819 Hardee Rd. Kinston, NC  28504   

Tips & Suggestions

A successful pest management program will require your support and cooperation. As a courtesy we have provided the following checklist to help make your home or business less attractive to invading pests.

• Trim all vegetation away from the structure; a minimum of 12-24 inches is preferred. Make sure to keep grass mowed and avoid dense groundcover within 3 feet of the building. Vegetation and the shelter it provides may allow insects or rodents entry.
• Refrain from stacking storage or wood products up against the structure.
• Keep yourself aware of the conditions surrounding your structure, paying particular attention to landscaping materials such as bark that may be up against the siding. Remove any earth to wood contacts.
• Closely inspect areas where pipes, wires, cables and the like enter your building for gaps. These holes can allow rodent and insect entry. Medium grade steel wool works well to seal holes of this type. Remember a mouse only needs 1/4 of an inch to gain entry into a structure.
• Be sure to routinely remove any wet debris such as fallen leaves or moss from your roof, making sure to pay special attention to valleys and gutter areas. Insects can survive quite well in a pile of wet leaves! This is a good time to check for tree branches that may be in need of trimming.
• Repair any leaky roof, gutter or plumbing problems, again removing any excessive moisture that will encourage insect activity.
• Weather permitting, remove sub-area vent covers during the spring and summer. This will allow additional ventilation and reduce the likelihood of excessive moisture conditions.

These maintenance items help us provide high quality pest solutions to our clients. While providing services our trained technicians are always looking for conditions that may contribute to any pest problems. Customer satisfaction is a high priority at B & T Pest Control Co. and it is our ultimate goal to meet our clients pest control needs. Don't hesitate to contact our office or through our website via e-mail if you have any questions.

Recommendations for Insects & Rodent Control

Pet Food: Pet food and water should never be left out overnight, inside or outside. Store pet food in containers with tight fitting lids, preferably in metal garbage can style containers.

Open Doors: An open door just increases the possibility of insect & rodent entry. All doors, including garage doors, should be kept closed when not in use. Check weather-stripping especially on bottom of exterior doors to make sure it is in serviceable condition.

Bird/Squirrel Feeders: We recommend removing feeders in close proximity of structures. If removing them is not an option, keep them clean and don't allow birdseed or squirrel feed to accumulate under the feeder. We also recommend that you store excess feed in sealed metal containers.

Fruit & Vegetables: Refrain from leaving ripe fruit, vegetables, or fallen nuts under trees or in the garden. A readily available food source will encourage rodent activity. Food items should be stored inside refrigerators or containers with tight fitting lids.

Pet Feces: As bad as this sounds, pet feces provide a food source for insects & rodents. We recommend that you pick up pet feces on a regular basis and do not allow it to accumulate in the yard.

Garbage: Garbage should never be stored in boxes or bags. Garbage cans should be in good condition, without holes, and the lids should be tight-fitting. Galvanized garbage cans are the preferred choice. Make sure that your recycle storage is not encouraging rodent activity.

Compost Pile: If you compost make sure that your compost area is as far from the structure as possible. Refrain from placing food products in your compost.

Firewood/Lumber/Debris: Do not store any piles of lumber or debris near the structure. Always store lumber and firewood on a rack at least one foot off the ground and a minimum of 2 feet from the structure.

Weeds/Grass/Bushes/Trees: Trim or remove any high grass, weeds, bushes, or tree limbs away from the structure. A minimum of 2-foot clearance should be between heavy vegetation and structure. Heavy ground covers should be reduced or removed in close proximity to the structure and in other yard areas to increase open space and lessen the areas that rodents will find shelter. Berry bushes will provide food and shelter. We recommend that berries be trimmed or removed around the structure.

Neighbors: Controlling rodents will be easier if the entire community is taking all necessary precautions to make our homes or place of business less appealing to rodents. Often it is the case that some of the conditions that will encourage rodent activity are present at adjacent properties. If this is the case we recommend speaking with your neighbors, if possible, and sharing the above information with them.