The Vole – Bird Feeder Connection

By Chris Williams on March 8, 2016

The snow under our bird feeder gets pretty much beaten down by birds and squirrels. Lately we’ve been noticing really fat mice darting around under the feeder. Are mice active in the winter in snow? B. H., Pepperell, MA Mice do remain somewhat active in winter, but I wonder if you aren’t seeing voles instead…

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Can You Keep Starling Flocks Off of Bird Feeders?

By Chris Williams on March 7, 2016

At our house, we love to feed birds and have a couple of large feeders in the backyard. In the last couple of weeks, we have had large flocks of starlings mobbing the feeders, scattering seed and keeping the other birds away. Is there any way to scare them off and keep them away? Loud…

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Why Do Insects and Other Animals Have Scientific Names?

By Chris Williams on March 4, 2016

All animals have two types of names – common names and scientific names. You don’t realize it but you already know the common names for many pests, like German cockroach, Norway rat, clothes moth, or bed bug – these are their common names. It’s not quite that simple though since many creatures have more than…

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Should We Be Worried About Zika Virus Here in the Northeast?

By Chris Williams on March 3, 2016

As winter is ending and we’re starting to feel hints of warmer weather, folks are getting worried about mosquitoes and Zika virus. Every time we hear a news story about Zika, it seems that it’s surfaced in yet another state and predictions are rampant. Zika virus is especially scary because one of its primary manifestations is birth defects in newborns.…

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When Do Termites Swarm?

By Chris Williams on March 2, 2016

Last spring we had termites swarming in our house. There were just a few so we weren’t sure where they were coming from. I want to be on the lookout for them this year to get a better idea of what’s going on. When can I expect them to swarm in the Portsmouth area of…

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