rodent bait stations throughout the kitchen, behind the stove, and in several locations around the exterior of the home.

The last thing we did was schedule a number of return visits to monitor the infestation and replenish the bait stations as needed. On our next visit, we're going to properly close off all the openings inside and outside of the property that the mice are using to infest the home. 

One day, this homeowner was cleaning out his shed to get ready for the summer. As he was cleaning it out, he saw a fox stick its head out from under his shed and then go back underneath it! He immediately went inside and called Little Rascals Nuisance Wildlife Removal for help. Once we arrived and examined the shed, we found the main burrow that the fox was using to go underneath the shed.

First, we dug a 12 inch deep trench and then installed hardware cloth around the entire perimeter of shed. The hardware cloth is installed 12 inches deep and 12 inches out from the bottom of the shed. This creates a sturdy "L shaped" perimeter that will prevent foxes, and other nuisance wildlife, from digging and nesting underneath the shed. Afterward, we cut a portion of the hardware cloth that was over the main burrow, installed a one-way device directly over it, and set up several baited devices nearby. The one-way device allows the fox to safely leave the shed, but prevent it from getting back in.

Once we retrieve the fox, we're going to relocate it to a new, humane location, fill in the burrow, and install another piece of hardware cloth over the opening. 

During a startup treatment service for a new Home Protection Plan customer in Martinsville, NJ, we found a small but active paper wasps nest attached to the gable vent in the attic. Paper wasps are semi-social stinging insects that usually have brown bodies with yellow or reddish markings and received their name from the paper-like material out of which they make their nests. A sting from a paper wasp can be extremely painful and can cause allergic reactions in some people.

As we took a closer look, we noticed that there was a hole in the gable vent. Over time the gable vents get weathered and pests, as well as nuisance wildlife, take advantage of these openings and infest homes. For treatment, we grabbed our extendable pole, attached an aerosol product to it, and injected it into the nest. This treatment rapidly neutralizes the paper wasps. Moments later, we removed the nest, disposed of it, and applied a residual application to the area to prevent the paper wasps from returning and rebuilding their nest.

Although we offered to replace the gable vent for the homeowner, she mentioned that she will install it on her own at a later date. 

We were sent out to a home in Martinsville, NJ to encapsulate the owner's crawl space. As we began inspecting the area, we noticed that the crawl space was extremely humid and had a dirt floor. The major issue with floor crawl spaces is that they attract and absorb moisture. Once the dirt dries it causes humidity levels to rise dramatically and can cause mold growth.

First, we removed all the debris in the crawl space, leveled the ground for proper draining, and installed a drainage matting. A drainage matting is a dimpled plastic mat that allows all excess moisture to work its way over to the newly installed SmartSump™ Crawl Space Sump Pump. The SmartSump™ Crawl Space Sump Pump combines an intelligent WaterWatch® alarm system with a sump pump that's specifically designed for crawl spaces. The lid and floor drain are specially designed to prevent collected water from evaporating back out into the crawl space. The WaterWatch® alarm will make the owner aware of crawl space water issues as soon as they begin. Any water from a plumbing leak or sump failure must first pass by the alarm and will then drain down into the sump.

Once that was finished we installed a vapor barrier, which is a heavy-duty, 20-mil 7-ply sandwich of high and low-density polyethylene with a polyester-cord reinforcement. Installing the vapor barrier over the foundation walls and floor will create a continuous air and moisture barrier. Also, the vapor barrier is extremely durable and is treated with an antimicrobial to prevent mold.

Lastly, to control the extremely high humidity levels, we installed a Sedona dehumidifier. This is a powerful, energy-efficient, commercial-grade dehumidifier that outperforms standard household dehumidifiers by as much as 10 times while using the same amount of energy to run.

As this elderly homeowner in Monmouth Junction, NJ, was sitting on her back porch, enjoying the beautiful weather, she spotted a wasp nest in the corner of her home. Since she is highly allergic to wasps and is a current Home Protection Plan customer, she immediately called our office for help. When we arrived and took a closer look at these stinging insects, we identified them as paper wasps.

Paper wasps, also called umbrella wasps, are semi-social stinging insects that usually have brown bodies with yellow or reddish markings. They range in size from five-eighths to three-quarters of an inch long and are known for the long legs that extend out from their oval bodies. Due to their coloration and body shape, they are often mistaken for yellow jackets but have a slimmer waist and a triangular side view. Paper wasps received their name from the paper-like material out of which they make their nests. A sting from a paper wasp can be extremely painful and can cause allergic reactions in some people. 

We treated the nest with a knockdown liquid application, which will exterminate them almost immediately. After several moments, we removed the nest and treated the area with a liquid residual. This application will eliminate any returning paper wasps as well as prevent them, and any other stinging insect, from building a nest.