Employee Spotlight: Phil D

Phil D: Here to protect you from pests!

Phil is a Pest Control technician for Suburban Exterminating who truly enjoys his job.   He knows Suburban as group of “team players who work together.”  Phil is not only thankful to be a Suburban employee, but he is thankful to have met his “his better half”, Barbara, a customer service representative at Suburban!  Phil says “Barbara knows her pest control stuff, too!”

Q: What is your earliest pest memory?

A: My dad was the hero at my house in Huntington Station. He captured a rat!

Q: What is your most surprising pest encounter?

A: At a Glen Head home, a squirrel was running around in an attic. The squirrel kept popping his head up to see me!

Q: What is the pest you secretly love?

A: The rat, because it is very curious

Q: What do you find most fascinating about insects?

A: They are biologically interesting and, this may seem crazy, but I think they are cute.

Q: How do you reassure someone who is frightened of a rodent or insect?

A: I remind them that Suburban is here to take care of the problem, which means no more worrying.  Not only do we offer great services, but Suburban is a great company to work for!

Q: What are your interests outside of work?

A: I like to go surf fishing and spending time with my family.

Phil, your customers are lucky to have such a dedicated employee at their homes!

Commercial Properties: Rats in Your Office or Restaurant

In offices and restaurants, rats can contaminate food, gnaw through walls and wires, and generally wreak havoc. They are difficult creatures to capture, so it is best left to the professionals. Suburban Exterminating serves most of Long Island and guarantees removal to give you peace of mind. Call (631) or (516) 864-6900 for rat removal.

In Your Office

Recent generations of rodents are not as fearful of human interaction and will test their limits in your territories. Rats can be quite smart and traditional trapping methods will not always work. While cleanliness will not keep rodents away, less clutter will give them less places to nest. Rats and other rodents in the office are a direct result of a constant food source. It is best to not eat at your desk, to clean regularly and not to store boxes. In industrial offices, pallets and boxes should not be kept too close to the walls.

In a Restaurant

Special attention to product selection is necessary for eliminating rodents in restaurants. The best results are achieved by killing rodents before they enter the building and maintaining a clean property. Keep dumpsters as clean as possible and cut grass and weeds along fence rows where rodents might hide or enter the property.

Norway Rat: Most Common Rodent at Commercial Properties –

• Norway or Brown rat is the largest of the commensal (living in close proximity with humans) rats.
• In every continent except Antarctica.
• Can produce up to 6 litters a year, but rarely live longer than 12 months.
• Have poor eyesight, but keen sense of smell.
• In buildings they prefer to nest in the lower levels like crawlspaces, basements, loading docks and sewers.
• They prefer meat, fish, and cereals. Their foraging range is 100 to 150 feet from their nest.

Rats are associated with various diseases and occasionally bite. Plague is no longer a major concern because it has not occurred in rats in the United States for many years. However, leptospirosis is a great fear. This disease is acquired by eating food and drinking water which are contaminated with infected rat urine. Rats also cause significant structural damage and product destruction.

Nesting wild animals leave droppings which need to be removed and the area sanitized. Suburban Exterminating will clean these hazardous materials and will also offer a consultation with one of our carpenters to repair any structural damage. Suburban Exterminating offers a wide range of competitive pest control services to meet the needs of commercial, retail and industrial operations in both the private and public sectors. To read about Suburban Exterminating's entire commercial services visit http://www.suburbanexterminating.com/services/Commerical-72.asp. Our operators are ready to place your service call seven days a week. Don’t let a small creature become a huge problem to your business!

Preventing Pests at Home

Winterizing your home is the best bet to protecting yourself against insects, mice, rats, squirrels and raccoons that are looking for comfortable places to live in the winter.  There are a few tricks you can do yourself, but the surest way is to trust the experts at Suburban Exterminating.  Our technicians are trained to protect your home against pests. 

For your part:

• Always keep trash cans tightly closed to keep away rodents and wildlife. 

• Clean gutters of leaves, twigs and stagnant water where bugs can hibernate and gain sustenance. 

The experts at Suburban Exterminating can help you winterize your house and are the best defense in pest control.  Our technicians are trained to spot areas where insects, rodents or wildlife can enter your home.

• We fill any holes around pipes, vents or windows. 

• We make sure all vents and windows are screened, and will replace damaged, old or missing screens.  As a step further, we can caulk windows with a silicone frame to prevent any insects from entering.  (Plus, this may stop heat from escaping and lower your energy costs!)

• We place chimney caps and replace garage door weather stripping.  Both of these entrances to your home can lead to rodents and wildlife looking for warm, dry places to nest in the winter.

• We move your firewood away from the foundation and cut back any shrubs or bushes that will block the sun on your foundation, allowing it to dry properly.

All of these steps are important in winterizing a home.   Suburban’s teams are trained to spot possible problem areas where pests can enter.  Aside from being a nuisance, many insects, rodents, and wildlife can cause damage to your home, costing money in repairs.  Also, a lot of these pests carry disease, causing damage to your family, which is irreplaceable.  Call (631) or (516) 864-9600 for a free estimate and further information.