Fowler says winter a good time to get control of pests

When the weather cools down during winter, the natural instinct for rodents and insects is like ours – to retreat indoors.

“Rodents are a big problem this time of year,” said Glen Fowler, owner of Fowler Pest Control.

Rodents are determined creatures that need very little space to invade a residence. “All they need is a size of a quarter to get in because their vertebrae folds,” said Fowler.

Fowler has owned his business since 2000 and has been in the pest control industry for 20 years. He knows how wintertime makes homes a magnet for pests.

“The best thing a homeowner can do is have us come out and do a free assessment. We can look and see if rats have done any damage in the attic or anywhere else around the home.”

During this complimentary assessment, Fowler and his team thoroughly check the premises and determine how best to deter these unwanted rodents. Cutting overhanging tree branches near a home and wiring closed holes around the home’s exterior are some ways to solve rodent entry.

“We can give homeowners some ideas of what they can do themselves,” said Fowler.

For example, leaving dog food in the garage is a bad idea, since this is a big attraction to rodents. “Garages are a big entry point for rodents.”

Rodents are carriers of parasites and disease and are not the kind of pest a family wants residing in their home. “[Rats] carry mites and gnaw on wires,” said Fowler. “They have chewed on electrical wires, which have started fires.”

They also destroy dozens of phone lines each year in Fallbrook, phone company technicians say.

Rats multiply quickly. One female rat can have 40 to 50 offspring per year, said Fowler, so a rodent problem must be dealt with pragmatically.

Fowler’s basic baiting program has proven to be quite effective throughout the years. Bait boxes are secured to the ground and are tamper-proof.

For families with children and pets, Fowler and his crew are knowledgeable with pest control protocol. “Pretty much every house we do that has children and/or pets, we put the baits out of the way and we are real diligent about this,” he said.

Ants and spiders will visit when the weather is cold, foggy and/or rainy.

According to Fowler, Argentine ants are on the upswing locally. “They are after water and certain proteins after certain times of the year,” he explained.

Another big problem this time of year is termites. “When it gets into spring, you start seeing the termite damage.”

Fowler Pest Control has a reputation for quality work, honesty, integrity, great service and caring employees.

There are a lot of pest control businesses out there, said Fowler. “We all drive the same trucks and buy the same materials, but what make us different is our people.”

Fowler Pest Control has its own in-house training center.

Glen Fowler makes it a priority to take good care of his clientele. And with this mindset, he believes wintertime is the best time to get a handle on insects and rodents, since the pest population is on the downside.

“If we do a good job in the wintertime for our customers, it will be easier for them in the spring and summer,” he said.

To learn more about Fowler Pest Control, log on to http://www.FowlerPestControl.com or call (760) 723-2592.