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West Seattle’s neighborhood gardens — from sun-drenched community plots on the peninsula to shady, rain-softened yards tucked into slopes and ravines — are a defining feature of the community. The area’s marine-influenced climate (mild, wet winters and relatively few hard freezes) plus the prevalence of mulches, compost piles, raised beds and ornamental plantings create a…

Wallingford’s mix of older houses, mature trees and backyards with fruiting plants creates an ideal habitat for roof rats (Rattus rattus). These slender, agile rodents are adapted to life above ground: they are excellent climbers, preferentially travel along branches, vines and utility lines, and often establish nests in attics, eaves and dense vegetation. For homeowners…

The holiday season brings a surge of visitors, family gatherings, and short-term stays — and with that increased foot traffic comes a heightened risk of bed bug introductions. For Ballard Rentals, whether you manage a single cozy cottage or a portfolio of city flats, preventing bed bugs is not just about pest control; it’s about…

Capitol Hill apartment balconies are prized for fresh air, container gardens, and extra living space — even in December when cold, damp weather pushes city life indoors. But that same shelter and human activity make balconies a magnet for pests. Whether you live in an older walk-up or a modern high-rise, the microclimates created by…

When winter settles over Green Lake, the battle for warmth doesn’t take place only on front porches and in living rooms — it happens in the quiet, seldom-visited space above the ceiling. Attics that retain heat through the cold months become attractive microhabitats for a wide range of animals and insects seeking shelter from low…

As temperatures drop and natural food sources become scarce, rodents look for warm, dry places to nest—and workshops and storage areas in Fremont are prime targets. Whether you keep a home workshop, rent a storage unit, or manage a commercial shop, winter invaders can cause costly damage: chewed wiring, ruined insulation, contaminated materials and supplies,…

On rainy days in Madison Valley, it’s common to settle into a cozy living room only to find a small, eight-legged tenant has beat you to the couch. That phenomenon—spiders appearing indoors during wet weather—can seem mysterious or unsettling, but it’s actually the predictable result of spider biology, neighborhood ecology, and how our homes interact…

As winter tightens its grip on Seward Park, backyard sheds — those handy outbuildings used for tools, lawn furniture and holiday decorations — become unexpectedly attractive to a different kind of tenant. December brings a predictable shift in rodent behavior: falling temperatures, dwindling natural food sources and the search for warm, dry nesting sites drive…

A strange or persistent smell in a basement is more than an annoying nuisance — for homeowners in Roosevelt it can be an early warning sign that pests have taken up residence below the living space. Basements are attractive to animals and insects because they offer shelter, steady temperatures, and easy access to food and…

For many residents of Phinney Ridge, a compact, leafy neighborhood perched on a ridge above Seattle’s Greenwood and Ballard areas, the home office has become as much a fixture as the neighborhood’s distinctive craftsman bungalows. Whether it’s a converted spare bedroom, a sunlit nook, or an attic studio, these workspaces often double as archives: stacks…