Ransford's Blog

Welcome to Wasp Wednesday! Wasp Wednesday is a weekly series, starting in August, that will cover information on wasps found in Massachusetts. First in the series is one of my personal favorites – Cicada Killers!  What is a Cicada Killer? Cicada killers get their name because they hunt cicadas and use them to feed their <a href="https://www.ransfordpc.com/blog/wasp-wednesday-cicada-killers/" class="more-link">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Wasp Wednesday – Cicada Killers</span></a>

Maria Richmond Owner / Ransford Historian When the weather warms up in New England, most of us are thinking about backyard barbecues, hiking trails, and finally getting outside again. Unfortunately, ticks and mosquitoes are thinking the same thing. These pests are more than just a nuisance — they carry real health risks, from Lyme disease <a href="https://www.ransfordpc.com/blog/ticks-mosquitoes-in-central-massachusetts-what-every-homeowner-should-know/" class="more-link">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Ticks & Mosquitoes in Central Massachusetts: What Every Homeowner Should Know</span></a>

By Maria Richmond Owner / Ransford Historian Spring is here, and at Ransford, we have been anything but idle during the off-season. While the pests were waiting out the cold, we were busy building – strengthening our team with key hires who bring decades of industry experience and fresh energy to the company. As we <a href="https://www.ransfordpc.com/blog/new-faces-big-plansransford-is-ready-for-busy-season/" class="more-link">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> New Faces, Big Plans – Ransford Is Ready for Busy Season</span></a>

Is it carpenter ants or termites damaging your home? Learn how to tell them apart by appearance, debris, and damage patterns — plus why Massachusetts homeowners need to act fast.

By Maria Richmond Owner / Ransford Historian After one of Central Massachusetts’s snowiest winters in recent memory, spring is coming fast. Here’s what that means for your home — and what to do before the bugs beat you to it. If you’ve spent this winter shoveling, salting, and waiting out storm after storm in Central <a href="https://www.ransfordpc.com/blog/the-snow-is-finally-melting-and-the-pests-are-right-behind-it/" class="more-link">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> The Snow Is (Finally) Melting — And the Pests Are Right Behind It</span></a>

By George Clark Certified Structural Pest Exterminator We all instinctively find the idea of rodents running amok in our homes unpleasant, but they cause harm in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. Mice are constantly discharging micro-droplets of urine throughout the day (and night), and will also mark safe passages and foods with urine and droppings. <a href="https://www.ransfordpc.com/blog/how-to-prevent-mice-from-entering-your-home/" class="more-link">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> How To Prevent Mice From Entering Your Home</span></a>

We already know we don’t want termites in our house—but what happens if they make their way in? Is termite extermination expensive? The average cost of termite treatment varies on the type of termite and how much damage is done, as well as other factors such as the individual pest control company. Termite Damage Repair <a href="https://www.ransfordpc.com/blog/how-much-does-termite-infestation-actually-cost/" class="more-link">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> How Much Does a Termite Infestation Actually Cost?</span></a>

Termites are known for their ability to cause extensive damage to wooden structures with the average repair cost coming to $7,500. There are several things that you can do to help prevent termite problems from developing, and it is also important to be aware of the signs of termite activity so that you can take <a href="https://www.ransfordpc.com/blog/termites-massachusetts/" class="more-link">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Termites in Massachusetts</span></a>

Carpenter bees will dig out wood to create a nest, but they aren’t like termites or carpenter ants. Carpenter bees are much more exact. This means they won’t demolish a home like a hungry army of termites can. Instead, carpenter bees tend to focus on areas and damage or ruin it by creating holes. This <a href="https://www.ransfordpc.com/blog/carpenter-bees-massachusetts-what-you-need-know/" class="more-link">...<span class="screen-reader-text"> Carpenter Bees in Massachusetts: What You Need to Know</span></a>