Holt joined Chem-free in 2021 as the Electrical & Appliance Operations Manager before transitioning to Division Manager for Pest Control. Before Chem-free, Holt worked as a Project Manager and Superintendent in Construction.
Holt also served in the US Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007. Holt is a member of NPMA’s PestVets, Stewards of the Wild and Texas Wildlife Association. Holt is an avid outdoorsman, who loves to travel and spend time with his wife and daughter.
If you’re interested in the idea of raising chickens, you’ve probably heard that a bonus about chickens is the fact that they eat insects, which means they could help keep your yard free of unwanted bugs. Or, if you currently own chickens, you may be wondering if you could count on them as a more natural form of pest control.
As temperatures rise, our excitement to head outside and enjoy the weather can quickly turn sour when we find ourselves slapping at mosquitoes and scratching itchy bites. If this has happened to you, you might find yourself wondering whether mosquitoes bite during the day. Surely there’s a period when they’re less active and you can enjoy some outdoor time without being bothered—right?
Fleas are tiny, wingless insects, about the size and color of a speck of black pepper, that are visible to the naked eye. But, what about fleas in other life stages—can you see flea eggs? This is a common question from people who are dealing with a flea infestation in their homes, or from anyone who is worried they might have a flea problem.
If you hear a faint, tapping sound coming from within your walls or elsewhere in your otherwise silent home, you might suspect it’s an unwanted pest and then wonder, “What could be making this noise? Do termites make noise?” Well, yes and no.
You’ve become worried after spotting a raccoon on your property. You know these animals are notorious for strewing trash, and in the past, they have scared your pets. While in your yard one day, you notice a new hole under your deck. After a quick peek inside, you discover that the raccoon is nesting right underneath your feet. While you mull over your options, you probably ask yourself: How do you get rid of raccoons under your deck, anyways?
Anyone who has had the unpleasant experience of lying in bed, unable to relax because you can hear telltale scratching or squeaking sounds coming from a wall or ceiling nearby, knows the feeling of frantically wondering how to keep mice out of your bed. Fortunately, finding actual mouse droppings or other evidence of rodent activity among your sheets and blankets is rare. Mice and rats are far more likely to hang around your kitchen or your pets’ food and water bowls than in your bedroom, and they’ll almost certainly opt for building a nest in your walls over where you sleep. Mice actually prefer to avoid human contact and are rather shy creatures, so the chances of them snuggling up with you in bed is not likely.
In the German vs. American cockroach fight for world domination, there is already a clear winner, at least in Texas: the German cockroach, which is the most common cockroach species in the state. It’s also the most common species of cockroach in many other states, as well as in lots of other areas of the world.
The worst nightmare of many homeowners is having a cockroach crawl across the bed while we are fast asleep. While roaches don't bite, these pests often inspire feelings of fear and disgust. In addition, inhaling skin and waste products from these creatures in an infested home can cause an allergic reaction or trigger asthma symptoms. To make matters worse, as nocturnal insects, roaches are most active at night. For all of these reasons, you may want to better understand how to keep roaches away while you sleep.
It started with a scratch. At first, you didn’t think much of it, but your dog had been itching nonstop for a few weeks now. When you took a closer look at your pet's fur, you noticed a small creature hop out of sight which seemed to confirm what you might have already suspected: a flea has been tormenting your beloved furry family member.
