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).
Many households adopted a pet during the pandemic, according to a survey. However, there were also pets that were raised in isolation in the same period if they weren't adopted. Michael S. Gould, canine trainer and founder of Hounds Town, and Sam Reilly, a dog management specialist and trainer, both joined Cheddar News to explain how they have built up pets' confidence and social skills ahead of being potentially adopted.
Court records show that the Maryland judge who was shot to death outside his home presided over divorce case of the man now identified as person of interest in the killing.
October is Breast Awareness Cancer Month as the disease affects millions of American families. Elissa Kalver, founder of Wegotthis.org, joined Cheddar News to explain how breast cancer inspired her to create her own nonprofit and provided some details of her personal battle while maintaining a family.
