This Georgia find isn’t as cute as it sounds! The Atlanta based Centers For Disease Control And Prevention has found the “kissing bug,” which can carry a parasite in it’s feces that can cause a deadly disease.

These bugs feed off the blood of mammals and humans. Sometimes, they carry a parasite that can cause Chagas disease. The disease has two treatments; but if left untreated, it can cause a quick death. Worldwide these bugs kill about 12,000 people a year. About 300,000 of those are people in the U.S, but the majority are in Latin America.

The bug has recently made headlines because it’s been seen in the South. Spotted in Texas, 12 people have reportedly been infected. The reason they’re called the “kissing bug” is because they are known for biting people on their face and lip area. They can be found under porches or cement, or near where animals stay. They’re also known to bite when you’re asleep.

For a full list of ways to keep the bugs out and how to take care of them when found, read this article! Here are also 5 important things to know about the kissing bug.

And don’t forget, Critter Busters is your Greater Atlanta Area source for killing all kinds of bugs! Visit our site for a full list of services, or give us a call at 404-975-2543.

Fall is the perfect time for camping. However, when you wake up to your food strewn across the table or bags chewed through, you might start thinking otherwise. Critters have a way of secretly destroying your camp site; but you can out smart them! So here’s how:

1. Bring a cooler that locks. Animals are coming to you for one thing only; food. So bring a cooler that locks! Leaving food open on the table or in your tent is an open invitation. Keep the cooler locked and put it somewhere in high elevation or in your car to be safe.
2. Bring fabric softener. Didn’t know? The smell of fabric softeners can deter wild animals away. Spread them around everywhere, from the campfire to your tent. Hint: it can also disguise the smell of food!
3. Bring flashlights. Shine a light on your furry friends and they’re sure to take off running.
4. Use heavy duty trash bags. A lot of camp sites don’t provide garbage cans, which means your trash can end up close to your tents. If so, buy heavy duty trash bags and layer them up for full protection.
5. Use a repellent. There are a ton of critter repellents out there. Here are a few we highly recommend! Most are made with natural ingredients that won’t harm you or the animals.

Camping is one thing, but having critters take over your home or business is another. So call in a professional! Critter Busters services both commercial and residential areas. We’re based in Acworth, GA but service all of the Greater Atlanta Area. Give us a call at 404-975-2543 or visit our site for more info. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook!

A variety of animals are night owls; which means you may find your trash can overturned in the morning. It’s hard to keep track of animals during the night, but there’s a few precautions you can take to keep them out!

1. Build a fence. Make a fence that angles outward from your house to prevent animals from climbing over. If the animals you’re trying to exclude are larger (like deer), consider making a taller fence. You may also have animals that might dig under the fence, so consider getting a wire-mesh fence that reaches a foot underground.
2. Block their access. If you can figure out what they want, there are ways to deny them access! Take away any outdoor food options they may have (put a fence around your garden if you have to). Put straps on your garbage cans to keep it closed.
3. Create some stink! Animals are easily offended off by different smells. Garden centers and hardware stores have aisles lined with sprays that will repel them. Almost all of them are very natural and safe. Predator urine powders or granules can make small animals run scared from your property. Simply sprinkle the products around the areas you want to keep safe from nocturnal visitors!
4. Scare them with sounds. Motion detecting sound devices are fantastic to scare off animals. Use balloons or strips of foil that blow in the wind to deter them as well; they’re easily startled and will suspect someone is after them!

Still having trouble keeping the critters out? Call Critter Busters! We’ll remove animals safely and quickly for a pest free home. Give us a call at 404-975-2543. Check out our site for a full list of services and which areas we can serve.

The attic is already creepy enough…who needs animals up there too? Luckily there are preventative measures you can take to keep them out. Here’s a few!

1. Check to see if there are already animals up there. Listen for sounds, inspect the attic and sprinkle flour in front of any holes to the outside that appear to be chewed on. If you have an infestation, call a professional.
2. Inspect your home exterior. You’d be surprised where they can enter. Walk the perimeter of your house. Use a ladder for places you can’t see, and inspect your vents and chimney.
3. Patch holes. Purchase hardware cloth (.25 or .5 in). Cut a piece at least 8-12 inches larger than the hole you’re patching, staple it over the hole, and secure it by hammering u-shaped nails around it.
4. Install vent covers. Take .5 inch of hardware cloth or steel and screen over the vent hole from the attic side for additional protection. Cut a piece of screen, and staple or nail in place.
5. Think about adding a chimney cap. This is for if your chimney is too large. However make sure you don’t get a cap too small, or it could cause a chimney fire.
6. Remove food. Make food sources less accessible. Keep garbage cans closed, feed pets inside, remove bird feeders and pick up nuts or fruits that may have fallen in your yard.
7. Put up a squirrel nesting box. You can find out more information on squirrel nesting boxes here.
8. Trim and remove trees and branches. If close to your house, they can jump from trees to your roof, and have easier access to your house.

Better to be safe than sorry right? Call in the professionals! Critter Busters specializes in home animal removal and will keep you worry free this winter. Give us a call or visit us on our site for our full list of services.

We all love fall…the crisp leaves, bonfires, hot cocoa and chilly nights. But there’s one thing we don’t like, and that’s critters. Most pests thrive in the summer; which means come fall, they’ll be seeking shelter in warm places. Don’t let your home be one of them!

He’s cute…but not in your home!

What are some kinds of damage pests can cause?

• Rodents cause diseases that can cause structural damage to your property by gnawing through wires, which can cause house fires.
• Cockroaches also spread disease and their droppings and saliva can trigger asthma attacks, especially in young children.
• Brown recluse spiders will bite if threatened, injecting venom that can be dangerous to those with allergic reactions.

What kinds of precautions can I take? 

• Install door sweeps on exterior doors.
• Repair damaged screens.
• Screen vents and openings to chimneys.
• Seal cracks on the outside of your home, especially where utilities and pipes enter.
• Store food in containers and take out the trash regularly.
• Replace loose mortar and weather stripping around the basement foundation and windows.
• Get rid of all sites of moisture, like leaking pipes and clogged drains.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house.
• Keep shrubbery well-trimmed.

The last precaution to take is to call a licensed professional, like us! We know all about fall critter control and will make sure your house is pest free this season. Give us a call at 404-372-1645. You can also check out our specific animal control pages or our available services page.

Do you ever hear strange scratching noises or movement above your house? It’s possible that squirrels have infiltrated your attic! Unfortunately, they often produce a lot of noise and tend to chew through wiring. Not to mention they can also carry disease! Here are a few ways to get them to “scram.”

Chemical Repellents

Chemical repellents can be bought at any household goods store, but you can also make them at home! There’s a million and one DIY repellents out there, but the main thing to keep in mind using cayenne pepper. Here are a few DIY squirrel repellents recipes. Bonus: this will also keep them away from plants!

Mothballs

This is sort of a hit or miss concept. You’ll need a lot of them to work, and there’s still a chance they may not. Mothballs create a smell in the house and can drop in between attic floorboards making them impossible to retrieve. But it’s worth a try! To make your own mothballs mix cloves, rosemary, mint, thyme and ginseng together and tie up in muslin bags.

Trees

Trimming trees that are close to the house will keep them from jumping in! Try to trim at least 10 feet away from the roof of the house.

Fix the roof!

Make sure to patch up any holes in the roof that squirrels could have access to. While they may find other ways of access, this is a great start. Note: Be sure not to cover up any holes where squirrels are already nesting. It can trap them inside and cause even more damage to your attic!

Still having issues with squirrels? Let Critter Busters be your source for removal! Give us a call at 404-372-1645 or sign up for a free inspection online!

There’s nothing more heart-wrenching than putting in hard work and have it all go to waste. And while your vegetable garden might be on the lower end of this life spectrum, no one wants their homegrown vegetables eaten!

Lucky for you, this never has to happen. Critter Busters has a few simple tips to keep your garden fresh and critter free.

1. Build a raised bed! There are plenty of advantages to raised beds. They’re simple to build, keep your soil warmer and prevent it from becoming compacted underfoot. Small animals are often reluctant to leave ground level because they don’t want to be seen; it’s a full proof idea!

2. If you have multiple beds, keep the pathways narrow. This also goes hand in hand with a raised bed, and animals not wanting to be seen. If you keep the bed pathways about a foot wide, animals will be less likely to enter for fear of exposure.

3. Plant different vegetables with each other. Plants like onions, garlic, marigold, chives and lavender can be repellents against rabbit, deer and other animals. Throwing these in around the rest of your crops will keep animals from eating all your good looking crops!

4. Build a fence! This is tricky considering you still need easy access to your own garden, but it will keep pests out. Make sure you build one at least 15 cm underground so animals can’t dig underneath. Click here to find out how to build your own garden fence.

5. Put mulch down. Who knows why, but apparently animals don’t like mulch! And bonus: it helps regulate soil temperature and prevent weed growth. If you don’t want to use mulch, straw, dried evergreen needles and wood bark are also great options.

6. Distract your animals. Find out what other sorts of food and plants animals your pests like to eat, and plant those away from your garden. For example, rabbits and other small animals love eating clover, alfalfa, dandelions, etc.

Still worried about pests? We’ve got you covered! Critter Busters has multiple Georgia locations and are happy to help with unwanted critters. Give us a call at 404-372-1645 or visit the Critter Busters website for more info!