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Portland’s Best Pest Control Blog

Read our pro tips for getting all-natural pest control for ants, rats, spiders and wildlife, and how to use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to solve your pest problems. Safe & Easy.

7 Powerful Resources to Help You Reduce Pesticide Use

The key to reducing pesticide use is having access to good information about pest control. We've taken a moment to compile a list of all the great resources for pest control professionals and landowners to reference when deciding how to reduce pesticide use. Solve...

Top 5 Best Pet Safe Ways to Control Roaches

Got creepy-crawlie cockroaches? Curious whether roach sprays are safe for pets, or if there is a pet-friendly roach bomb? Luckily it's the 21st century of pest control. If you read these tips, you'll learn how to control roaches without exposing your pets to pesticide...

How to Deter Beaver Mischief with Beaver Exclusion Fencing

Searching for answers how to get rid of beavers? There could be a more permanent solution than hiring a beaver exterminator. If beaver dams are eating your trees, flooding your property, or blocking your culvert, beaver exclusion fencing might be right for you.Getting...

How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs With Essential Oils

Brown marmorated stink bugs. You're frustrated with big brown bugs on the outside of your house? It's probably these guys. In Fall, brown marmorated stink bugs search for warm crevices in which to shelter overwinter.Remedies to Get Rid of Stink Bugs NaturallyIf you're...

How To Prevent Rats From Eating Car Wires

Scrolling for good information on how to prevent rats from eating car wires? You're not alone. Across the nation, rats are chewing car wires and causing hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of repairs. Here's what one Portland rat exterminator recommends you should...

Devastating Discovery of Emerald Ash Borer in Oregon

Anxious environmentalists have been dreading the arrival of emerald ash borer in Oregon. Sadly, on June 30th 2022, the presence of emerald ash borer in Oregon was found by a Portland biologist picking his children up from summer camp.Emerald Ash Borer OregonFor folks...

The Complete Guide to Pet Safe Ant Control

If you're like me, you go to ridiculous lengths to keep your beloved pet safe and happy. Many pet owners tolerate ants year after year because of unanswered questions about pet safe ant control. This complete pet safe ant exterminator's guide will answer all those...

Cleaning Away The Mice (Guest Blog by Grove Pest Control)

This guest-post was originally written by our fellow eco-friendly Pest Control operator Erik Johnson of Grove Pest Control out of Calgary Canada. Enjoy!Cleaning is the number one weapon against mice in the house. You can clean the mice right out! Maybe not literally,...

Invasive Squirrels in Oregon: The Dangerous Cost of Squirrel Feeding

When it comes to squirrels in Oregon, we love to go nuts. Daydreaming while watching squirrels can be a welcomed distraction. Many folks even feed squirrels to get a better glimpse. But there's a few reasons why we shouldn't feed squirrels in Oregon. Let's take a look...

Does Bird Seed Attract Rats? This Research Suggests Yes

Out of the corner of your eye, you see a wiggling brown blob on the feeder. Wait, that's not a bird. It's a big fat rat. If you're wondering if the bird seed is attracting rats, and how to stop it, you're not alone. We wondered the same thing, so we compiled data from...
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Ant icon symbolizing ant control    Ant Extermination

The Complete Guide to Pet Safe Ant Control

If you're like me, you go to ridiculous lengths to keep your beloved pet safe and happy. Many pet owners tolerate ants year after year because of unanswered questions about pet safe ant control. This complete pet safe ant exterminator's guide will answer all those...

The Secret on How to Keep Ants Out of Your House

Wondering how to keep ants out of your house? Overwhelmed with wave after wave of tiny black ants invading your home? Read along to learn our insider tips on how to get ants out of your house, and keep them out.How to Keep Ants Out of HouseSo often here in Portland,...

5 Best Ways to Keep Your Home Naturally Pest Free

If you’ve ever had to get rats or ants out of the home, you know it can be a nightmare. Don’t let pest control be an afterthought. Follow these 5 simple tips to keep your home naturally pest free. Whether it’s spiders in the basement or a squirrel in the attic,...

How to Get Rid of Sugar Ants Without Spraying Chemicals

Desperate to eliminate ants? But don't want to spray chemicals? Have you tried cinnamon, caulking, or store-bought ant "traps" to no avail? Some get success with ant baits over-the-counter. Others find ants coming back every year no matter what. In this article, we'll...

Is All Natural Pest Control A Good Way To Manage Ants?

Looking for an all natural pest control solution for ants? Have you tried endless cleaning, homemade all natural ant sprays or sprinkling diatomaceous earth with poor results? Read carefully to learn why all natural pest control can be difficult for ants, and how to...

Essential Guide on How to Get The Best Ant Control

If you’re in Portland, sugar ant control in the springtime can be a struggle. Kitchen windowsills, sinks & showers are their favorite haunts. Sugar ants aka odorous house ants are tiny pests that get into food and crawl over people & pets. This article will walk you through the integrated pest management approach on how to get rid of sugar ants.

Insider Guide: What Pesticides Do Pest Control Companies Use?

Frustrated with ants that never go away? After the fifth trip to the hardware store for ant control baits & sprays, you might ask yourself: “What pesticides do pest control companies use?” This article will summarize a few chemicals and how they’re best utilized. I’ll also make some recommendations for pollinator safety.

Deciduous tree and conifer tree icons with small sun icon to the top left symbolizing habitat restoration    Garden Pest Control

Why Compost Is Amazing For Garden Pest Control

There is so much information on horticulture, gardening and nursery websites that it can be daunting to dig through. Soil pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, and a whole aisle of brightly colored pesticide products on the shelf at the hardware store, it is tempting to just start buying bottles for the heck of it.

2 Amazing Organic Sprays That Stop Bugs Eating Plants

Many gardeners scorn bugs eating vegetable plants. Garden pests can be devastating if you’re like me and you love vegetables, plants & trees.

5 Best Soil Amendments For Stunning Gardens and Trees

You might ask yourself what are the best soil amendments when your garden and trees start looking sad. The best soil amendments are different than plant fertilizers because they feed the soil. A healthy soil food web is always the best way to get good garden pest...

How To Start A Permaculture Garden? Mulch!

Now more than ever, folks are wondering how to start a permaculture garden. This article will detail some creative ways to jumpstart your soil for the best start to a permaculture garden. First let's try to define permaculture... What is Permaculture? Permaculture is...

Devastating Discovery of Emerald Ash Borer in Oregon

Anxious environmentalists have been dreading the arrival of emerald ash borer in Oregon. Sadly, on June 30th 2022, the presence of emerald ash borer in Oregon was found by a Portland biologist picking his children up from summer camp.Emerald Ash Borer OregonFor folks...

How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs With Essential Oils

Brown marmorated stink bugs. You're frustrated with big brown bugs on the outside of your house? It's probably these guys. In Fall, brown marmorated stink bugs search for warm crevices in which to shelter overwinter.Remedies to Get Rid of Stink Bugs NaturallyIf you're...
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Rat icon symbolizing rat control    Rodent Prevention & Control

How To Stop Bird Feeders From Attracting Rats

Need to stop bird feeders from attracting rats? Putting bird seeds outside is certain to attract adorable songbird visitors. But it can also cause problems with rats in the garden. This article will explore why you might be noticing rodents at your feeders and what you can...

Essential Guide on Getting the Best Outdoor Rodent Control

Seeing a rat in your backyard during the day? Wondering what keeps rats away outside naturally? This article reviews the basics of outdoor rodent control using IPM so you can get back to enjoying your backyard. How to Control Rodents Outdoors NaturallyIn most cases, a few...

Best Rodent Control Means Facing Portland’s Scary Rat Problem

In Portland, we want the best rodent control. But we also want to be careful with poisons and traps. Read on to learn more about Portland's serious rat problem & get this rat exterminator's pro-tips for smart rodent control. Portland Rat Problem The Portland rat...

Why Portland Rat Control Can Actually Be Green

In Portland rat control is incredibly important. We have a multitude of gardens, aging garages and old homes that are totally vulnerable to city rats. This article describes why ignoring rats might create more problems for the environment later, and what we can do avoid...

What Does Humane Rat Removal Actually Look Like?

In Portland, humane rat removal is something folks are interested in. But what does humane rat removal actually mean? For many, this means live trapping and releasing a rat far away from their home.Humane Rat RemovalFor others, humane rat removal means being proactive...

5 Best Ways to Keep Your Home Naturally Pest Free

If you’ve ever had to get rats or ants out of the home, you know it can be a nightmare. Don’t let pest control be an afterthought. Follow these 5 simple tips to keep your home naturally pest free. Whether it’s spiders in the basement or a squirrel in the attic,...

What Scents Will Repel Rats? Using Repellents in IPM for Rats

Rats are a pain in the butt. And a dangerous pest. Many folks would prefer to simply use some smells that rats hate to repel them for good. Although they’re not a silver bullet by any means, rat repellents can be part of a good Integrated Pest Management strategy for rats,...

The Best Techniques for Trapping Rats Outside

Rats are extremely smart. So before you try to trap rats outside, you need the best techniques that don't teach rats to avoid your traps. Luckily, you found the page that has your answers here. Trapping Rats OutdoorsTraps should always be part of a good IPM strategy for...

Does Bird Seed Attract Rats? This Research Suggests Yes

Out of the corner of your eye, you see a wiggling brown blob on the feeder. Wait, that's not a bird. It's a big fat rat. If you're wondering if the bird seed is attracting rats, and how to stop it, you're not alone. We wondered the same thing, so we compiled data from 9...

Cleaning Away The Mice (Guest Blog by Grove Pest Control)

This guest-post was originally written by our fellow eco-friendly Pest Control operator Erik Johnson of Grove Pest Control out of Calgary Canada. Enjoy!Cleaning is the number one weapon against mice in the house. You can clean the mice right out! Maybe not literally, but...

Camas lily icon with small bee icon to the side    Native Plants & Pollinators

Devastating Discovery of Emerald Ash Borer in Oregon

Anxious environmentalists have been dreading the arrival of emerald ash borer in Oregon. Sadly, on June 30th 2022, the presence of emerald ash borer in Oregon was found by a Portland biologist picking his children up from summer camp.Emerald Ash Borer OregonFor folks from...

How to Remineralize Your Soil With Basalt Rock Dust

A super easy way to make your garden lush & green is to remineralize your soil with basalt rock dust. At a time where top soil is being lost at extraordinary rates, this is a no brainer. This article explains how to get amazing results using basalt rock dust to boost...

How To Start A Permaculture Garden? Mulch!

Now more than ever, folks are wondering how to start a permaculture garden. This article will detail some creative ways to jumpstart your soil for the best start to a permaculture garden. First let's try to define permaculture... What is Permaculture? Permaculture is the...

Pioneering Portland’s Best Trees to Plant for Climate Change

New pioneer gardeners and habitat restoration managers are wondering which species might be the best trees to plant for climate change. This article explains why we think Willamette Valley Ponderosa pine and Oregon white oak might be the best trees to plant to stand up to...

How To Imagine The Best Climate Change Resilient Trees and Landscapes

Axious about climate change? Wondering what climate change will do to trees, plants, and your landscaping? We'll explore these questions and offer which local Portland trees we think will be worst and best for climate change resilience. How Does Climate Change Affect...

How To Distinguish Invasive Species From Good Ones

Invasive species are organisms that disrupt natural ecosystems. Not every species introduced to Oregon is considered invasive. But without the natural pest controls of their own evolved ecosystems, many introduced plants, animals, and organisms are outcompeting our...

Spider icon symbolizing green spider control   Spider Management

5 Best Ways to Keep Your Home Naturally Pest Free

If you’ve ever had to get rats or ants out of the home, you know it can be a nightmare. Don’t let pest control be an afterthought. Follow these 5 simple tips to keep your home naturally pest free. Whether it’s spiders in the basement or a squirrel in the attic,...

Hobo Spiders: Facts, Look-alikes and How To Get Rid of Them

Startled by a huge brown—gray  spider scurrying across your floor? Wondering if it was a hobo spider & how to get rid of it? Look no further. Before you call the spider exterminator, check these tips to get smart with hobo spider control in the home.Are Hobo Spiders...

8 Natural Spider Repellents And How to Use Them

When looking for the best natural spider repellents, there’s actually lots of great options. Using all natural spider repellents as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program can be a safe and effective way to get rid of spiders around the house.Why Do We Want...

How To Make Peace Instead of Spraying For Spiders

Spiders are creepy. But before spraying for spiders, it's good to learn why first. Outdoors, they're a welcomed part of the food chain. Indoors, they're not. With the right information we can begin to rethink some of our fears and anxiety about spiders. Let's look at a few...

Portland’s Best Pest Control Services:

Douglas squirrel on top of steep roof

Pest Inspections

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Garden Pest Control

ant icon, photograph of odorous house ants swarming a glob of jelly

Ant Control

rat icon, photograph of a Norway rat on dark background

Rodent Control

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Habitat Restoration

Black and white graphic beaver icon   Urban Wildlife

How To Stop Bird Feeders From Attracting Rats

Humans love feeding birds. Sometimes we find ourselves asking how to keep rats away from bird feeders. Putting out sunflower, millet, and other seeds is certain to attract adorable songbird visitors. Seeds contain perfectly proportioned packets of fats, carbohydrates, protein and nutrients. Nature designed seeds to give the plant everything needed to germinate and survive.

How To Distinguish Invasive Species From Good Ones

You may have noticed convoys of Portland pest control trucks patrolling the highways and backroads of the metro area. Or maybe you’ve recently had to call one yourself. Pest control is something most of us have grown up with. But what is the definition of pest? One species that’s a pest to one may not be to another. For Portland pest control, our two main urban “pest” species are rats and ants. Why do we define rats and ants as pests?

Insider Guide: What Pesticides Do Pest Control Companies Use?

Frustrated with ants that never go away? After the fifth trip to the hardware store for ant control baits & sprays, you might ask yourself: “What pesticides do pest control companies use?” This article will summarize a few chemicals and how they’re best utilized. I’ll also make some recommendations for pollinator safety.

5 Things You Need To Know About Squirrel Removal

Zebra mussels, wild boars, and Burmese phythons are famous examples invasive animal pests. In the Everglades wildlife biologists report the pythons have slurped up to ninety-five percent of the small mammals there. And thats just in twenty five years of pythons being escaped in the Everglade ecosystem.

Essential Guide on How to Get The Best Ant Control

If you’re in Portland, sugar ant control in the springtime can be a struggle. Kitchen windowsills, sinks & showers are their favorite haunts. Sugar ants aka odorous house ants are tiny pests that get into food and crawl over people & pets. This article will walk you through the integrated pest management approach on how to get rid of sugar ants.

Why Compost Is Amazing For Garden Pest Control

There is so much information on horticulture, gardening and nursery websites that it can be daunting to dig through. Soil pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, and a whole aisle of brightly colored pesticide products on the shelf at the hardware store, it is tempting to just start buying bottles for the heck of it.

How To Make Peace Instead of Spraying For Spiders

In Portland spider habitat is abundant. Outdoors, they’re an important part of the food chain. Indoors, their presence is not appreciated. With the right information we can begin to rethink some of our fears and misunderstandings about spiders. This article will help us make the right decisions for pollinators & wildlife. Let’s look at a few techniques on how to make peace with the spiders around your home.

A More Compassionate History Of Pest Control

The ancient Sumerians are usually referenced for the first recorded pest control using sulfur compounds to control insects & mites. The most detailed sources say that sulfur dust was actually rubbed on the body to control insects & chigger mites. I searched around curious to learn more, but didn’t find an original source to confirm this. The original statement was almost implying it was first used as agricultural use of a pesticide.

How To Imagine The Best Climate Change Resilient Trees and Landscapes

Axious about climate change? Wondering what climate change will do to trees, plants, and your landscaping? We'll explore these questions and offer which local Portland trees we think will be worst and best for climate change resilience. How Does Climate Change Affect...

From Honey Bees to Possums, The Beneficial Invasive Species We Love

Humans have introduced so many exotic species, so long ago we now think of many as natural. Some become disruptive, but others find a place within their new ecosystem. What are some examples of beneficial invasive species? Why do we love some exotic species, when we...
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