Keeping Bugs Away From Christmas Feasts!

Is it your turn to hold Christmas lunch or dinner this year? The last thing anyone wants in their food are insects of course! The team at BP Direct have a few tips and tricks you can implement around the home to help avoid these uninvited guests.

Christmas Day this year is predicted to be a lovely 29 degrees in Perth, perfect for an outside lunch — but there’s the constant threat of flies buzzing around your face and landing on your plate. Everyone can relate to how frustrating this can be!

So what can you do to keep these pests at bay?

Well, other than the obvious things like aeroguard, fly nets & covering up the food, here’s a few more neat tricks you may not have tried yet.

1. Citrus Peels - Flies hate the scent of citrus like oranges & lemons. Try leaving around a few citrus peels on the table near the food. The only downside to this, keep an eye out you don’t attract ants.

2. Pedestal Fan - Have you ever noticed that when there’s a breeze blowing the flies aren’t as annoying! It’s a win, win situation - not only will the fan help to cool everyone down but also keep the flies off the turkey.

3. Herbs - How about small herbs pots as your table decorations? Flies don’t like strong aromas from herbs, like basil, lavender and mint. Alternatively, you can use dried herbs, perhaps in small muslin bags and hang them around the table.

4. Coins in Water - Perhaps it’s just a myth, but we think it’s worth a shot. The theory behind this method is that flies ultimately believe that the coin in the bottom of the cup is the eyes of another, bigger bug/insect resulting in flies avoiding the cups. Try popping a few cups underneath the table and enjoy your Christmas lunch in peace.

5. Bubbles - Get the kids involved with this one! Good old bubbles — the smell from the soap seems to prevent mosquitoes, flies, bees & wasps from hanging around the dinner table. Killing two birds with one stone with this method, the kids are kept entertained, and the bugs are kept at bay. It’s a win-win situation.

If you’ve got any other handy hints for keeping the bugs away this Christmas we would love to hear them and be sure to hit us up for your annual Pest Control treatment before the festivities begin! We’re open up until Christmas day and will be on call over the break for any urgent pest issues.
Call the office and book your treatment today, 9209 2030

What to do if a snake bites your pet

I don’t know about you, but my dogs are members of our family, and we consider them to be one of the kids. It’s officially snake season, and just the thought of one of my fur babies being bitten by a snake absolutely terrifies me! Snakes are most active now and through the warmers months, as they’re out looking for food to fill their empty tummies after hibernating all winter. Naturally, our four-legged friends like to explore their surroundings, whether it be inside your backyard, or the bushlands when out on a walk, but this is where the paths cross between our pets and snakes.

How to minimise the chance of a snake bite

Unfortunately, you can’t guarantee your pet is never going to be bitten by a snake, but you can, however, minimise these chances by implementing a few of the following precautions around the house;

Tidy up the yard – Maintain long grass by mowing the lawn regularly (especially if you live on a large property), Snakes love to hide so fill in any holes you have in the garden and don’t forget to remove any objects that could be used as a hiding place, e.g., buckets.

Clean up crumbs, dog biscuits & bird seed – spilled food and dog biscuits are what attracts rodents to your property, and rodents are snakes favourite prey. Eliminate rodent activity as much as you can, and you won’t give snakes a reason to come hunting for dinner. If you live on a property that stores hay for animals, keep your pets away from this area as it’s the perfect hiding place for these slithery reptiles.

Walk your dog on a lead – as we mentioned earlier, it’s natural for our pets to want to explore and sniff around, but by keeping them on a lead and by your side during their walks, they are less likely to get bitten as you can control the areas they go. Keep your dog away from high grass areas, holes and rocks, where snakes are most likely to be hiding.

Keep felines indoors – yes I know it sounds horrible, but by keeping your cats inside the house where ever possible you are limiting their chances of being bitten. Cats are hunting creatures by nature, and they love to hunt rodents which unfortunately is going to lead them right to the danger zone.

Don’t take matters into your own hands - a large number of snake bites occur when the snake feels threatened, so don’t try and catch the snake yourself, put your pets inside or away from the reptile and call a snake handler.

Signs of a snake bite

Is it not uncommon for your pet to appear recovered within 30 minutes of being bitten, but don’t assume your pet is fine, get to a Vet immediately. Depending on the type of snake will determine the symptoms and reactions your pet suffers. You may not be present when your pet is bitten by a snake, but there are several general symptoms that you can be on the lookout for.

* Sudden weakness, followed by your pet collapsing
* Shaking, trembling or muscle twitching
* Vomiting
* Sensitivity to light
* Blood in their urine
* Excessive drooling or frothing at the mouth
* Diarrhea
* Bleeding from the bite wound

My pet was bitten, what do I do now?

Stay Calm! You’re of no help to your pet if you’re frantic and not thinking rationally.

1. Have a quick look around, try and see if you can find the snake because identifying the reptile could help with your pet's treatment.

2. Restrict your pets activity/movement. Keeping them as still as possible with help to reduce the spreading and effects of the venom. Be mindful that your pet may be in shock, so their behaviour may be a little out of character, and even the most docile pets can lash out and bite when scared or in pain. Keep talking to them; they need the reassurance that you’re there with them.

3. Get to your local Vet, ASAP. If you have someone with you, get them to call ahead to the vets and let them know what’s happened that you’re on your way in. This will give them the best chance to be prepared for your pet's arrival.

4. Don’t clean the bite area, and don’t apply a tourniquet, as you could restrict blood flow to the area and cause tissue damage. You can apply a pressure bandage, but be careful not to apply this too tightly.

5. Don’t try to suck out the venom, your saliva contains bacteria and could make the situation worse by creating an infection.

6. Don’t try to clean up the bite wound, because your vet can take a swab of the venom using a snake detection kit and identify the snake and help speed up the treatment process.


With a little planning, awareness and precaution you can give your furry family members the best chance at never having to encounter the horrific ordeal of a snake bite. If you think you have a rodent issue, call the team at BP Direct on 9209 2030, for an obligation free quote, and discuss your treatment options today.

How to Eliminate Ants from your Property

Are these six-legged pests driving you mad, and taking over your property. Everywhere you look, inside the door frames, outside in the brickwork - here are a few tips to help you eliminate ants from your property.

Straight to the source

The nest! The source of your ant infestation lays within the ant nest. You could try pouring boiling water down into each nest, but beware the ants will most likely come running out & you’ll need to continue to pour the boiling water until no more ants surface from the nest. Alternatively, combine water and white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray away around their nests and anywhere they are entering your property. They hate the smell of vinegar and hopefully will seek shelter elsewhere. Don’t let this infestation get out of hand though, because the bigger the issue, the harder to remove. The team at BP Direct have over 45 years experience in the pest control industry, call us today on 9209 2030 and chat to our team about our pet-friendly ant treatment options.

Don’t feed them

Ants are attracted to food scraps, sugary and fatty foods especially. If you’ve got kids, you will understand better than anyone as to how quickly ants scatter in when there are crumbs and scraps left lying around the house. Try to place all open packets of food within the pantry in a sealed container, keep the lids down on the rubbish bins, and make sure pet food is in a tightly sealed container also. Ants hate flour and salt, so if you find they are still making their way into the dog’s biscuits, sprinkle a line of salt around the container and stop them dead in their tracks. At BP Direct our pest control treatments are pet-friendly, call the team on 9209 2030 if you would like further information.

Plants and herbs

There are a few strong smelling herbs and plants that ants hate the smell of, try planting these in the garden or in a pop placed next to the most common entry point the ants are using to get into your home. Basil and Sage are among the most popular plants that assist in deterring ants along with Mint, Marigold and Chrysanthemums. If planting these around your home doesn’t seem to stop the little buggers, at least the house will smell delightful.

Call in the pest control guru’s

So you’ve tried everything you can think of, and still the ants continue to welcome themselves into your pantry, and dig up the sand in the brick pavers outside - well it’s time to call the experience pest control team at BP Direct. We have been in the pest control industry for over 45 years now, and we have a solution for all your pest control problems.
Call us today on 9209 2030 and have a chat to our friendly team and get your ant issue under control.

BBQ Cleaning and Hygiene Tips

It has been said that food poisoning generally doubles during the summer months, and with poor hygiene at barbeques being one of the most common causes. Food poisoning occurs in many situations from the bacteria found in raw meats.

Read on for BP Direct’s top 5 tips to a safer bbq season this summer:

Clean your BBQ
This may be the first time you’ve used your bbq for several months. Do you have any idea what bugs and rodents have been hiding out under your grill? Make sure to give your bbq a good old spring clean before using this summer.

If you use your bbq on a regular basis throughout summer, generally if you crank the heat up high and wipe down with newspaper you should be fine.

Thawed not Frozen
Probably don’t throw frozen meat onto the bbq, make sure to defrost the night before. If you don’t, it's possible the meat will appear cooked on the outside but is actually undercooked on the inside.



Pre-cook
You should consider where possible, cooking your chicken and pork products in the oven prior to finishing off on the bbq. You will still get that beautiful charcoal flavour, but you're guaranteed the meat will be cooked all the way through - not to mention if you're cooking for a big crowd this will make your life easier.

Separate
The golden rule: do not let your cooked meats come in contact with raw meats!
Just as you would careful this doesn't happen in the kitchen; the same applies for the bbq. Allowing one to contaminate the other is how food poisoning happens.

Keep it cool
While you are cooking up a storm on the bbq, make sure to keep your accompaniments in the fridge; salads, dips, desserts, bread etc. This will help to prevent germs spreading and stop the flies landing on your delicious banquet.


Help eliminate the bugs and pests around your bbq entertaining area this summer. Get in contact with BP Direct on 9209 2030 or visit our website for an obligation free quote.

Keeping Those Summer Pests at Bay

As summer creeps up on us, so do the insects, and unfortunately, summer is a carrier for bugs. In the increased heat, insects can reproduce more frequently, and infestations are more likely to occur. The best defense and also the best cure for insect infestations is simply prevention.

Think about it - What are the pests/insects looking for when they come into your home?
Food, shelter and water. Eliminate these elements from the equation, so there is no reason for the bugs to stay around. Food sources, like garbage bins, unwashed dishes or even just leaving food  out will attract lots of unwanted attention from our little friends.





To help you avoid these unwanted pests/insects, here are a few tips on how to keep the bugs at bay this summer:

• Keeping your house clean, tidy, and sanitised is more critical than you might think. The cleaner your home is, the more unwelcome it appears to cockroaches, ants, mice, and flies.
• Make sure to wipe down your kitchen benchtops after cooking and anywhere food might have been left out - even the smallest of crumbs can attract an array of pests.
• Don’t leave your dirty dishes out after meals, make sure to either wash them or put them in the dishwasher.
• Don’t forget about garbage day as full bins are the ultimate hotspot for pests.
• Take care of your house, apartment, or office. When you start to find cracks and crevices around your property, seal them up otherwise, you’ll be housing cockroaches and mice.
• Moisture attracts all kinds of pests; mice, flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes (who lay eggs in stagnant water). So make sure that your home is kept dry.
• Be aware that pests are harmful to your health. Spread the awareness.
• If you try to solve the problem yourself, make sure that you’re eliminating the colony or nest. Just removing the pests in sections won’t stop them from coming back.

We will also advise how you can help reduce future problems. So if you are currently dealing with a spider infestation, contact BP Pest Control Perth today!

Summer pests are generally a struggle for the average homeowner to keep under control, and can be problematic for offices as well. Let BP Direct Pest Control help with your summer infestation problem today! If you would like a professional to help you prevent or eliminate pests, our team of experts can do the job. So get in contact with us or click the link here to see which Pest Control services we offer.

The dos and don'ts when treating stings and bites

Most minor stings and bites won’t require medical attention and will heal on their own over time (except for children & pregnant women of course). So here at BP, we want to share our knowledge of what to do to relieve the pain and itchiness that occurs from bites and stings.


Bee Sting

* Don’t pull at a bee sting with your fingers or tweezers.
* Do, remove the sting by carefully and gently sliding your fingernail across it and
   then apply ice to the affected area. 
* If the person is allergic to bees stings, anaphylactic shock is possible - Apply pressure to the
   bite, keep the person still and seek medical assistance.





Tick Bite

* Remove a tick from under the skin, by grabbing it behind the head with a pair of tweezers.
* Don’t try to remove the tick by apply alcohol or methylated spirits.
* Make sure to remove the whole body of the tick.
* Don’t try to kill the tick before removing from under the skin as you may
  cause it to inject more poison.
* Apply warm soapy water to bite area and seek medical attention.


Wasp Sting

* Apply ice to the area for 20 minutes to stop swelling.
* If stung on your arm or leg, raise the limb for half an hour.
* Ever heard of an old wives tale suggesting if you place a silver coin on top of the sting
   for 10-15minutes it will help ease the pain? Well, we’re not so sure about that one.
  Try a few drops of vinegar instead.


Jellyfish Sting

* Don’t urinate on the sting. Other than people giving you weird looks, you’ll not
   actually make any difference to the sting.
* Do, apply white vinegar to the area for approx 30minutes.
* Avoiding running it under fresh water, this could just make the sting worse.
* Don’t use the (PIT) Pressure Immobilisation Technique.


Snake Bite

* Apply a bandage over the bite area asap to prevent venom entering the bloodstream.
* Don’t try to catch the snake - the type of snake can be determined from the venom.
* Immobilise the bitten limb with a splint.
* Don’t let the person walk around or move their limbs.
* Don’t wash the bite area.


Redback Spider
* Applying an ice pack to the area will help with the pain.
* Don’t use the (PIT) Pressure Immobilisation Technique.





To relieve itchiness and reduce swelling in most cases and antihistamine will do the trick, but always remember to check with your doctor first if you're unsure.

BP Direct - Pest Control has over 45 years experience in the pest control industry and offer a wide variety of pet-friendly treatments options to help prevent unwanted pests hanging around our home. Call us today on 9209 2030 or email us at [email protected]to discuss your options.

Plants & Herbs that Deter Rats & Unwanted Pests

Continued on from our previous blog "How to keep your garden rodent free” we look into plants and herbs that you can utilise around your property to aid in creating a rodent and pest free home.

Rat infestations can be extremely frustrating, and the first thing most people will turn to is poison or bait. If you would prefer to look for a more pet and environmentally friendly option to prevent a rodent problem on your property, then you should consider growing certain plants and herbs that deter rats and other unwanted pests.

Not sure what to plant in your garden? Let’s look at a few options.

Peppermint

To the human nose, peppermint has an enjoyable smell, rats and mosquitoes, on the other hand, hate it. Planting these trees around your garden will help keep rats off your turf. If you don’t to plant these trees in your garden, we suggest dipping a cotton wool ball in peppermint oil and placing your house and garden.

Lavender

Lavender has very a strong aromatic scent and is quite effective at repelling rats, mosquitoes, and moths. Alternatively, to growing this herb, you could sprinkle a few stalks around the base of plants in your garden creating a barrier and keeping rats at bay.





Daffodils

During the spring months when Daffodils are in bloom, these bulbs act as a natural deterrent at the same time as bringing colour to your garden.

Basil

Mosquitoes hate this delightfully tasting herb. Place small pots of basil around the areas you like to sit outside most and relax knowing the mosquitoes won't bug you.





Dried Bay Leaves

Scatter a few dried bay leaves throughout your pantry and not only will it smell delightful but this neat little trick will keep those pesky weevils and moths away from your food!


If your unwanted pests are getting out of hand and these natural methods aren’t helping anymore, give the team at BP Direct a call on 9209 2030 and together we can work out a treatment plan to keep your family home pest free.


Read our previous blog "How to keep your garden rodent free" here.

How to keep your garden rodent free

Signs you have a rodent problem

• Strong urine smell; rodent wee has a very strong unique smell that tends to linger for some time.
• Scratching Noises; If they are nesting in your roof, you may have heard them scratching around during the night. Remember rodents are most active in the evening.
• Droppings around the house; They are small dark pellet like in appearance and are normally scattered. 
• Maybe you’ve seen a rat or mouse run past during the day or you’ve found a dead mouse laying around.
• Visible tracks; You may be able to see a trail of movement in the sand or in dusty areas.
• Burrows/Holes; Check of areas in your garden that are mostly undisturbed by you, if you see a sand mound approx 10cm in diameter it most likely belongs to an unwanted pest

Having a rodent problem in your garden can be a struggle for the average property owner to keep under control. Rats are always looking for a new place to live once in your garden they will continue to look for a new place to live, eventually making their way into your family home. 

Common places to find rodent infestations in your backyard

• Garden; Rodents love to hide in overgrown vegetation, especially if it’s close to a wall.
• Garage/Sheds; They will create a passageway using cracks in the bricks, vents, and door frames. If you leave your pet food/biscuits in here, make sure they are in a container mice/rats can’t chew through.
• Compost Bins; Rodents are attracted to warm locations and your compost bin is the perfect place to hide and get a feed.
• Vegetable Patch; Check your vegetables and seeds for any teeth marks or signs of bite marks.

How to avoid a rodent problem
 

The best way to avoid a rodent problem, is to make sure your food is hard to access. You can do this by making sure garbage bins are closed, food is stored in containers that rodents won’t be able to chew through and avoiding putting any meat in compost bins. Along with this, try to eliminate clutter and overgrown vegetation, as this is a perfect spot for nesting and burrowing. Lastly if you have birds make sure you don’t scatter their feed on the ground, use a feeder that sits above the ground.
 

If you think you have a rodent problem, or if you just want to get your property inspected, call BP Direct today. We will gladly inspect your property, report any findings and we will use the appropriate pet-friendly treatment to keep your garden and home rodent free. 

 

If you would like to book an inspection today feel free to give us a call on
(08) 9209 2030.

Simple Solutions To Keep Your Home Pest Free

You need to make sure you family is in a safe, protected and healthy home. So it is crucial for you to make sure you keep pests such as cockroaches, termites, rodents and fleas away from your property. BP Direct offer a range of services to be able to help keep those nasty pests away from your home but also offer you some advice on how to avoid anything serious to happen!

General Cleaning
It is essential for every home to be regularly cleaned as the more dust and dirt you have enter your home the more attracted these rodents and pests are to enter your space!

Set up Traps
Although you may not be suffering from any type of rodent or bug in your home, it is always a good idea to keep traps set in those areas such as basements or attics that do not get much attention. That way you will always be prepared.

Set up Barriers
Protecting your home with a form of barrier is always a good idea to ensure your home stays pest free. Flies for example, a good way to keep them from entering your home is to plant mint and basil plants around the entrances of your home as these are a form of repellant.

If you are needing more help with pests, here at BP Direct we offer a wide range of services to ensure your home stays pest free:

- Inspections of the premises and report any findings
- We do chemical barriers, baits and treatments to get rid of pests
- We set up traps we know where pests will enter
- Track and monitor activity
- Advise you on how you can reduce future problems

Be sure to get in contact with BP Direct today, with over 44 years of experience, we will be able to identify all issues and help save and protect your home!

Winter Pest Control Tips

Winter is approaching, which means mice, rats, cockroaches and spiders are wanting to invade your home. Here at BP Pest Control, we can help prevent these pests from invading your space, however, we are also here to provide you with some tips that will help prevent any issues happening.

Tidy your clutter
Getting rid of clutter, cleaning and organising your storage rooms will help prevent bugs coming in. They are after places to hide, so anywhere in your home that has not been touched in years is going to be targeted first!

Setting up Traps
It is always a good thing to set up traps in your house that you know or aware of where rodents may be able to enter.

Trees and Foliage
Foligage closely to the house can create a direct route for ants, rodent, spiders and termites to enter. Be certain to regularly cut and trim your plants closely to your house so that they cannot enter.

Screens
Make sure all your windows and doors are fully sealed, pests during this season want to find shelter and your house fits the bill. So be sure to check if any holes or gaps are sealed ASAP.

If you are finding pests entering your house, be sure to contact BP Pest Control, we can help provide perfect solutions for whatever pest or rodent you are dealing with and will always give you advice on other ways of preventing any more issues in your home.

How to deal with fleas

Have you noticed your pet has been scratching a lot, or you are finding a lot of bugs around where your pet sleeps? You are most likely dealing with a flea problem.

Fleas are very small dark brown parasitic insects that infest the coat and skin of pets. They have an amazing skill allowing them to jump up to 150 times their own length. Fleas are also found around where your pet rests and feeds. These insects prefer warm humid conditions, so it is very common for fleas to flourish during this Summer season.

In terms of dealing with a flea infestation, pet hygiene is very important. We recommend that pet bedding is regularly washed with an appropriate flea wash. and it is important to regularly check for fleas on your pets. What can also help with this issue is regular lawn mowing and vacuuming.

BP Pest control can help determine the source and the extent of a flea infestation. Please contact us today for a free quote.

Summer Roaches

How to Deal with Ants at Home

How to Avoid Summer Pests

• Keeping your house clean, tidy, and sanitised is more important than you might think, the cleaner your house is, the more unwelcome it appears to cockroaches, ants, mice, and flies.  
• Make sure to wipe down the counters, where food might have been left out, even crumbs can attract an array of pests.   
• Don’t leave your dirty dishes out after meals, make sure to either wash them or put them in the dishwasher. 
• Don’t forget about trash day, full bins are a hotspot for pests. 
• Take care of your house, apartment, or office. If you start to find cracks and crevices, seal them the as soon as soon as you can. Otherwise you’ll be housing cockroaches and mice.  
• Moisture attracts all kinds of pests; mice, flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes (who lay eggs in stagnant water). So make sure that your home is kept dry.  
• Be aware that pests are harmful for your health. Spread the awareness. 
• If you try to solve the problem yourself, make sure that you’re eliminating the colony or nest. Just eliminating the pests in sections won’t stop them from coming back. 

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