Geoff Ford Appears on Channel 3 News Speaking on the effect this mild winter is having on the critters and insects.
Who’s has been eating my chocolate?
There are three times per year we experience an increase in mouse calls. The first is after Halloween when the mice get into the left over candy, the second is Christmastime when people find droppings and nests in the attic, and the third is after Valentine’s Day when the mice (again) find left over candy. Mice love chocolate and peanut butter and their keen sense of smell lead them to your stash. Try keeping leftover candy in the fridge or freezer to protect them from these salmonella carrying varmints. Perhaps the best idea is to drop off leftover candy here at Ford’s Hometown Services and we will be sure it doesn’t stay leftover for long. We are happy to make this sacrifice for the good of the public. All kidding aside, a mouse infestation should not be ignored. Mice breed at an alarming rate and defecate and urinate everywhere they walk. Don’t let these uninvited guests overtake and contaminate your home. Call today for more information or to inquire about our preventative services: 1-800-649-9992.
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What’s with the Squirrels?
Have you noticed that squirrels are very active right now? Ford’s Hometown Services sure has. For weeks now we have been inendated with calls for problem squirrels in homes and garages. It is squirrel mating season and some are now starting to have their first litter. Our wildlife specialist Leo Dupont says that it is just about impossible to find gray squirrel droppings. He believes that they bury them to prevent detection. Although found in trees, Bob Brooks our sales specialist points out that if given the choice they will go for an attic nest over a tree nest. Always check around your eaves and foundation for gaps and seal them up quickly. Over time ice will widen these gaps leaving your home vulnerable to invaders. Is wildlife making you batty or squirrels driving you nuts? Call Ford’s Hometown Services today 1-800-649-9992.
Posted in Gray Squirrel
Tagged Ford's Hometown Services, gray squirrel, trapping, wildlife
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Meet our Staff
Meet Geoff Ford Vice President of Ford’s Hometown Services. In 1978 Geoffrey joined his father to work in the pest control division, where he became manager in 1997. He worked under the careful eye of his father and when George was ready to retire, Geoff was ready to step in.
Geoff could see how much children and adults really loved seeing our dead insect displays so came up with the idea for our “Bug Club”. Our live insectarium filled with snakes, scorpions, Madagascar hissing cockroaches and giant millipedes just to name a few. Then he took this idea a step forward and created our birthday party’s themed with live insects. Kids love these parties and we get strong word of mouth recommendations. He also started our wildlife division for trapping nuisance wildlife.
Geoff is also a sports fanatic, you name it he probably plays it and hurt a part of his body playing it. He is a loving husband and father of 4 who enjoys hunting and fishing with his twin boys and spending time with his beautiful daughters.
Along with brothers Chris & Bobby, Ford’s Hometown Services stays focused on the premiere customer service our clients deserve. Stop by and visit or insectarium and while your here you can meet Geoff.
Raining Rats? Turtleman Must Be Near.
My co-worker Donna ran into this video and shared it with the office. After viewing it, many of us could not believe how he handles a rat infestaion and it seemed a little bit staged, but who knows? Click on this link to see the crazy “Call of the Wildman” show on Animal Planet: Raining Rats
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Pest of the Month
PEST OF THE MONTH
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are one of the hardest insects for a homeowner to eradicate and a troubling reoccurrence in apartment buildings. The most common cockroach in homes, apartment buildings and businesses are German Cockroaches. One female can carry an egg capsule (called an ootheca) containing 30-40 babies and will do this about 5 times over her lifespan. Cockroaches will eat anything including: glue, soap, waste, toothpaste, grease, dog/cat food, dried skin and whatever you have made for supper. There are no boundaries in any building to a cockroach.
Treatment begins with a thorough inspection to measure the degree of infestation. This will determine what type of treatment we will be performing. Our Pest Management Professionals play an important role in providing preventative services to businesses to prevent an infestation from being delivered to them in goods/foods and then being brought home by you. Are you beeing bugged? Contact us at FORDSHOMETOWN.COM
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Wishing You A Happy New Year
Where did this year go and what will the New Year bring? Have you made any resolutions and will you be able to keep them? Here are a few resolution ideas from your pest and lawn professionals:
1. Resolve to apply pesticides, fertilizers, and grub control responsibly or leave it to the professionals. More is never better and you should ALWAYS READ THE FULL LABEL.
2. Raise your mower blades when the weather is hot to prevent stress on your lawn and keep your blades sharpened.
3. Fix your wet basement. Add gutters, seal holes, direct the grade away from the foundation.
4. Keep wood piles away from the home and never store more than 3 days of firewood inside.
5. Don’t ingnore bugs. If you see ants every spring inside, you have a nest somewhere that needs to be treated.
6. Resolve to maintain your home to prevent insect and rodent infestations. Add weather stripping, clean gutters, fix broken or loose fitting screens and repair roof issues.
7. Prevent standing water. Mosquitos are a dangerous insect to attract to your yard. Also, wildlife, rodents and moisture loving insects will stay in the area.
8. Keep brush and treelimbs trimmed. Ticks sit and wait for you to rub past so they can grab on.
9. Never feed wild animals.
10. Finally, have a safe and Happy New Year from your friends at Ford’s Hometown Services. In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, never in want.
Happy New Year!
Posted in Holiday Promotions
Tagged Ford's Hometown Services, Happy New Year, Maintain Your Home
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Sorry Santa
OOPS! The strong winds knocked down our “Guest” sign causing Santa to become the “Pest of the Month”. Reminds me of the year our envelope company accidently made the House Mouse the “Guest of the Month” and Santa the “Pest of the Month”. We were glad we caught that before the bills went out. We still love you Santa!
Not A Creature Was Stirring?
Wow! Not a creature was stirring because the snakes scared them away. This has been the most active year for snakes inside homes that I can remember. Be sure your doors and windows are sealed properly and try your best to block holes in the foundation. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of snakes in your house.
Posted in Snakes
Tagged Ford's Hometown Services, Not a Creature was stirring, snakes, Snakes on glueboard
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Ever Wonder What Slithers Around In Your House?
As part of our service, we often place insect and rodent monitors to capture things that may be crawling around your home or business. This snake got captured on a glue board but you can tell from the snake skin that there may have been 2 more snakes on the glue board. Monitors are a non-chemical tool we often use to catch insect & rodent infestations before they become a problem. Although snakes were not what we were after, the customer didn’t mind. Want to see what’s crawling around your home? Stop by our office at 549 Grove Street in Worcester (across from Indian Lake) and we will give you 1 insect monitor to try.
Posted in Snakes
Tagged Ford's Hometown Services, Insect Monitor, Rodent Monitors, Snake, Worcester
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