St. George, UT City Guide
Situated within the north-eastern sector of the Mojave Desert, St. George is found between the distinctly opposite major cities of Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. The town was originally founded as a Mormon cotton mission, and eventually became an important city for that religion. St. George is currently home to the longest continually operating Mormon temple and residents of the town practice the religion by a clear majority. St. George also holds the curious distinction as having the fastest growing white population in America. With a total population of more than 75,000 and covering an area of about 65 square miles, St. George has a moderate population density of about 1,100 residents per square mile. The town is also home to approximately 3,000 households, many of which experience pest problems of varying degrees.
Being situated within the Mojave Desert, St. George is naturally exposed to a ‘hot desert climate’. This town, experiences very hot, dry, and long summers and cold, brief winters. Temperatures in summer often exceed 100 degrees, while winters can dip well below freezing. St. George experiences moderate precipitation at a little over 40 inches annually; however, the town also experiences abundant sunshine for more than 300 days per year on average. Thunderstorms may periodically occur from late summer through to early autumn. This climate profile of hot and cold extremes, combined with moderate precipitation and extreme weather activity makes for a volatile climate for St. George’s pest population.
As a desert town, St. George is vulnerable to some of the more exotic types of hot climate pests, such as scorpions and snakes. While there are numerous species of snakes that can be encountered in suburban backyards in the St. George area, perhaps none is quite as fearsome as the rattlesnake. The rattlesnake is both highly aggressive and venomous, and will bite humans if it feels threatened. Rattlesnakes can be a particular concern for pet owners as dogs and cats in particular may attack these pests and be bitten, unbeknownst to owners. Small children, meanwhile, may be attracted to the rattling sound of the snake and get too close for comfort.
To reduce the chance of rattlesnakes (or other types of snakes) entering a property, there are a few preventative steps that can be taken. First, it is a good idea to limit the number of places in a yard that a snake can seek refuge. Brush, rocks, long grass and piles of wood are all examples of this. Secondly, an important step when attempting to dissuade any type of pest from entering an area is to cut off potential food supplies. As snakes typically consume mice and other rodents, taking steps to eliminate this pest population can help to keep dangerous snakes away from a property. Finally, chasing harmless snakes off a property can actually do more harm than good, as innocuous species of the reptile can actually help keep rattlesnakes away from a property. If a rattlesnake (or unidentified snake) is found at a property, it should not be approached under any circumstances. Amateur attempts at the removal of snakes are how most snake bites occur. Instead, a certified pest control agency should be notified immediately for removal of the threat.
Avid Pest & Lawn and Western Pest Control offer pest removal services for the St. George area.
