by Tobi | Jun 17, 2019 | Blog
“Where are you headed this summer?” This is a common question that we all seem to ask one another to find out each others’ summer plans. Most respond to this question by discussing their exotic vacation locations, their travel plans, or their plans for a staycation....
by Tobi | Apr 18, 2019 | Blog
There are two main ants, the Argentine and Odorous House Ant, that we deal with in the San Francisco Bay Area. Twice a year, we have an influx of ants during the rainy winter season and the extreme heat of summer. If Argentine ants are your problem, having a semi...
by Tobi | Mar 21, 2019 | Blog
Over the course of the past several years, the Pest Management industry has experienced an acquisition and merger resurgence. In the late 1990’s, President of ATCO Pest Control, Richard Estrada, remembers hearing about the sale of a family owned pest management...
by Tobi | Feb 21, 2019 | Blog
What do you think of when you hear the word ants? Perhaps they are an insect that you don’t think very much about until you open your kitchen cabinet and you see a trail of ants surrounding a crumb you forgot to clean up. Or perhaps you began to see ants in a...
by Tobi | Jan 14, 2019 | Blog
Every other year the National Pest Management Association holds a Global Bed Bug Summit. ATCO Pest Control has attended the past four conferences, and it has been exciting to attend these conferences as several researchers from around the global share their results...
by Tobi | Nov 15, 2018 | Blog
As we move into the winter season one thing we should all be concerned about is, how can I protect my home from rodents? In the Bay Area, there are three different types of rats which include the roof rat, the Norway rat, and the wood rat. The wood rat can typically...
by Billy Keller | Jun 27, 2018 | Blog
ATCO travels to the East Coast to eliminate bedbug infestation Bedbugs are a growing problem in the United States and it is getting worse daily. It seems that almost no one is exempt from potential infestations of these nuisance pests. Now our bedbug crew has...
by Billy Keller | Jun 13, 2018 | Blog
Ticks and Fleas predicted to be big problem this Summer Ticks and fleas can ruin summer fun in a hurry! We all look forward to the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area summers. Lazy days at the beach, wine tours in the Sonoma and Napa Counties. Perhaps hikes along the...
by Michael Schwartz | Apr 3, 2017 | Blog
Last month, I introduced the Pesticide Reduction Coalition and detailed ATCO’s supportive role. This time, I’d like to share a bit more about the first initiative. To Review For those of you who may not have caught the last post, The Marin County Board of Supervisors,...
by Michael Schwartz | Mar 8, 2017 | Blog
Pesticides and Us Pesticides have, for many years, been a mixed blessing. When DDT was first developed, it seemed to be the answer to the spread of malaria and other dangerous diseases. But over time, harmful impact on the environment, particularly birds, led...
by Michael Schwartz | Feb 8, 2017 | Blog
News and Insights from the 2016 Bed Bug Summit Bed bugs have plagued humans for literally millions of years. Now, every two years, the pest management industry holds an event focused on the current status of bed bug infestation and the emerging science and methodology...
by Michael Schwartz | Dec 19, 2016 | Blog
The holidays are nearly upon us, and we are coming into winter when travel increases. Whether that means heading for relatives for a holiday gathering and feast, escaping the clutches of winter or heading to the slopes, lots of people are on the move at this time of...
by Michael Schwartz | Nov 8, 2016 | Blog
Google “ant season” and you find responses for most times of the year, including December, April and July. Fact is, there is no single “ant season.” Ants may choose to enter buildings at any time of year seeking shelter from the elements, whether that means rain and...
by Richard Estrada | Jun 23, 2016 | Blog
Yes, it’s always possible to wait until a pest management need arises to call us. We are local, responsive and we’re ready to help. But rather than waiting for the crisis to occur, consider why a long term agreement might be right for you. 1. Proactive Service Rather...
by Richard Estrada | Apr 20, 2016 | Blog
Several neighbors have posted on NextDoor.com this winter about invasive rodents of one sort or another. For some it was squirrels in the attic. For some it was skunks under the deck and house. For others, rats had made their way into the attic. None of these guests...
by Richard Estrada | Apr 6, 2016 | Blog
Bedbugs have plagued humans for a long time—at least 3,000 years. DDT and other insecticides introduced in the wake of WWII knocked down their numbers to the point where these pests were largely ignored, forgotten for a couple decades. But now they are back, resistant...
by Richard Estrada | Jan 11, 2016 | Blog
Relocating your family or your business is a complicated process and there are many things to keep in mind as you look at properties. Something you shouldn’t neglect is the possible presence of “roommates” waiting for you in the form of insects, spiders and rodents...
by Richard Estrada | Oct 20, 2015 | Blog
Continuing our recent discussion of bedbugs, we offer an interesting recent study on the movement of those notorious insects. Despite considerable research in recent years, certain behaviors of the bed bug remain poorly understood. While their movement between...
by Richard Estrada | Sep 18, 2015 | Blog
For some time now, our featured blog entry has been, “Bedbugs Are Occupying the Bay Area.” We first posted that in June of 2012. What has changed in the time since is not so much the reality of the invasion, but the response to it. According to the Centers for Disease...
by Richard Estrada | Jul 16, 2015 | Blog
There’s a lot to the “less is more” argument. In many contexts, the idea of doing with less is sound, whether for economic or more philosophical reasons. We won’t argue. And sometimes bigger is better. Over the last year, ATCO has acquired two Marin pest management...
by Richard Estrada | Mar 30, 2015 | Blog
When you have a pest problem, what do you need to know about certification and why should you care? California laws require that Pest Control companies continue to earn CEUs (continuing education units) to claim IPM status. ATCO has chosen to become EcoWise certified...
by Richard Estrada | Mar 18, 2015 | Blog
ATCO Pest Control continues to grow, providing even better opportunities for customer service and satisfaction. This past October 2014 ATCO acquired Select Pest Control of San Rafael, a well-respected firm with deep roots in Marin County. After 25 years in business,...
by Richard Estrada | Mar 12, 2015 | Blog
This past month a gentleman referred by a friend, an ATCO client, called with this dilemma. For the past several months he had suffered from bites. His physician had identified them as mite bites, but couldn’t be sure of the source. The doctor had suggested rats, and...
by Richard Estrada | Jan 27, 2015 | Blog
Okay, students, for the next question, here are three businesses or organizations. Name the one that DOESN’T match the other two: a) Marin Conservation League, b) WildCare, c) a pest management company Most of you answered, “C,” right? Wrong! If that business is ATCO...
by Richard Estrada | May 5, 2014 | Blog
In March, California legislators voted to ban rodenticides statewide as of July 1. While animal rights activists hailed the ruling, Reckitt Benckiser, the UK-based company that markets a popular over-the-counter rodent killer, sued the state. The suit claims that the...
by Richard Estrada | Apr 8, 2014 | Blog
“Novato-based Atco Pest Control sometimes uses rodenticides, but is well-known for using integrated pest management techniques to control pests without using harmful chemicals. The company handles all the pest management issues for the county, which mandates they...
by Richard Estrada | Apr 3, 2014 | Blog
INTRODUCTION TO BED BUG WORKSHOP Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, 5019 Imhoff Place, Martinez April 17, 2014, 9:00 a.m. – 11:30...
by Richard Estrada | Mar 10, 2014 | Blog
No sooner had Richard Estrada finished making another presentation to the Master Garden Class at Indian Valley College in Novato about Integrated Pest Management than he got a call from Tanya Drlik, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator of Contra Costa County,...
by Richard Estrada | Feb 25, 2013 | Blog
Last week, Marin Integrated Pest Management Commissioner Ed Hulme invited me to speak to Marin County Free Library staff about a growing concern both national and local: bed bugs in library books. ATCO Pest Control services all Marin County buildings under the IPM...
by Estella | Nov 14, 2012 | Blog
In 2009, ATCO Pest Control won an IPM Innovators Award from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), and they followed that up by contributing to the 2011 award by DPR to Marin County Parks. Marin County Parks won this award and ATCO is a major...
by Estella | Oct 18, 2012 | Blog
This article ran in a number of California and national publications recently, and we here at ATCO thought you’d be interested in reading this. We have been treating our beloved oak trees for many clients for years, and as you can see from this article, preventive...
by Richard Estrada | Jun 7, 2012 | Blog
Bedbugs are opportunists and they’re hitchhikers, so if you’re in the right place at the wrong time you could bring them home, no matter who you are or what your social status is. Although bedbugs don’t carry disease and they’re not dangerous, we are finding that...
