The Orkin Blog

As a healthcare professional, you know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The same is true when it comes to pest management. Since pests are capable of spreading germs and diseases, it’s critical to take a proactive approach to preventing pests to help protect the health and safety of your patients, staff and entire healthcare environment.

Because ant species behave differently, it’s important to properly identify the type of ant on your property. Some ants, like carpenter ants, are most likely to cause structural damage around your home by chewing through wood to make their nests. Other ants, like pavement ants and European fire ants, can be aggressive and are more likely to sting humans. From the sidewalk to the laundry room, these innovative insects are able to build nests in all sorts of places. Potential hot spots for ant activity include the kitchen or pantry, protected places like wall voids or spaces under appliances and warm or humid places near drains, pipes and wiring.

While ants may be small in size, their colonies can grow to more than 500,000 individuals. With this many soldiers marching around your property, it’s no surprise they can be notoriously difficult to control. That’s why prevention is key to keeping an ant introduction from turning into a full-scale invasion.

When patients visit your facility, the last thing they want to see is a bed bug, cockroach or rodent. Negative news travels fast, and a healthcare facility’s reputation can plummet in an instant if pest control issues get out of hand. But more than that, pests can lead to unnecessary health risks to patients, especially those with weakened immune systems. All healthcare facilities have one goal in common, getting and keeping their patients healthy. And even with the highest level of sanitation, pests can easily find their way through the front (and delivery) doors daily.

Earwigs are attracted to lights and can become a nuisance on porches and patios, cause damage to plants in gardens and flower beds, and even inside your home. Earwigs also prefer cool, damp areas and being excellent climbers, may enter your home during extended dry periods. Eliminating any potential hiding spots and entry points is key to controlling earwigs.

How much do you know about the wildlife you share your surroundings with? Around the world, wildlife captivates with their extraordinary behaviours. But with these activities, comes unpredictability, which can cause disorder or worse. Whether you see them or not, wildlife is all around you, and as it finds its way into cities, it’s important to know how to identify their signs for the health and safety of your home or business.

Mosquitoes are more than an unwelcome nuisance on sidewalks, patios, playgrounds and other outdoor spaces. They can threaten the health and well-being of your employees and customers through their uncomfortable bites and the potential diseases they spread.

Did you know there are over 260 different species of stink bugs in North America? Like any insect, these can find their way indoors from time to time. While most of us aren’t appreciative of any insects in our home, stink bugs can be a nuisance, especially if they choose to visit your home in large numbers.

As the weather warms up and mosquitoes start becoming more active, you can expect to see these little blood suckers on your property. As mosquitoes are best known for their itchy bites and ability to spread disease, it is important to get the facts about mosquitoes. Here are the top 5 facts you need to know about mosquitoes.

Pest birds invading your commercial property are not only a nuisance, but can also put your business/commercial property, customers and employees at risk. Whether it is potential health risks and hazards that can be associated with bird droppings or liability risks that can lead to legal actions, pest birds can be nothing but trouble. Here are some of the issues that pest birds can bring to your business.