Courtesy of Bug U Pest Control
By Rod Bacon
The advent of spring ushers in warmer weather and the promise of outdoor family gatherings. It also brings the annual invasion of pesky insects and other pests that can dampen the fun of such events. A business serving Warren and Saratoga counties in New York and parts of Western Vermont can ensure that these invaders are vanquished and the party can be one to remember fondly.
Started as a one-man shop in 2008, Hudson Falls-based Bug U Pest Control has grown to include eight technicians and a significant number of clients, many of whom have been utilizing its services since the beginning.
“I started in the business in 1998 with a national pest control company,” said owner Brent Brewer. “That’s where I got my initial training, and I discovered I was good at it and enjoyed the work.”
While he and his team work year round, Brewer is coming into his busy season, which runs from April through October. He said warm weather brings out the pests most likely to concern homeowners and business people. These include mosquitoes, wasps, carpenter ants, termites, ticks and fleas.
The Bug U technicians use both traditional and eco-friendly products to deal with these intruders. According to Brewer, the traditional products that have been developed over the years are safe and last longer after application than those that are eco-friendly. He noted that some clients simply prefer the latter and there are situations where they are required. For example, if treatment is being done close to water or a runoff area eco-friendly products are required by law.
The company offers clients seasonal contracts to ensure pests are kept at bay. Eco-friendly products need to be applied once a month while traditional ones can be done every other month because they are micro-encapsulated and time released.
Different application methods are used depending upon the pests with which the technicians are dealing. For mosquitoes they use a backpack fogging system that emits a fine mist that covers almost everything within the perimeter of a customer’s yard. They are careful to avoid any blooming bushes so they don’t interrupt the pollination of the bees. They also use a truck-mounted system to apply a fan shaped application on the foundations and a pinstream for cracks and crevasses.
For ant infestations inside the home technicians use a max force bait gun that injects the ant bait into cracks and crevasses. This keeps it out of the way of pets and children and there are no fumes.
Rodents are another type of pest with which Bug U deals. Technicians do a complete inspection of the home or commercial building, identifying their nesting and feeding places, and devise a plan to eliminate them from the property.
To a lesser extent the company takes care of wildlife like raccoons and skunks. They are humanly trapped and relocated to a safe place.
“Insects and rodents are pretty much our bread and butter,” Brewer said.
He considers himself fortunate that most of his technicians have been with him for years.
“Customers are happy to see the same technician come back when they need service,” he said. “They trust him and feel confident that he will keep their pest issue under control.”
Bug U is licensed by New York state and Vermont in the various pest categories with which they deal. In addition, the technicians, all of whom have been trained by Brewer, are certified in their areas of expertise. They must take refresher courses every three years.
Brewer himself completed online courses in Termite Biology and Control through Texas A&M University and Urban and Industrial Pest Management through Purdue University. A member of the National Pest Control Association, he is certified by Green Pro, Quality Pro and AIB.
He is a strong believer in giving back to the community. He prepares dinners at a local church and supports annual Thanksgiving dinners. He donates books and gifts to local nursing homes as well as supporting charities like Operation Santa Clause and the South Glens Falls High School Marathon Dance.
For more information about how Bug U can stop pests from bugging you, go to bugupestcontrol.com.