Pests in the Urban Landscape

A South Lake Tahoe resident has recently tested positive for plague, likely transmitted by the bite of an infected flea. While human cases of plague are rare, they can be serious. Before this most recent case, the last reported case was also in El Dorado County in 2020. Plague is caused by bacteria,…

It’s that time of year when yellowjackets can ruin your outdoor picnic or gathering. Yellowjacket wasps prey on other insects and scavenge on human food and garbage. Keep reading to learn what they are looking for and ways to get rid of them! Yellowjackets, sometimes called “meat bees,” defend their…

This article covers kissing bugs (also known as conenose bugs). They are an occasional summertime insect pest of sparsely-inhabited rural or suburban areas.

Want to control pests but don’t want to use pesticides? Good news—there are many alternative options, and most are more effective than pesticides and last longer!  In general, there are three main methods to controlling pests nonchemically: cultural control, physical control, and biological control…

While they may look cute, no one really wants a mouse around the house. House mice eat up to 20% of their body weight daily, eating whatever food is available. They can contaminate our food and their gnawing can damage buildings, wiring, insulation, food packages, and more. Many fires of unknown origin are…