Raccoons are the animals we trap most during the winter months. While all animals are looking for a warm place to spend the winter (like under heating ducts in a house), the raccoon is the freeloader we see most. They adapt well to urban sprawl by coexisting and cohabiting with humans-usually as unwelcome guests. Their Disneyesque appeal vanishes quickly when their survival instincts trump the well-being of people, pests and personal property. This reminds of the little old lady who had a raccoon in her chimney. She said they were so cute and wanted us to relocate, and not harm the little things. After one of them exited the chimney and walked across her white carpet one night she was nowhere near as concerned about their wellbeing. She just wanted them GONE!

Normally, raccoons are frightened easily by approaching humans and dogs; however, they can be fierce fighters when cornered. In such instances, they’ve been known to inflict nasty wounds on people and dogs. As cold weather approaches raccoons force their way into attics and crawlspaces by ripping through vents louvers, caps and screens with amazing strength. Uncapped fireplace chimneys, are a nice place rear a litter of pups in the spring.

Raccoons are also secondary hosts of cat and dog fleas, so it’s just a matter of time before some of the dislodged and newly emerged adult fleas find their way into the warm living areas of homeowners and pets.

Never leave pet food out at night and always cover trash cans and other food sources. Repair any openings in the trim around your home and repairs crawl space screens and vents. While it may be tempting to feed raccoons because they are cute and fun to watch, doing so may be inviting an unwanted guest into your attic, garage, and crawl space or under your deck.

Gecko Pest Control uses have-a-heart live traps to capture and relocate nuisance animals from residences and businesses.

Adult raccoons are about 18 to 28 inches long and weigh from 5 to 35 pounds. Their gestation period is about 63 days. They usually have one litter of two to seven (usually three to five) pups. Breeding season is February to March. Birthing season is April through May. Young are weaned at two to four months. Primary foods are meats, fish, pet food, seeds, insects, fruits, and vegetables.

Well it is February 6, 2012 and we could play football outside with no shirts on. I remember many times doing just that as a child growing up in Texas.

Every year someone tells me “There has been no winter so the bugs are going to be terrible, or the winter has been so bitter surely there won’t be many pests”. However every year the pests are about the same. I remember the winter of 1980 when we had three weeks of consecutive days under thirty degrees. That year we were doing just as much pest control as any other year.

Insects overwinter (hibernate) and lay eggs below the freeze line in the soil. Many also overwinter in our homes and other protected areas. You may have experienced wasps that are seen in your home every year in the spring and fall. These are most likely looking to spend the winter close to the heating ducts in the attic.

While the varying patterns of Mother Nature can play a role in the severity or mildness of a particular insect population, THIS IS TEXAS, and the bugs will be back not matter what.

The drought this past year caused river beds and creeks to dry up and made for a very mild cricket and mosquito population, but it also killed much of the grass lawns and made fleas and ticks a tough challenge to eliminate. We are treating active ants and spiders and many other pests right through the winter. Squirrels, opossums, raccoons and other animals are nesting in homes and our trapping service has been very active.

While February is usually our hardest winter month, summer is just around the corner. No matter what the pest or what time of year we thank you for choosing Gecko Pest Control for your pest and termite service needs.

Daren

On Saturday February the fourth, Caddo Lake Catering and Gecko Pest Control will host a town hall meeting in Karnack.  The meeting will be held at the Karnack Community Center at 15593 Hwy 134 in downtown Karnack (intersection of T.J. Taylor Avenue and 134, in front of the Wildlife Refuge).

The first fifty citizens can enjoy a free cup of chicken gumbo and depending on the weather, a glass of tea or a cup of coffee.  This will be a terrific opportunity to share your thoughts on issues that matter to you and your community.

Meet FACE TO FACE WITH CANDIDATES FOR

• State Representative
• 71^ST District Court Judge
• County Sheriff
• Pct1 Commissioner
• Pct1 Constable
• Tax Assessor Collector

The election cycle seems to go on forever, and the race for the presidency is just getting started.  I believe the elections of 2012 will be of the utmost importance.  These elections will shape the path of the American political system for years, and maybe decades ahead.  It is my opinion that for the first time in decades, our next generation of Americans may not have a more promising future than the current generation.  This town hall meeting will provide an opportunity to get to know the candidates and help us all make an educated decision on Election Day.

Harrison County is blessed with natural resources and hard-working men and women, and because of this we have not been hit as hard as other areas in our state and country by the current economic recession.   Come out and see what these candidates stand for and believe in.  Then spread the word, and most of all get out and vote.

God Bless America