April showers bring May flowers...and termites, according to Bob Vila.
“Termites are the biggest pests that threaten anybody who’s a homeowner,” the renowned home improvement expert told Cheddar Tuesday. “They cause over $5 billion worth of damages to American homes each and every year.”
So how do you check if you’ve got termites?
Take a walk around your garden or yard, said Vila. “Look for...mud runnels, like cracks in the foundation…[or] any holes that would allow insects in and out of the house.”
Another telltale sign is...crap. Literally.
“One of the things to look for is called frass, [which] is really a polite term for their excrement, their poop.”
Termites will usually “eat a hole through the side of the wood and just toss [their poop] out,” explained Vila.
“Once the termites are in the house, they’re not going to leave, they’re very happy eating up all the wood,” said Vila.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/bob-vila-on-keeping-your-home-pest-free-for-summer).
When police responded to an alarm call at a TJ Maxx in Rockland, Maine on Thanksgiving Day last week, they weren't sure what exactly they would find. The alarm hadn't been tripped by a burglar but instead, it was a different kind of break-in -- a white-tailed deer.
