02/07/2025
PEST CONTROL!
I am very familiar with the South and many of the battles people face on a daily with 30+ years of serving others in their homes and businesses. Plus more than 9 generations of my own family being born, bred, and wed in Texas.
My great-aunts used to own the Triangle, a restaurant in Tyler, and unfortunately a giant cockroach once landed inside one of the ice cubes in the sweet tea that uncle Woody loved so much on those super hot days... Family reunions just wouldn't be the same without these ghastly stories.
Unfortunately, I have even more disturbing memories... A family in Manvel invited me over near dinner time and I watched as they battled tiny cockroaches for their plates and later saw how they battled brain cancer.
In San Leon I have seen rats as big as cats with fingers as sticky as a Southsides addicts as they scurry across their familiar paths of destruction leaving a distinct smell of urine littered with pellets and layer of greased on dirt.
The more neglected an environment the more dangerous it becomes, but some neglect comes in the form of ignorance and bad marketing. This a huge health and safety concern that many people struggle with managing. I often hear people debating the right poison and traps but these are only temporary remedies that can cost you dearly.
We lost our dachshund, Tater Tot, after he ate some rat poison that had been strewn about by a landlord years ago, I don't think I will ever forget that 18 hours of suffering. I accidentally poisoned my rat terrier, Spike, after spraying an aerosol can of poison in the bathroom of our tiny apartment while remodeling and ripping out rotted wood with cockroaches then not thinking to dump his food and water in the kitchen after permeating the air with poison. Aerosol of any sort whether packed with poison or not can be very dangerous to birds and people with breathing issues also. I wasn't a perfect caregiver but I learned things that I hope can help others. I have also seen how truly dangerous fire ants can be to toddlers and people with allergies and have fought many battles over the years.
Through my mistakes and ignorance I have attained unforgettable lessons and carried this knowledge with me to every task I have performed after. I have grown to become much more holistic and accountable when managing any property and hope others can learn to recognize and remedy these issues in a similar fashion.
So let me try to show you how to identify the real problem... the real problems come from our environments, the infestations are merely symptoms pointing out our own flaws...
The kitchen is the heart of the home and this is the place I prefer to start working in when addressing issues. Strictly regarding pest problems you want to make sure that all food is secure in a sealed container (glass, plastic, ceramic, metal). Contrary to popular opinion composting can actually help eliminate pests and unnecessary filth around the house. But once food is secure then you can start securing your home.
Health, safety, and security all fall under the landlords responsibility... here's a helpful link that pinpoints the areas of law that may be relevant to renters:
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/home-real-estate-and-travel/renters-rights
In the comments I will add pictures of common points of entry and tell you how to mitigate these issues... after a long break. :)
The most important source of information about your relationship with your landlord is your rental agreement, whether it is written or oral. Some landlords prefer oral agreements, but it is more common for them to require your signature on a written lease. Be sure to read the lease carefully before....
