Tails of the Trade Logo Community Pest Solutions

Groundhogs, Bed Bugs and Bats, oh my…

It’s never a dull day in the Michigan pest control business!

We deal with pretty neat things on the job here. We hope you find these “tails” of our trade helpful and entertaining!

Our Favorite Customer Reviews of 2025
Blog Joe Gavorek Blog Joe Gavorek

Our Favorite Customer Reviews of 2025

We received more than 500 5-star Google reviews in 2025 from customers in the greater Ann Arbor and Plymouth areas. Thoughtful, hilarious (thanks Josh – see below!), heartfelt reviews — from new parents, new homeowners, longtime annual-plan families, and folks who turned to us during those there’s-something-in-the-attic-and-I’m-spiraling moments (hey… it happens to the best of us!).

To celebrate our customers and our crew, we put together this short video highlighting some of our favorite reviews of the year. These stories capture everything we strive for as a family-owned company!

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Here’s What a 10+ Year Bat Infestation Looks Like
Joe Gavorek Joe Gavorek

Here’s What a 10+ Year Bat Infestation Looks Like

Bat and other pest problems in attics can persist for a long time out of site, out of mind.

When we got a call from a homeowner in the Saline / Milan area they told us they’d been hearing noises above the upstairs bedrooms for years. At first, it was easy to dismiss as just the occasional critter. Once their kids left the nest and moved out of those rooms, the sounds were even easier to ignore.

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One Chimney, Five Baby Raccoons
Joe Gavorek Joe Gavorek

One Chimney, Five Baby Raccoons

Hearing rodent scratching or screeching somewhere in your home? It’s usually more than one critter – and sometimes it’s the whole litter…

From the roof, we spotted what looked like a single raccoon at the bottom of the chimney. But when we opened the clean-out door in the basement, we discovered five baby raccoons that had likely been abandoned by the mom

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30,000+ Bees, One Happy Ending
Blog Joe Gavorek Blog Joe Gavorek

30,000+ Bees, One Happy Ending

This home was classic rural Ypsilanti: sprawling beams, creaky floorboards, and plenty of places for mice and squirrels to sneak in, which is why we were there in the first place. But while we were busy sealing up the place, we noticed something else.

A whole lot of buzzing.

Turns out, tens of thousands of honey bees had built a hive in a basement window well…

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Bat Eviction & Exclusion Gone Wrong
Blog Joe Gavorek Blog Joe Gavorek

Bat Eviction & Exclusion Gone Wrong

Sloppy pest control work can lead to serious consequences. Here’s an example: we recently had the opportunity to help a condo owner deal with bats in her home – one of which tested positive for rabies. Unfortunately, another pest control company improperly sealed the home when they were hired, which not only failed to keep bats out – but may have actually driven them from the attic and into her living space.

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Climate Change & Ann Arbor Pest Problems
Blog Joe Gavorek Blog Joe Gavorek

Climate Change & Ann Arbor Pest Problems

Just as climate change is reshaping ecosystems across America and the world, Ann Arbor is no exception. The natural balance of our ecosystem is out of order. Extended growing and breeding seasons, increased precipitation, and more humidity create ideal conditions for many local pests to flourish.

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Brown Recluses Found At Ann Arbor Business
Blog Joe Gavorek Blog Joe Gavorek

Brown Recluses Found At Ann Arbor Business

It finally happened… a confirmed Brown Recluse infestation at a commercial space in Ann Arbor. Until now, 100% of “recluse” sightings turned out to be grass spiders, wolf spiders, and dark fishing spiders. Not this time!

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