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Rats Fleeing a Sinking Ship (AKA: Hold your breath)
It just hit the news – Hantavirus is typically spread through the feces and urine of rodents. There has been mention of human-to-human transmission, but according to a 2022 paper reviewing that claim, “The balance of the evidence does not support the claim of human-to-human transmission.” It’s important to remember that Hantavirus is not a “flu-like symptoms” sickness. It can be, and in this case is, a lethal disease. Sure, it starts with flu-like symptoms but progresses qu

Chelle Hartzer
May 53 min read


I Saw it on the Internet! (AKA: Say what?)
I get a kick out of some of the stuff I see on social media. One of my favorites is the ultrasonic pest-repelling device. Even better, they have different sizes or models for different pests. Um… no. There can be a lot of misinformation out there. Since it’s April Fool’s Day tomorrow, let’s look at some of the “pranks” that are out there. Whether you are looking into pest control and come across these, or a pro that needs to answer questions about them, it’s important to know

Chelle Hartzer
Mar 313 min read


Poisonous Perceptions (AKA: Not just click-bait)
I have a lot of Google alerts for words relating to pest control. I typically skim through, look for any scientific articles and quickly delete. Then this one caught my eye. Ugh, here we go again, I think to myself. And yes, here we go again. Now, I get it. Pesticides are scary, especially when you call them “poisons”. Yes, they are intended to knock down the pest. Yes, some are poisonous (ingested). Yes, we want to make sure only the target animal is impacted by the pesti

Chelle Hartzer
Mar 242 min read


Bite me (AKA: Mosquito madness!)
It's day 8 of mosquito madness! You folks know I read a lot of research on all things pests so I can help my clients provide the best service possible. I have quite a few alerts set for news stories on all things pest related. It doesn’t surprise me that pest control and pest control devices are in the news. People want to protect themselves, their homes, and their foods from harmful pests. And if you read it on the internet, it must be true. Smh Here’s a few things that

Chelle Hartzer
Mar 103 min read


Drowning in Problems (AKA: Got water?)
Continuing with Mosquito Madness (day 2)! When we talk about mosquito control, it’s common for people to think of the spray or the fog. We picture the adult mosquito—the one currently buzzing or biting and ruining the outdoor patio seating. But we also need to look at the source. We talk about larvicides but do folks really understand them and how they work? Starting with the basics - every mosquito starts its life as a "wriggler" in a stagnant pool of water. Manage the lar

Chelle Hartzer
Mar 33 min read


The Customer is Always Right (AKA: Sure....)
Sometimes pest problems are relatively easy to manage. One or two visits, some targeted treatments, sanitation, and exclusion recommendations, and presto! Problem solved! Then there are the times it isn’t so easy. Particularly when it seems the customer is working against you. The other day, I was at a location, let’s say it was a bookstore. (It wasn’t, I’m trying to protect the innocent here!) Now, as I was browsing through the bookstore, out of the corner of my eye, I saw

Chelle Hartzer
Nov 4, 20253 min read


Nightmare in the Meat Department (AKA: Read before eating)
Who cares, it’s not a problem in the US? It’s not a big deal, they mostly affect cattle. It’s not like it will impact us. Except it is....

Chelle Hartzer
Aug 26, 20253 min read


Bring Out Your Dead (AKA: Blame the humans)
The Black Plague ravaged Europe starting in the 1300s, with some estimates of 60% of the population being killed. It’s a great history...

Chelle Hartzer
Jul 29, 20254 min read


Alpha Gals Got it Goin’ On (AKA: This bites)
It is apparently Tick Awareness week (May 4-10, 2025) , so be aware of ticks. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk. Ticks suck, literally...

Chelle Hartzer
May 6, 20253 min read


10 Questions with a Pro (AKA: Getting control)
We are back with the “Ten Questions with a Pro” series! Every other month, I interview a “pro” to find out what they do, how they do it,...

Chelle Hartzer
Apr 15, 20254 min read


It's Not a Joke (AKA: Flying off the handle)
I’m probably going to get some pushback from this, but I don’t like birds. I admit that birds of prey, like raptors and owls, are very...

Chelle Hartzer
Apr 1, 20252 min read


Who’s Got a Dictionary? (AKA: Translators wanted)
My friend and I were having a conversation the other day about the disconnect that can happen between science and people in the field. It...

Chelle Hartzer
Mar 25, 20254 min read
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