Before & After Photos

Recently, a homeowner in Lincroft NJ, contacted Cowleys because of raccoon activity in the upper dormer area of the home. Raccoon weight can vary considerably with habitat, but they generally weigh around 20 pounds, making them one of the largest nuisance wildlife that we deal with on a regular basis. These nocturnal animals are extremely intelligent, resourceful, great climbers, and with their human-like five-finger forepaws, they are amazingly dexterous. A determined raccoon will find a way to get into your attic, especially when the female is looking for a quiet, private nesting area to give birth to her kits. Raccoons, especially protective moms, are territorial and can be vicious when confronted. They are also the major rabies vector in New Jersey. 

With nuisance wildlife infestations, we always determine how the critters are gaining access into the home. Because of the size of raccoons, their entry point is generally pretty obvious. Here, the raccoon was entering through the fascia area right below the roofline. Fascia boards are often exploited by wildlife because they are often weakened from water damage from the roof and gutters, and the outdoor elements. Raccoons can easily tear through these materials to gain access to the attic.

After ensuring that there were no pups inside the home, we set up traps and repaired the damaged fascia by framing in the hollowed-out area and then installing new fascia material. When we were done, the home looked as good as new!

Recently, I was dispatched to a home in Holmdel, NJ that was having a problem with some “large wasps” that had taken up residence, of all places, behind the slats of a hot tub. Upon, arrival, I immediately determined that these homeowners were dealing with a European hornet infestation. These are one of the larger stinging insects that we regularly encounter. They can grow to about one inch long, making them one intimidating stinging insect! Because these insects have some yellow in their markings, they can be easily  confused with yellow jackets. However, they are much larger, thicker insects than the slender yellow jacket. Also, unlike yellow jackets, European hornets usually has some orange in their coloration. Like all social wasps and hornets, European hornets are aggressive and territorial if they perceive that they are being threatened. As far as stinging insects go, both yellow jackets and European hornets are similar in that they both have nasty temperaments and won’t hesitate to use their stingers. 

Unlike baldfaced hornets, paper wasps, and other stinging insects, European hornets rarely build suspended nests attached to tree limbs, roof eaves, and other locations in plain view. Instead, just like they did here, these insects usually build their nests inside a hole or cavity. The location of their nests can make them difficult to reach and treat. Sometimes, these hornets will enter homes for shelter, finding entry point through eaves and vents where they then form nests, commonly in wall voids and in attics.  

Here, I promptly located where these hornets were nesting inside the hot tub. First, I treated the nest with a dust that quickly knocks down the population. After waiting until I observed no more active insect activity, I successfully removed the nest. As shown in the photo, the nest was broken into numerous pieces because I had to pull the nest out piecemeal from inside the hot tub. Since the nest was cracked open, you can clearly see the hundreds of combs inside the nest that housed the hornet larvae. I collected all of the nest pieces, bagged them, and took everything with me so there was no remaining nest debris. Now, these homeowners can resume the use of their hot tub without feeling threatened by these large stinging insects.

We were sent out on a service call to a business in Toms River, NJ to treat for wasps that were attacking the shoppers as they made their way into the store! Once we arrived, we inspected the area more closely and discovered a baseball sized yellow jackets nest right above the entrance!

As we all know, yellow jackets are one of the most aggressive and territorial stinging insects out there! So extreme care is needed when treating them. So we equipped our protective bee suit, grabbed our extendable pole, attached a knockdown dusting application to it, and began liberally treating the nest. A few moments later, we treated the nest with a knockdown aerosol product. Both of these treatments quickly exterminate the yellow jackets.

After a few moments went by, we removed the nest, disposed of it, and then applied a residual liquid application to the area. This product will eliminate any yellow jackets that return to this area as well as prevent them, and all other stinging insects, from building another nest.

A new client in Toms River, NJ frantically called our office after finding a rat in her basement. So we were sent out to inspect and treat. During our inspection, we noticed a rather large gap where the water line was entering the structure through the foundation wall. As we took a closer look, we found several rat droppings right below it.

First, we carefully cleaned up the rodent droppings and installed several rodent bait stations throughout the basement and along the exterior of the home. Next, we stuffed the opening with chew-proof stainless steel mesh, which rodents hate chewing through. Afterward, we sealed the opening with a waterproof, premium adhesive. Lastly, we scheduled several follow-up visits to replenish the bait in the stations and monitor the rat activity. 

After purchasing a home in Toms River, NJ this first-time homeowner decided to take a proactive approach and wanted Little Rascals to exclude all the gable vents on his property from any and all nuisance wildlife, birds, and bats!

There was a total of two gable vents on the home and in order to prevent these areas from becoming potential access points for an infestation, we installed louvered vent guards. This material doesn't restrict the airflow to the attic, is made out of sturdy, galvanized steel, and properly guards the home against pests, birds, bats, and all nuisance wildlife.