Garden Pests

What are garden pests?

Garden pests are those animals that tend to wreak havoc in gardens, lawns and landscaped areas.  Some can even undermine structures with their burrowing behavior.  In addition to pests listed below, skunks fall into this category.

• The groundhog, also called woodchucks, are members of the squirrel family.  Brown with short, bushy tails, groundhogs weigh 4 to 10 pounds, are excellent burrowers and hibernate during the winter.  They usually live at the edge of woodlands, but may dig their dens, which they will viciously defend, in sheltered landscape areas in yards.  Feasting primarily on green vegetation, groundhogs can decimate a garden, but may also damage lawns while digging for grubs. 

• The Eastern Chipmunk is a small, 5- to 6-inch long, brownish, ground-dwelling squirrel with a short pointy head, two white stripes down its back and a narrow tail. It feeds primarily on grains, nuts, berries, seeds and insects but will also dig up and eat flower bulbs and seedlings. A prodigious burrower, in large numbers chipmunks can undermine the foundations of porch steps, patios, retention walls and the foundations of structures.

• Opossums are the only marsupial in North America, meaning that their young develop in a pouch in the mother's abdomen. Known to "play dead" when frightened, opossums may attack and bite if threatened. Gray-furred with a pointed head and long nose, they have a white face with long whiskers and a long, naked pink tail. They can use their prehensile tail to hang upside down from tree branches. Opossums are about 30 inches long, including their foot-long tail. Active at night, their digging can cause considerable destruction to gardens. Opossums live in underground dens and may burrow under sheds, decks, house or garage slabs, woodpiles, sidewalks or stone walls, sometimes causing structural collapse. They may also build their dens in garages or attics.

• Deer are large, grazing, browsing animals that are found throughout the United States. Deer do not have teeth in the front of their upper jaw, they cause damage to your garden plants by pulling and twisting when grazing. 

Why do I have garden pests?

Garden pests tend to move from empty fields or uncultivated areas to nearby lawns, gardens and landscaped areas in search of food and shelter.

Are they dangerous?

Garden pests are considered more of a nuisance pest when they destroy landscaping and mar lawns, however some types of garden pests may attack or bite when threatened.  

How do I get rid of garden pests?

Garden pests are hard to evict and are best left to the NJ animal control professionals.  A ChemTec pest professional will design a customized animal control program that fits the specific needs of your property, with the goal of eliminating all garden pest activity.  ChemTec can also provide deer control measures to ensure nuisance deer will stop grazing in your gardens as well.

Can I do it myself?

Due the complexity of treatment, garden pests are generally not pests that many people can resolve on their own.  

Is the treatment safe?

The pest professionals at ChemTec Pest Control will first correctly identify your garden pest and then create a program to eliminate garden pest activity in an environmentally responsible manner.   Before any treatments begin, our inspectors will consult with you regarding your children, pets, and gardens and then based on your current situation; they will then customize a treatment plan specifically for you.

How soon can you get here?

ChemTec Pest Control is committed to helping you as soon as possible.  In most cases, we can respond the same or very next day.

What is the guarantee?

Our guarantee is simple: if you are not completely satisfied, we will give you your money back. If you have a problem with the pest after our services, just call us and we will come back to retreat for the pest at no additional charge within the warrantee period. We want all of our customers to be completely satisfied with our services and we will always work towards that goal. Please visit Our Guarantee page for more information.

How can I prevent this in the future?

Preventing garden pest activity in the future includes modifying your environment so that these pests will seek our more inviting habitats.    A ChemTec animal control specialist can help you identify conditions that attract garden pests.  

Where does ChemTec Pest Control service?

ChemTec Pest Control provides animal control services throughout Bergen and Passaic counties in New Jersey.