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Elmer Bensinger
Pest Control Specialist
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Co-authored Articles (83)
Are Gophers, Groundhogs, and Woodchucks the Same? How to Tell These Animals Apart
Find out how size, teeth, and diet differ between gophers and groundhogs It’s brown, furry, and loves to dig…but wait, that could be a gopher or a groundhog! They might seem like versions of the same animal, but ther...
The Best Ways to Get Rid of Groundhogs & Their Burrows
Learn how to get a groundhog out of its burrow and stop it from digging a new one Has a groundhog burrowed under your yard or garden and made itself at home? Groundhog (woodchuck) holes can be eyesores in your lawn and ...
How to Remove Frogs from Your Home or Garden
Fend off and prevent destructive amphibious pests Frogs reduce the insect population in an area and are relatively harmless, unless you're dealing with a species that is poisonous to pets. Introducing a few natural preda...
13 Ways to Get Rid of Love Bugs
Love bugs typically show up twice a year, and while they don’t bite, they are really annoying to deal with. If you live in a humid place, you’re probably familiar with these flying black insects. Fortunately, there a...
How to ID False Widow Spiders & What to Do If You Find One
Spot the differences between spiders with our expert guide False widow spiders are a species that look similar to black widows, but they’re less dangerous and are not likely to bite you. While all false widows share tr...
How to Repel and Keep Pigeons Away Naturally
Effective, fast ways to deter pigeons from balconies, roofs, and more Pigeons might be entertaining to watch, but their droppings can cause damage to buildings or cars and spread diseases to people and other animals. If ...
How to
Get Rid of a Maggot Infestation
Maggot infestations often occur in trashcans and underneath carpeting. They occur when a fly gets into a certain area and lays eggs. Often, the smell of rotting food will attract flies and maggots. Getting rid of a maggo...
How to
Get Rid of Scorpions
Scorpions are common household pests. These arachnids are typically found in the southern United States, with the largest varieties dwelling in desert regions. Scorpions prefer to stay in dark spaces during the day and c...
How to Get Rid of Black Widows
Eliminate black widow spiders inside and outside with these expert tips Black widow spiders are found all over the world, but they’re one of the most venomous spiders in the United States. While their bite is rarely ...
How to
Get Rid of Toads in Your Yard
Toads can be a little annoying between their noisy songs and the potential for being poisonous. However, before you commit to getting rid of the toads, consider these facts: many toads are endangered, and if left alone i...
How to
Set a Conibear Trap
A guide to selecting and setting your trap A conibear trap (pronounced kon-uh-bear) is typically used when trapping beavers, muskrats, mink, or raccoons. These rodents can cause serious problems for ranchers and farmer...
How to Remove Ticks In and Around Your House
Easy ways to kill ticks and prevent them from coming backIf you just saw a tick crawling around your house, don’t worry! We have plenty of tips and tricks for how to get rid of these creepy crawlies. With this step-by-...
How to
Trap an Armadillo
Armadillos are a unique animal with a voracious appetite for insects, grubs, and earthworms. As cute as they are, their virtually insatiable appetite for garden dwelling insects and slithering invertebrates causes issue...
How to Keep Chickens Out of Your Yard
Plus, learn how to invite chickens to areas just for themIf you've ever had free-range chickens wreak havoc on your yard or garden, you know how much damage they can inflict in a short period of time. The good news is th...
How to
Kill Leeches
Leeches are typically water-dwelling invertebrates related to worms. They will feed by attaching themselves to a host and sucking its blood. If a leech attaches itself to your body, it can seem gross and be uncomfortable...
How to
Cancel Aptive Pest Control
Get out of your Aptive pest control agreement without hassle If you have a contract with Aptive Pest Control that you want to get out of, it can feel like you have to jump through hoops to get anyone to help you. Many c...
How You Can Mix Cedar Oil Spray for Natural Pest Control in Your Home
A natural, non-toxic pest repellent for your home & garden If you're dealing with fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, you probably want them gone yesterday! Instead of reaching for toxic pesticides, which can get rid of the pe...
How to
Prevent Maggots from Getting in the Trash
Ever open the garbage can and yuck, there's an invasion of little squiggly white worms? Those are actually not worms but larvae. After mating, the female fly lies eggs in a meat source such as a dead animal on the ground...
What Are Flies Doing When They Rub Their Hands?
Spilling the secret about these common household pestsHave you ever wondered why flies stop to rub their tiny hands together? While this gesture may look villainous, these pesky pests actually have a good reason for it. ...
How to
Set a Victor Mole Trap
''Catch moles quickly and humanely with this guide'' If you have a mole problem, Victor mole traps are an effective way to kill them. The 2 main kinds of Victor mole traps are the Out O'Sight and Plunger-Style mole traps...
