Scratching in Walls or the Attic: What Sound Can (and Cannot) Tell You
You hear scratching above the ceiling after dark. A few minutes later, something seems to move inside the wall. Is it a mouse? A squirrel? Something larger? The sound can…
Great North Field Notes
Pest Articles
Practical articles about pests, prevention, and the places we protect.
All Articles
Why Ant Trails Return After the Visible Ants Are Gone
You find a line of ants traveling across the kitchen counter, clean them up, and the trail disappears. Problem solved? Maybe not. The ants you see indoors are often workers…
Pantry Moths Keep Returning: Find the Source Beyond the Adults
You spot a small moth flying around the kitchen, get rid of it, and assume the problem is solved. A few days later, another one appears. Then another. When pantry…
Insects & Other Arthropods Prevention & Pest Management
Small Flies Keep Coming Back
Why the Source Matters You clean the kitchen, swat the flies you can see, and for a little while the problem seems better. Then a few days later, they’re back.…
Paper Wasps: What Are They Doing Around Your Home?
Paper wasps have an unfortunate habit of building their homes exactly where we don't want them. Under a deck railing. Inside a shed. Above a doorway. Beneath the eaves of…
Common House Flies: Why They’re in Your Home
You swat a fly away from the kitchen counter, only to notice another one a few minutes later. An occasional house fly that wanders indoors isn’t unusual, especially during warmer…
Bed Bugs 101: What They Are, Where They Hide, and How to Spot the Signs
Few household pests cause as much stress as bed bugs. Just hearing the words "bed bug" is enough to make many people start checking their mattress. While these insects can…
How Do Mice Get Into Homes?
Many homeowners are surprised to learn they can have mice inside even when they keep a clean home. One of the most common questions we hear is: "How are they…
Spring Pest Prevention Starts Outside Your Home
As temperatures begin warming across the Midwest, pest activity starts increasing fast. Ants begin searching for food, spiders become more active, rodents move between nesting areas, and overwintering insects emerge…
House Mice in Homes and Businesses: What You Should Know
House mice are one of the most common rodents found inside homes, garages, shops, restaurants, warehouses, and commercial buildings. Because of their small size and ability to reproduce quickly, even…