Yikes! Is That Mouse Nest Still in Use?

By Chris Williams on January 23, 2017

My husband just found what looks like a mouse nest in the back corner of a dresser drawer in the spare bedroom. What are mice doing in the bedroom? How can we tell if this is an old nest or if the mice are still around? E. G., Danvers, MA If your husband found a…

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CSI – When is Blood Spatter Really Fly Poop?

By Chris Williams on January 19, 2017

Flies are an expected and very useful presence when a human corpse is discovered. Knowing the biology of flesh-feeding flies can give an investigator all kinds of important information, but not recognizing fly specks for what they are (basically fly vomit) can jeopardize an investigation. To the crime scene investigator, the “specks” left by flies…

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Are Bed Bugs Still Active in Winter?

By Chris Williams on January 17, 2017

We had a problem with bed bugs last summer and had an exterminator treat our home. I think the bed bugs are long gone but my wife is worried that they’re just hiding and hibernating and will become active again when the weather warms up. Does that happen? J. R., Boston, MA That doesn’t happen…

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What Do Flour Beetles Look Like?

By Chris Williams on January 12, 2017

I think I might have flour beetles infesting food in my kitchen cabinets. What do these beetles look like? I’ve found tiny brown things that look like beetles in a box of cake mix and a bag of cornmeal, so far. Did they come from the store or do I have a serious problem here?…

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Bird Feeders Attract More Than Just Birds

By Chris Williams on January 11, 2017

We recently moved into a new house in a suburban area and have been enjoying feeding birds. We have a feeder pole in the backyard with four different feeders on it. My neighbor said bird feeders attract rats and even snakes into your yard and we should consider taking it down. I think he’s really…

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