National Safety Month: Pest Control

Many people think of pest control as an aesthetic issue. Your home certainly looks better without ants trailing through your kitchen. And we can all imagine how embarrassing it would be to invite friends over for dinner only to have them see a cockroach scuttle across the dinner table. However, pest control issues are more than just gross or unsettling. Pest control issues are a genuine safety issue for you and your family. Since June is National Safety Month, we wanted to highlight some of the ways in which pests pose a safety risk and how Emtec Pest Control can help keep your family safe:

1. Dangerous pests—whether you’ve seen them in your home or garden or heard the horror stories from your friends and family, we all know Oklahoma is home to a wide variety of venomous spiders and scorpions. From the Southern Black Widow and the Brown Recluse to the Striped Bark scorpion, these pesky, venomous creatures call our state home and venture into our homes and businesses from time to time seeking shelter, water, and easy prey. While they are rarely lethal, their bites and stings can be extremely painful, and for those who have a sensitivity to their venoms, they can be extremely dangerous.
2. Disease-carrying pests—while other pests like mosquitoes, ticks, and rodents might not be venomous, they are all carriers of multiple diseases that can be transmitted if they bite humans or pets. Mosquitoes have been in the spotlight lately because of the Zika virus and its rapid spread, however, mosquitoes are carriers of many other diseases as well. We all know that ticks are carriers of Lyme diseases, but they can also transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) and more. And though rodents sometimes seem harmless, they are carriers of Tularemia, rat-bite fever, leptospirosis, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome and other illnesses.
3. Pest control products—we all love to keep difficult pests in check (especially us!), but some pest control products can be dangerous if they are not used and stored properly. Store-bought ant traps and rodent poisons can be lethal to household pets if ingested and even your typical bug spray can potentially be dangerous if applied incorrectly. It is important to always read the directions on any pest control or insect repellant product you buy and use it as the directions instruct. And for larger jobs, like a full home or business pest control, it’s best to call the professionals at Emtec Pest Control. Our staff is trained and experienced and knows how to safely eliminate any pests from any home.
4. Structural safety—termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, old ash bores, and many other pests burrow into your home seeking food, water, and shelter. Unfortunately, in the process, they end up damaging your home and ruining its structural integrity. While it might not seem like a few bugs can do that much damage, many of these pests are sneaky and you might not notice their presence for years. And trust us, after years of pests chomping away at the walls, floors, and ceilings of your home, even small bugs can do some big damage. If left to their own devices, termites will continue eating until there’s no wood left. Even if your home collapses in the process.
5. Unexpected dangers—a pest infestation can bring with it a host of unintended, and potentially dangerous, consequences. We all know cockroaches are gross, but they can also be carriers of salmonella and increase your risk of developing glaucoma if you spend a lot of time in contact with them. And nobody wants a rat in the attic. But having a rodent infestation can attract larger animals that eat rodents, including snakes. The only thing worse than going up to the attic to pull out the Christmas decorations and finding a rat is going up to the attic to pull out the Christmas decorations and finding a snake.

At Emtec Pest Control, we are committed to safe and responsible pest control. We understand that your family’s safety is your number one priority, so we make it our priority, too. If you have any other questions about any of these pests or pest control for your home or business, contact your Oklahoma pest control experts at Emtec Pest Control by calling us or by filling out our online contact form. Our service areas in Northeast Oklahoma include Bixby, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Owasso, Jenks, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Skiatook, Stillwater, Tulsa, and the surrounding areas. In Central Oklahoma, we service Edmond, Moore, Oklahoma City, Yukon, and the surrounding areas. You can also connect with us on social media for more helpful pest control tips and information. We are on Facebook and Google+.