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Mr. Little Plays All His Cards At the Las Vegas Science and Technology Festival

by Mr. Little on April 17, 2013 in Bugs, Company, Events, People with No comments
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Who doesn’t love a good science fair project? I must say the erupting volcano I created for my seventh grade science class was something to see.

I’m not sure my teacher felt exactly the same way after its eruption left orange food dye all over the walls but boy was it a sight to behold!

Western Exterminator Company has a lot of scientists on staff whose specialty is the science of eliminating and safeguarding your home or business from unwanted and potentially destructive pests.

Our highly-trained service technicians, entomologists, and sanitarians take great pride in applying scientifically proven products using field-tested methods to protect property and public health. At Western, we respect the science behind pest management and work hard every day to further its cause.

That is why I am excited Western Exterminator is a sponsor of the 2013 Las Vegas Science and Technology Festival that runs April 28 through May 4 at various venues in and around the city.

Billed as a seven-day celebration of everything and anything science, technology, engineering and math related in Southern Nevada, the festival will feature more than 50 free programs for curious would-be scientists of all ages.

Among the program’s diverse highlights are behind the scenes tours of:

  • The UMC Trauma Center
  • The inner workings of the Bellagio Resort’s famed water fountains
  • Specialized laboratories at the University of Nevada Las Vegas
  • The Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay
  • National Atomic Testing Museum where you can explore the amazing atom

The festival also includes the opportunity to meet with researchers from the Las Vegas Natural History Museum to see what fascinating research projects they are working on behind closed doors, and participate in the Science Crawl through the streets of downtown Las Vegas.

In addition to Western Exterminator Company’s Las Vegas Bug Expert, Grady Jones, A.C.E., who will be introducing guests to his Bug Zoo, I can’t wait to attend the Fact or Fiction program with world-renowned forensic entomologist Dr. Lee Goff.

What is a forensic entomologist you ask?  Well, if you’re really into bugs like I am, you will find this absolutely mesmerizing!  Forensic Entomology is the use of insects, and their arthropod relatives that inhabit decomposing remains, to aid legal investigations.  That’s right, from knowing the biology of insects and then studying insects at a crime scene, many factors can be determined such as a decedent’s time of death in homicides.

Dr. Goff has served as technical advisor to the popular crime drama series CSI and CSI: Miami and is the curator of a traveling museum exhibition called aptly enough CSI: Crime Scene Insects.  His Crime Scene Insects exhibit appeared at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum back in 2008, and was also sponsored by Western Exterminator and yours truly.

If you enjoy a good insect story like I do or just find insects fascinating to watch (unless of course it is a cockroach making a run for it across your kitchen floor!) then you will want to attend this session.

Dr. Goff is a professor at Chaminade University in Honolulu and has more than 25 years working with numerous government agencies, including the FBI, consulting on forensic entomology matters. He is one of only 15 forensic entomologists certified by the Board of Forensic Entomology.  I’m sure his presentation will be fascinating and not to be missed!

For complete program information and a schedule of event times and locations, visit www.LasVegasScienceFestival.com

If you are experiencing a pest issue in your home or office in Las Vegas or anywhere in Nevada, Arizona or California, send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com and I’ll get our team of pest management scientists on it right away; and if you just have a question about the insect world, write to me and I’ll get back with an answer right away.  Or, contact our Las Vegas Bug Expert, Grady Jones, at VegasBugGuy@west-ext.com.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator “The Final Word in Pest Control®”

Have a pest free day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrating 25 Years of Dedication and Commitment to Customers

by Mr. Little on November 26, 2012 in Company, Events, People with No comments
Anniversary pins

The Summer Olympics in London had all of us on the edge of our seats watching athletes from around the world run, jump, cycle, swim or spike for the ultimate prize – a gold medal.

A gold medal signifies being the best in the world but at Western Exterminator we think silver is pretty darn good as well. Not a silver medal but a silver anniversary.

Today, we recognize a group of long-time, dedicated Western Exterminator employees who in 2012 celebrated their silver anniversaries marking 25 years as members of our Western family.

Wow – 25 years! That seems like a long time but when you’re happy with your work, and enjoy the people you work with, the days (and nights for our commercial pest management staff) fly by!

In fact, over 10% of our team has been with us more than 25 years – that is dedication few, if any, of our competitors in Arizona, California or Nevada can match.

To give you some perspective (and to toot our own horn a little!), the U.S. Department of Labor recently reported that the median number of years employees have been with their current company is 4.6 years. We have that beat by a long-shot! Do you know we have many folks who have been with us 30, 40, and yes, some even 50+ years! We also have numerous colleagues with multi-generations of their own families as part of our team.  Now that says a lot about us and the type of environment that exists here at Western Exterminator Company.

I don’t claim to have any magic solution tucked away under my legendary top hat that keeps employees wearing the green and yellow for such long tenures. The answer to that comes from the approach our founder, Carl Strom, had to both customers and employees, and that tradition is part of our make-up today.

Carl firmly believed in providing quality customer service at a fair price, and always being committed to supporting and being genuinely interested in the well-being of employees and their families. Carl often said that happy employees mean happy customers. Intelligent words from a smart man who walked the walk when it came to supporting and appreciating his employees.  That legacy is part of the very essence of our company culture.

On behalf of the entire Western Exterminator Company family I want to say thank you and congratulations to all of our colleagues, but especially those who this year have reached their 25th anniversary. It is a wonderful achievement. We appreciate the talents you bring to the job every day and look forward to working with you for years to come!

Harold Boardman – Customer Service Representative, South Orange County

Ron Boyd – Sales/Service Technician, Sacramento

Antonio Castillo – Sales/Service Technician, Lennox

Sheree Gearon –Northern District Associate Division Manager

Peter Maddox – Sales/Service Technician Palm Springs

Alex Quintanilla – General Pest Department Manager, Van Nuys

Ricky Orella-Sanchez – Sales/Service Technician, Chino

Andrew Sherman – Sales/Service Technician Van Nuys

Do you have questions about our residential or commercial pest management services? If so, I want to hear them. Or maybe you might be interested in a career with a company that values its employees just the same as it does its customers. You can send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with an answer.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator “The Final Word in Pest Control®”

Have a pest free day!

When It Comes To Commercial Pest Management, The Man In The Top Hat Is Tops

by Mr. Little on October 22, 2012 in Bugs, Company, People, Tips with No comments
Western Exterminator Commercial Pest Control

The travel website TripAdvisor lists more than 4,000 restaurants and 300 hotels for Los Angeles, and more than 3,000 restaurants and 350 hotels for Orange County. If you can’t find a place to please your finicky palate with all those choices, then you better stay in and whip out the cookbook!

Why are those numbers interesting to me? Because each and every one of those restaurants and hotels, as well as thousands of other commercial structures including grocery stores, office buildings, sports stadiums and arenas, hospitals, food warehouses and bakeries (just to name a few) need to be concerned about keeping unwanted, unhealthy pests out.

Commercial pest management has been a specialty of Western Exterminator since our founding in 1921. We have been protecting commercial properties in Arizona, Nevada and California for  nearly a century, and have some of the industry’s finest, most knowledgeable Service Technicians on the job.

Western Exterminator knows our commercial clients have businesses to run, customers to serve and brands to protect. That’s why our Commercial Division championed the concept of delivering pest management services to our commercial customers when they needed them – day or night – when THEIR customers aren’t around.

Our commercial customers rely on us to eliminate bed bugs from hotel rooms, keep rodents and birds out of grocery stores (they always take 14 items in the 12 items or less line!), get rid of drain flies from sinks at the local tavern, and keep cockroaches out of the break room kitchen.

These pests, which are unsightly to say the least and to my way of thinking just disgusting, can also spread diseases including E coli and salmonella, and have a destructive streak in them as well. Did you know rodents can chew through electrical wires (a common way for fires to start) and termites can easily devour wood posts supporting the deck overlooking the view off your restaurant?

Preventing and eliminating pests from spoiling and contaminating food is one of our Commercial Division’s most important jobs. Western Exterminator’s program for servicing integrated food handling facility services is supplemented by our on-staff entomologists and registered sanitarians, and helps assure compliance with today’s extensive food safety regulations.

Western Exterminator provides complete inspections, assessments, vendor audits, third-party certifications and reports for the American Institute of Baking (AIB), American Sanitation Institute (ASI), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Since many of our commercial accounts are considered “sensitive” environments, we design pest management programs that are based heavily on integrated pest management (IPM) principals. IPM principals stress comprehensive inspection techniques, pest prevention and elimination through cultural practices, and using pesticides only when necessary.

Western Exterminator is also Green Shield Certified. Green Shield Certified is an independent certification program that promotes practitioners of effective, prevention-based pest control while minimizing the use of pesticides.

Being Green Shield Certified gives our customers the confidence of an independent, third-party verification that requires we adhere to a strict set of standards when servicing your business for pests.

Trusting your business (or your home) to anyone but the experts is never a good decision, so make sure to choose a company that is interested and committed to protecting your brand.

How can we help your business remain pest-free? Give us a call or send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with information on how Western Exterminator can help.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator “The Final Word in Pest Control®”

Have a pest free day!

A Special Birthday Blog For A Special Person

by Mr. Little on October 16, 2012 in Company, Events, History, People with 1 Comment
Richard Lovejoy

Birthdays are always a special occasion at Western Exterminator. I’ve lost count of how many pieces of cake and scoops of ice cream I’ve shared with my colleagues over the years but I can tell you they were all delicious!

Today, we are celebrating a special birthday for a man who has been an important part of the Western Exterminator Company family since he joined the green and yellow team.

Celebrating his 88th birthday today is Board of Directors’ member and Secretary/Treasurer Richard Lovejoy!

Richard “officially” joined Western Exterminator in 1946 after serving his country in the Navy during WWII. I say “officially” with a smile because Richard was born into the business and his start date came years earlier when he would come to work and help his father, Ray Lovejoy (our founder Carl Strom’s partner and brother-in-law), with various odd jobs around the office.

Along with his sister, Anita, and cousin, Bob Strom (Carl’s son), Richard literally grew up in the family business. A graduate of UCLA, Richard started with the company as a Service Technician on route 8 in Beverly Hills. And boy what a route it was!

Among the Hollywood luminaries who Richard had the pleasure of serving included a virtual “Who’s Who” of Tinseltown royalty of the era including Joan Crawford, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., John Wayne, Fred McMurray, Shirley Temple, Jack Benny, and the legendary Howard Hughes.

Richard, a terrific storyteller who always has a good joke at the ready, recalled a visit to the reclusive Hughes’ home to take care of a rodent infestation. When Richard walked in he encountered Hughes meeting with a number of “government” looking men in suits. Hughes shot the young service technician a look that told him he should be seen and not heard, and probably not even seen.  Richard went about his business, and chose not to bother Mr. Hughes again that day with the news he did indeed catch the pesky rodent!

In the early 1950s, Richard moved into corporate operations and Western Exterminator’s accounting department, working with the numbers, handling the company’s insurance interests, working with employee profit sharing plans, and helping develop the impressive package of employee benefits we all enjoy today.

Richard and his late wife, Betty Lou, enjoyed six happy decades together and raised two children, who also both spent time at Western. Daughter Luann, a child psychologist, continues to serve on Western Exterminator’s Board of Directors, while son, David, is a banker in Pittsburgh.

An avid golfer, who was on the links for Western’s 48th annual golf tournament last May, Richard also has a passion for the open water and boating, and has always thought of Catalina Island as a second home.

Richard owned several boats over the years including “Patience” and “Mouse Trap,” which he co-owned with cousins Bob Strom and Ole Anderson.  The love of the sea is really in the genes as they say, for as a child and young man he spent many hours with his dad, Ray, and Uncle Carl aboard the “Gwen-Dee.”

Always an outgoing, roll-up-your-sleeves and get the job done type of guy, Richard also has the flair of a budding Hollywood director, creating and producing dad-only talent shows to raise money at his children’s schools in La Canada, and is never shy about breaking into song no matter the venue if indeed the occasion calls for it.

Although you might think it was all those visits to the stars’ homes while running his route that rubbed off, Richard is indeed quite the showman in his own right.  I guess it sort of runs in the family. His wife Betty Lou was an original member of the Little Rascals, and quite the tap dancer – and one of my favorite partners on the dance floor!

Richard is an integral and much-loved member of our Home Office staff. When I hear his distinctive laugh echo through the halls, I know he has just delivered one of his classic jokes.

Richard, here is wishing you a very “Happy Birthday” and may you enjoy as much cake and ice cream as you want! Just save me a piece!

How can Western Exterminator help you “blow out the candles” on pests? Give us a call or send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with information on how Western Exterminator can help.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator “The Final Word in Pest Control®”

Have a pest free day!

Kicking Back At The Western Company Picnics

by Mr. Little on October 10, 2012 in Company, Events, History, People with 1 Comment
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The talented professionals at Western Exterminator work hard day and night to protect customers’ homes and businesses from unwanted pests. So it should come as no surprise that they like to play just as hard!

On that note, our fall family picnic extravaganzas are always an annual highlight. Our numbers continue to grow and this year nearly 900 Western family members and their families came together for a day of fun in the sun.

And with our service area spreading from Northern California down the coast and inland to Arizona and Nevada, we now hold three separate picnics (the more the merrier in my book!) for our employees and their families in our Southern, Central and Northern regions.

Every September I put on my black top hat, load up my truck with extra burgers and hot dogs, load up the cooler with plenty of water and soda, and head off to each picnic to have some fun. I really enjoy catching up with old friends and meeting new colleagues, and welcoming back many of our retirees who wouldn’t dream of missing these events.

Our company picnics are legendary; legendary for their food and fun! In fact, our picnics have become so popular with employees and their families, that some attend more than one. You know the food is good and the “fishing” stories even better if you drive several hours for a picnic! Maybe we should make up Western Picnic Tour t-shirts?

This year we had games and face painting for the kids (I joined in on the fun and had my mug painted like a lion!) and plenty of good food and conversation for the adults.

Attendees at our Northern Region picnic – which was held at the fabulous Oakland Zoo – were treated to a “home cooked” lunch by our Northern District managers who donned aprons and grill tongs and manned the grill. I must say after sampling their handiwork that they have some terrific culinary skills in addition to their might at controlling unwanted vermin!

At our Southern Region picnic, our favorite bed bug sniffing chocolate lab – Honey – made an appearance much to everyone’s delight. I am also happy to report that Honey’s nose was not put to use except to identify all the tasty food that was on the buffet!

This year each of the picnics hosted a health fair in addition to the usual fun and games. Health care professionals were at each location and offered tips for healthier eating (hope they didn’t see the Oreos in my pocket!), the benefits of exercise, and leading a healthy lifestyle.

As a bonus, everyone who volunteered for a free health screening received a Little Man insulated lunch bag to put their new, healthier lunch or snack items in!

Western Exterminator has always been about family; and families – no matter the size or makeup – need to get away once in a while from their daily routines and enjoy each other’s company.

The Western family includes not only the talented men and women who wear the green and yellow (or a black top hat!) but their families who support and encourage them and our customers as well.

Our picnics celebrate the spirit of family that Carl Strom created when he founded Western Exterminator in 1921 and that lives on today.

Do you have questions about pests that are a nuisance to your family? If so, I want to hear from you. You can send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with information on how Western Exterminator can help your family live a pest-free lifestyle.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator “The Final Word in Pest Control®”

Have a pest free day!

A Mouse You Don’t Want In Your House

by Mr. Little on September 25, 2012 in People, Tips with No comments
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The recent news that three people have died, several others have taken ill, and tens of thousands are at risk after being exposed to Hantavirus following camping trips at Yosemite National Park this summer serves as a stark reminder to the dangers pests can present.

Hantavirus is a rare air-borne virus transmitted by deer mice. It occurs when the infected mice shed the virus in their urine, droppings and saliva, and people breathe in air contaminated with the virus.  Infection with Hantavirus can progress to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which can be fatal.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “Due to the small number of HPS cases, the incubation time is not positively known. However, on the basis of limited information, it appears that symptoms may develop between one and five weeks after exposure to fresh urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents.”

Symptoms include fatigue, fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and abdominal pain. It is a rapidly progressing disease (four to 10 days after initial symptoms) and symptoms will expand to include coughing, shortness of breath, and severe difficulty breathing. Based on CDC findings, it is fatal 38% of the time.

Hantavirus can only be transmitted from rodent to human, not one person to another; if you suspect you were exposed to the virus, see your doctor immediately. Do not delay.

Exposure to Hantavirus is more common in rural areas (such as Yosemite) where the geographical environment – forested areas, fields and farms – is most friendly to deer mice. The house mouse typically found in urban settings is not a carrier of Hantavirus but don’t think these city dwellers are any friendlier.

Rodents such as the house mouse, Norway rat and roof rat are first-class vectors for disease and destruction. Since rodents are frequent visitors of sewers and other filthy, nasty areas where dangerous bacteria are present they are ideal transporters of bacteria such as salmonella.

These filthy pests can easily spoil prepared and stored food by eating, chewing or coming in contact with it. They are not picky about what they eat and can quickly turn your next feast into their next feast without even asking.

Another disease traced to rodents is rickettsial pox. The disease is transmitted by mites who live on infested mice and it produces chicken pox-like symptoms including rash, fever, and headache.

Noted rodent researcher Dr. Bobby Corrigan found that rodents can be the carrier and delivery vehicle for up to 55 different diseases. Needless to say, rodents are not something you want your family and friends, customers or employees exposed to.

The harmful effects of rodents extend beyond contaminating and spoiling food, they can also take a chunk out or your home or business – literally. Rats and mice can chew openings on wood siding, door and window frames, and roofs to gain entrance to a structure.

They also chew and gnaw on phone, computer and electrical wires, and thereby are capable of starting fires. The National Pest Management Association notes that about 40% of home fires of unknown origin are attributed to rodents chewing through electrical wire insulation. Rodent control in and around structures remains the primary strategy for preventing disease or damage caused by rodents.

The health threats posed by rodents and other pests including cockroaches, birds, mosquitoes, stinging insects and ants are very real and should be taken seriously. Western Exterminator’s team of highly-trained Service Technicians and entomologists combine years of in-the-field experience with the latest products and service techniques to effectively eliminate harmful pests.

Western Exterminator does not want to unnecessarily alarm our customers about pests; our goal is to be your go-to source for pest information and to protect your home or business from pests who can do you, your family or coworkers harm.

Do you have questions about potentially harmful pests? If so, I want to hear from you. You can send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with an answer.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator Company “The Final Word in Pest Control®.”

Have a pest free day.

Home Sweet Home – But Not For Pests

by Mr. Little on September 4, 2012 in Company, People, Tips with 1 Comment
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A home is the single most important investment most families make in their lifetime and Western Exterminator is here to make sure pests aren’t part of the family portrait!

Having a pest-free home is important to our customers and Western Exterminator understands that. We also know our customers are just as concerned about protecting the environment as we are.

That’s why Western Exterminator is proud to offer our W.E.CareTM Service Program – our signature residential service. W.E.CareTM is a collection of proven service methods that are rooted deeply in integrated pest management (IPM) practices.

IPM is an ecological approach to controlling nuisance pests in and around homes. It starts with a thorough inspection of your home from top to bottom by our highly-trained Service Technicians.

If our technicians find possible areas where pests such as ants, mice, stinging insects or cockroaches might be able to gain entry to your home, they will perform exclusion work (repairing torn window screens, caulking around window and door frames, etc.) and eliminate any possible pest attractants.

If the pesky flying or crawling visitors require a pesticide application to be eliminated, our technicians concentrate the application to specific target areas and only apply the amount of product needed to get the job done.

Our W.E.CareTM employs effective plant oils and BioRational pesticides along with other natural materials to form a first line of defense for your home.

Some of you may ask, “Does this fancy-smancy program work?” The answer is yes, yes it does.

Our top-notch entomologists in our nationally respected Technical Division are always working to improve all of our pest management programs, and it was they who developed and pioneered our W.E.CareTM program.

They constantly review the most recent university research, conduct field studies, talk with customers, and provide our Service Technicians with the latest products and application techniques to keep your home pest-free year around, continuously enhancing the service we provide to our customers.

And at Western Exterminator, we talk the talk and walk the walk when it comes to doing our part to protect the environment we all share. Since 2000, we have reduced our reliance on the traditional pesticides used in our residential services by 70%. That is truly addition by subtraction in our book.

Another way Western Exterminator is proving its mettle when it comes to controlling pests with the least environmental impact is through its Quality Pro Certification. Quality Pro is a set of rigorous standards established by the National Pest Management Association for its member companies.

The standards for certification include:

  • Employ only highly trained and credentialed employees.
  • Provide detailed information to customers about services.
  • Offer clear, easy-to-understand warranty and termite service agreements.
  • Maintain an up-to-date insurance policy.
  • Advertise truthfully and ethically.
  • Check employee references, driving history and criminal background.
  • Maintain a drug-free workplace.

Earning and maintaining this high standard is important to Western Exterminator since it demonstrates our deep commitment to providing our customers with the highest quality service, delivered by some of the best trained and knowledgeable professionals in the business.

That has been our commitment for more than 90 years and is still our tradition as we begin serving the next generation of customers.

Do you have questions about pests in and around your home? If so, I want to hear from you. You can send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with an answer.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator Company “The Final Word in Pest Control®.”

Have a pest free day.

It’s All About The People (And Pickles) At Western Exterminator

by Mr. Little on August 6, 2012 in Company, History, People with No comments
Family Pride In Excellence

I once heard a speaker at a conference whose guiding principle in business was, “Give ‘em the pickle.” This successful entrepreneur owned a chain of ice cream parlors and restaurants, and one day a regular customer asked for an extra slice of pickle to go with his burger.

I have no idea if it was a dill pickle slice or a sweet pickle slice but for the record I am a dill pickle man. Pair that up with some fresh sliced tomato, lettuce, ketchup and a juicy cheeseburger, and I am one happy camper!

Anyhow, the waitress told the customer she could sell him a side order of pickles for $1.25 and when he said he only wanted one slice, she checked with her manager and kindly offered to sell it to him one for a nickel!

Needless to say, the customer was not happy. He wrote a letter to the owner (the speaker I listened to) to complain and threatened to never come back. The owner wrote back and convinced the customer to give the restaurant another chance. The customer did and like a good Hollywood ending, everyone went home happy.

Afterward, the owner made “Give ‘em the pickle” his company’s rallying cry when it came to customer service and the pickle philosophy was born.

We don’t sell pickles at Western Exterminator Company but we do strive to deliver exceptional customer service each and every day. The biggest part of the customer service equation is people. And at Western we are fortunate to have some of the best in the business on our team.

Western Exterminator’s Service Technicians are knowledgeable and highly-trained. They have access to the latest proven products and equipment, and are backed up by a team of certified entomologists, sanitarians and a registered environmental health specialist who provide solutions to any pest problem our commercial or residential customers may encounter.

We leave no stone, garbage can or dumpster, couch cushion or commercial freezer unturned in search of pests. And when we find ants, bed bugs, cockroaches or rodents we get rid of them for good.

Our Service Technicians participate in extensive training before they set foot in your home or restaurant kitchen, and the learning doesn’t stop there. Our Technical Division conducts regular training sessions to keep our front-line service personnel up-to-date on the latest trends and techniques.

I often sit in on these meetings and I always take away new information or tips that help us do a better job preventing and eliminating unwanted pests in customers’ homes and businesses.

We also have invested in technology to better identify the nasty pests who want to set up shop in your crawlspace or on your store shelves.

Earlier this year I wrote about the high-tech microscope Western Exterminator purchased to zoom in on pest specimens our customers send to us to identify.

Last year we identified more than 1,300 specimens and at 500x magnification our new microscope helped make the identification process quicker and more accurate.

Another reason Western Exterminator can claim we are the “Best in the West” is because of the dedication our people have to our company and our customers.

I run out of fingers and toes counting the number of employees who have been with us for 25+ years. There are over 80! The experience and knowledge they offer customers on how to keep their homes and businesses pest-free is unmatched.

Our corporate headquarters and service center bulletin boards are filled with letters from customers saying how much they enjoy interacting with our technicians and how friendly and courteous they are (not to mention good at getting rid of pests!). You can always count on that whenever you cross paths with a Western Exterminator professional.

Can we help you with a pest problem in your home or office? If so, I want to hear from you. You can send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with an answer.
Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator Company “The Final Word in Pest Control®.”

Have a pest free day.

Putting Bed Bugs To Rest

by Mr. Little on July 30, 2012 in Bugs, People, Tips with No comments
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What do bed bugs and vampires have in common? It’s not a new movie or cable television show but blood. More specifically, it’s your blood they are most interested in.

Most of us grew up with bed bugs being a nursery rhyme that sounded completely innocuous. However, bed bugs have turned that rhyme into a B horror movie and become a significant public health pest in recent years.

In fact, our teams field hundreds of calls every week from concerned consumers who are suddenly being attacked. That’s right – attacked. Bed bugs attack, and inflict painful bites on humans, pets, poultry, and other animals in search of their liquid nourishment.

I know it sounds like a Hollywood script but it’s true – they do want your blood. Their bites cause swelling, welts and itching due to the saliva they leave after feeding on your tasty Type O or Type AB blood!

These blood-sucking pests aren’t picky when it comes to selecting a location to infest – homes, apartment buildings, hospitals, hotels, college dorm rooms, movie theaters, retail stores and even buses! They are adaptable, can survive in a variety of locations, and are easily transported in clothing, shoes, purses, school backpacks – almost anything.

And that’s why they can be so menacing. It’s so easy for them to go undetected as they move from home to car to the workplace, and then onto dinner and a movie, all the while leaving friends behind to inhabit and infest all these places.

Randy Bergman, Western Exterminator’s General Pest Control Manager, has seen his share of nasty pests over his 33 years with Western and some of his bed bug stories have caused my top hat to spin!

“I explain to customers that despite their name, bed bugs can hide anywhere and everywhere in a structure; they don’t confine themselves to beds,” says Bergman. “And bed bugs are secretive. Customers are surprised at how adept bed bugs are at concealing their whereabouts until they want to feed on you. I reassure them too that 5-star hotels can get bed bugs just as easily as a private home—bed bugs don’t care about your address or your housekeeping. They can and will take up residence anywhere they are introduced and have a ready food source.”

He has found bed bugs and their tell-tale calling card – dark droplets of blood – almost everywhere in a house. Behind and on picture frames, in wall sockets, on the nightstand, on sheets and behind baseboards and ceiling trim!

How do you know if bed bugs have set up shop in your home? Bergman recommends customers put light color sheets (white or yellow) on the bed for a week. If bed bugs are coming out at night to feast on your blood you’ll notice small dark spots on the sheets and feel the itch from their bite!

Bergman and our K9 bed bug inspector Honey have both sniffed out their fair share of bed bugs and here is their list of locations where these nasty little blood suckers hide:

  • Along the edge ribbing or beneath buttons of mattresses.
  • Between the mattress and box spring or in the folds of the dust ruffle.
  • Along the support frame or behind the headboard of the bed.
  • In the upholstery and frames of furniture.
  • In wall sockets and light switches.
  • Beneath decorator pillows or behind wall hangings

If you think you have a bed bug problem, contact Randy Bergman or anyone of our Western Exterminator professionals. They will conduct a thorough top to bottom inspection of your home and make a positive identification before recommending a treatment program that will eliminate these disgusting pests.

Do you have questions about bed bugs? If so, I want to hear them. You can send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll be sure to get back to you right away with an answer.
Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator Company “The Final Word in Pest Control®.”

Have a pest free day.

 

Playing It Safe With Food

by Mr. Little on July 16, 2012 in Bugs, Company, People, Tips with No comments
FDA_Western

In a recent survey from Food Processing magazine, more than 85% of respondents indicated they gave some thought to the safety of their foods and beverages over the past year.

When asked about their confidence in the safety of the food supply in the United States, 78% indicated they were very or somewhat confident it was safe.

In other words, U.S. consumers trust that the food they feed their families is free of disease and contaminants.

What does this mean to you, me and the millions of consumers who buy and consume everything from apples to zucchini every day? It means that keeping our nation’s food supply healthy is an important job, and one that requires an expert’s touch.

Basic pest management in food handling facilities is the first pre-requisite to keeping our food supply safe. At Western Exterminator we take our role in helping protect the nation’s food supply quite seriously. Our Quality Assurance Manager Janet Yaldezian and our entire team of Commercial Division pest professionals work day in and day out to protect the food your family eats in restaurants, school cafeterias, ballparks, on cruise ships, and at your kitchen table.

Every year pest infestations cause enormous economic loss to food supplies around the world. As food travels from farm to table, opportunities for pest contamination abound. Whether it’s the producer, processor, distributor or your local grocery store, every facet of the food industry is exposed to pest related risks.

Yaldezian is a registered dietician, an environmental health specialist and has the same credentials as government health inspectors. She works with our entomologists, Service Technicians and closely with the needs of our customers to develop effective and specific programs that keep unwanted, destructive pests like rodents, cockroaches, flies, stored product pests and birds from invading and spoiling food supplies. She performs audits and consults with clients to assist them in determining that proper sanitation and food safety standards are met at their facilities, helping them meet strict and vital government standards.

In addition, Yaldezian insures our team of service professionals receives the required certifications coupled with continuous honing of their skills, allowing them to provide a superior level of pest management services for these highly regulated food handling facilities.

“Pest management is a critical part of food safety because pests can contaminate foods with pathogenic microorganisms and make people sick,” says Yaldezian. “Our IPM programs exclude and prevent pests from entering a food facility to protect the safety and integrity of the products being produced.”

Among the services Western Exterminator provides food industry customers are bioremediation, bird exclusion, commodity, railcar, trailer and structural fumigation, flying insect management, food safety inspections, pest proofing, and stored product pest monitoring.

Many hands and pests can come into contact with the food we buy and eat on its way from the fields and pastures to our plates. You can eat easier knowing Mr. Little and Western Exterminator are on the job to make sure every bite is delicious, nutritious, and pest-free!

The next time you sit down to a delicious looking meal, know that my team and I, along with pest professionals across the country, are dedicated to making sure your meal not only tastes good, but is good for you, too!

Have a question on food safety or pest management? If so, send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com and I’ll get back to you right away with the information you are looking for.

Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator Company “The Final Word in Pest Control®.”

Have a pest free day.

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