Pratt Pest FAQ
- What does it cost?
- Can you treat for flies/mosquitos/gnats?
- Do you kill/remove bees?
- What will your service do for me?
- I came home and found a bunch of dead bugs!
- I have not seen dead bugs all around my home!
- Can you spray for snakes?
- How do I keep mice out?
- What will the chemicals do to me?
- Will this hurt my dog/cat/tortoise/husband?
- Should I be concerned about rodent baits around my dog/cat?
- What is an "MSDS"?
- What is a "Label"?
- What is this bug?
- Is that a new truck?
- Do you treat for termites?
What does it cost?
Price is determined by a variety of factors.
If a building is small, well sealed, has no eaves, and no plants growing near it, it will recieve a relatively low price. If a building is large, full of holes and covered in cactus, it will cost more to inspect and treat. Current or probable infestations also will be factors in the price; for example, we will charge less for a house that has no ants than a house with a evidence of ant problems.
We will usually come to your house and give you a quote for free. Please call for an appointment
1-760-767-4540.
Can you treat for flies/mosquitos/gnats?
Unfortunately, no.
All of the chemicals we use are designed to be applied at ground level, or in small overhead "spot" treatments. The only residual left by the chemical is directly where we applied it: the ground. Flying pests can fly over and avoid our treatment altogether.
Do you kill/remove bees?
No.
We have neither the training nor the equiptment to efficiently handle a bee hive or infestation. If you are interested in live bee removal, try Richard's Bee Removal (619-992-9154). If you need bees killed try David at Borrego Pest (760-767-5377) or Killer Bee Removal in Palm Desert (1-888-346-9542).
What will your service do for me?
Our service will dramatically reduce pest activity. You will stop hearing crickets in your hall, stop having ants on your counter, and stop finding giant live roaches in your house when you come home. You will no longer need to brush spider webs from your face and corners daily. And if you do suffer an invaison, we will come for additional treatments at no additional fee.
Return to TopI came home and found a bunch of dead bugs!
Good!
Your house is not infested. You simply see the remains of what could have been an infestation if we were not protecting your home. Our treatments cannot keep bugs out altogether, but it can and will kill bugs that try to move into your home.
I have not seen dead bugs all around my home!
We practice IPM (Integrated Pest Management). This means that we work with you to discourage pests and exclude them whenever possible so they do not have to encounter chemical barriers and die around your home.
One of the most important parts of our service call is the inspection and written report that let you know about potential problems. We will help you keep your home from being a happy resort destination for unwelcome pests by developing a service plan that discourages infestations and kills the first pests that do try to move in, before they can encourage more bugs to come.
Can you spray for snakes?
No.
We have not found a snake repellent that works reliably. The good news is that snakes rarely invade homes, as there is generally little food or other insentive for them to come inside.
If you do see a snake, or a snake lives near your home, look for rattles on the tail. The only venomous snakes in Southern California are rattlesnakes (the western diamondback and the sidewinder) and they are easily identified by the rattles on their tail. Other indiginous snakes are harmless, and all snakes will help with a rodent problem in the area.
How do I keep mice out?
The best way to keep mice out is to do just that: keep the mice outside. Excusion of mice is tough, but possible. A mouse or rat can climb most stucco siding and wood, and enter through very small holes (1/4" round for a mouse, 1/2" for a rat). To keep mice/rats from entering an existing hole, try plugging the hole with coarse steel wool. If the steel wool is pulled out several times, hire a contractor to professionaly seal the hole.
If mice are already in the house, try to close any possible entry points. At this point, we would reccomend either baiting or trapping to get rid of your mouse infestation. Bait snap traps with peanut butter or dried meat or fruit. Place them with the trigger pad facing the wall, and the entire trap perpendicular to the wall. Ask ross about baiting, or use standard D-con (according to its label directions).
What will the chemicals do to me?
Our chemicals rarely affect humans or mammals and most people can't even smell them, but in some cases they do. If you are affected by a chemical, you will experience similar effects to seasonal allergies: coughing, congestion, watery eyes, scratchy throat, etc. To view a full list of possible effects a chemical can have on your system, please visit our chemicals page and click the "label" link next to the product you are concerned about.
Return to TopWill this hurt my dog/cat/tortoise/parrot?
Most of our chemicals are designed to be virtually harmless to mammals/reptiles/birds found in an average household. In almost all cases, a pet would have to drink literally ALL of the chemicals typically applied at a house in order do have any significant chance of being affected. Theroretically a pet could be allergic to chemicals we use - we have not yet had any reports of a pet with any problems with the products we use.
There are some exceptions. Pet spiders/tarantulas are just as vunerable to our poison as pests and fish are susceptible to pesticides. We take great care to keep our sprays away from fish ponds and have worked in homes with pet spiders and their feeder crickets.
Please let us know about any pets you have at your home.
Should I be concerned about rodent baits around my dog/cat?
Yes.
Rodent and mammal baits are the only poisons we use that pose significant harm to common household pets when used properly. Rodent baits are effective and must be carefully placed and managed in order to minimize the chance that a pet can eat them. When we know pets are in a treated house we take great care to place products in such a manner that neither dogs nor cats will be able to reach them. This does not negate the fact that if your pet consumes the bait it can cause significant harm or death.
In most cases, trapping can serve as an alterative when pets are a concern.
What is an "MSDS"?
MSDS is short for Material Safety Data Sheet, and provides lots of information on a chemical. This includes the product name, physical hazards, routs of body entry, permissable exposure limits, carcinogenic factors (possible causes of cancer), safe handling procedures, date of sheet preparation, contact information, and any special instructions for a product.
Return to TopWhat is a "Label"?
A Label or Specimen Label is the set of directions and regulations that come on every unit of chemical used by a Pest control service. It is the final authority of proper use of the product, and any use of the product that goes against the label is a violation of the law.
Return to TopWhat is this bug?
There is a rather good bug search on this site which will help guide you through the steps of identifying most pests. For others, send pictures to ross@prattpestmanagement.com. If we still can't figure it out, give us a specimen next time we are out. If that doesn't work we will ask for the fee that our entimologist charges and have him look it up.
Return to TopIs that a new truck?
Nope. That is the same 2004 red Toyota we all know and love. We try hard to keep the truck looking good, thanks for noticing.
Return to TopDo you treat termites?
No.
We are not licensed to treat or diagnose termite infestations or wood destroying organisms. We do not prepare termite/pest inspection reports for real estate transactions.