I am fairly certain that every home has them. Those creepy, crawly, flying, biting, gnawing, hole digging, yard tunneling pests!! Maybe they’re not in your home or yard yet, but they are always nearby trying to figure out how to get in. Our home is no exception. I’d like to share with you some of the tactics and strategies we use for household pest control.
With that said, we also have two dogs, which at times are pests themselves, which means we have to be careful of the methods we use. For that reason, we tend to shy away from poisons or are very aware of where we place them. Let’s take a look at some of the home pest control measures we use.
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Those Creepy – Crawly Insects
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We live in the state of Michigan and when spring arrives and the “April showers, brings May flowers, There’s not a more beautiful place to live! However, those April showers and the accompanying warm weather bring a whole host of creatures to life.
Some of these creatures are back from migration or hibernation and are a welcome sign of spring. However, there is another group of critters that appear that I call the “creepy – crawlies” that I could do without. These include critters like ants, earwigs, fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. Let the battle begin!
How To Control Insects Around The House?
To combat these critters we set up a perimeter around our house… literally. I did some research and found a pesticide that seems to work well for our situation. This is the only exception to our “poison” rule mentioned above. What we use is a spray concentrate called Permethrin, that you mix with water a spray where needed. It does a good job of insect control and repellant.
This product can be used in several different ways. It all depends on how strong of a concentration you mix. A weaker mixture can be used on your clothes and pets to protect against fleas and ticks and it even helps against mosquitoes. A stronger mixture is what we use around the perimeter of our house to kill and repel creepy-crawlies.
Depending on the amount of rain, or increased signs of critters, I will re-apply Permethrin a couple of times through the summer. We use a small 2-gallon pump-up sprayer for around the house and you can use a smaller spray bottle for some of the smaller applications.
Caution! I have to stress the importance of following the manufacturers mixing and application instructions! It has worked for us, but have only used it as a perimeter spray to date.
We’ve also had good luck using Terro Liquid Ant Bait too. In between treatments of Permethrin, we will set out a couple of Terro bait traps in areas we notice any ant activity. This works by attracting the ant to the bait and then they take it back to their nests. This is a great way to get them at the source.
How To Control Rodents
In this category, I’m going to include mice and chipmunks. They can get into anything, cause damage and make a real bio-hazard mess! We have had barbecue grill covers, tarps, sleeping bags, and many other things ruined by mice chewing on them or by their “wastes”. Chipmunks can cause similar damage, and in many cases, because they are bigger, they cause more damage getting into places.
How To Control Mice?
The first thing you have to do is try and keep them out. I know that’s easier said than done, but by closing off openings and sealing larger cracks you’ll limit their access points. This will help cut down their numbers and give you fewer entry points to focus your efforts!
This includes vinyl siding outside corners and others I’m sure. I’ve seen mice and chipmunks climb up inside them, which may give them access to any opening around your soffits.
One of the best ways to block smaller opening and cracks I’ve found is with steel wool. Simply stuff it into any opening to block them from entering. It’s inexpensive and works well.
Apparently, mice do not like to chew the steel wool as it probably cuts their mouths. I do recommend wearing a pair of gloves when working with the steel wool to protect your hands.
If you are a pet owner, dog or cat, you know it is their nature to hunt some of these rodents and pests, so we opt more for traps to control the different rodents. In my pole barn, I have mouse traps set all year long.
My bait of choice is peanut butter and it has always worked well. I have several traps set at each of the notable points of entry. I also set a couple of others randomly around the inside of the barn for the elusive one that finds a new point of entry.
During the fall season, I usually see an increase in their activity. The mice are beginning to look for a warm, dry place to nest for the upcoming cold weather. Be sure to check your traps frequently and keep them baited.
How Do You Control Chipmunks?
A friend of mine told me he used “rat” traps for chipmunks. He purchased several traps and sets a few around each chipmunk hole or entry point into a building. You don’t bait the traps, you just count on them randomly stepping on one of them. This has worked well for him, but you need quite a few traps to make this work.
I decided to try a different method using my traps. Survival experts frequently set snares on leaning branches and trees. Squirrels are known for using leaning branches as they are easier to climb than a vertical tree.
Along that same idea, I bought a 2 pack of rat traps and screwed them to a three-foot, 2 x 2 board. I leaned these boards up against trees, or any type of structure, in the areas where I see chipmunks around the yard or buildings.
In the first summer I used this method I trapped 12 chipmunks and 10 mice! This was outside of the buildings, using absolutely no bait. I call this method a success!
How To Control Ground Moles
Ground moles can be one of the most frustrating critters in your yard. Their burrowing can cause unsightly mounds and other related issues. The mounds can dull and cause damage to mower blades. During heavy rains, these borrows can collapse causing a series of wash-out in your yard. Then there is the issue with dogs love to try and dig these guys up. What a mess!
There are poison pellets that you can drop in the mole’s tunnels, but we never had great success with them. Not to mention our concern with the dogs getting a hold of the poison or a poisoned mole. They also make granular lawn treatments that are supposed to kill the grubs that the moles are supposed to be feeding on. Depending on the size of your yard, this can get expensive.
Mole Trap Options
As mentioned earlier, we’ve opted for trapping our moles instead of using poisons, because of our pets. There are several types of traps available. Here are the traps I’ve used and how I rank them.
Plunger Style Trap: I own one of these traps and it work, but not as well as the next two options. It’s more difficult to set and I’ve had more misses with this trap. If you do get a mole with this trap, you have to dig it out.
Choker Loop Trap: I also own one of these traps and it is my preferred of the first two. This trap sets much easier and it seems to work well. I don’t recall it ever missing. If it’s tripped, you will have a mole in the trap and the mole will come out when you pull the trap.
Easy One-Step Trap: I do not own one of these traps, a close friend of mine does and I’ve seen it in action. This trap lives up to its name. It is very easy to set. Just stick it into the ground and step on it. It also works very well and rarely misses, according to my friend.
I really like my choke loop trap, but if I were to buy another trap, it’s going to be the easy one-step. Simple is better! Just by one or two of these traps and move it around your yard, as needed.
Fruit Flies
Some critters don’t have to be creepy looking or cause damage to your stuff. Sometimes just their presence is annoying enough. One such critter is the fruit fly. In our area, they really become an issue beginning in August through September. I’m sure this coincides with many berries, fruits, and vegetables coming in season and getting ripe. Not only are these things annoying, but they can also be embarrassing when entertaining!
How Do You Control Fruit Flies?
Much like mice, prevention is one of your biggest weapons. I know this can be a chore, but there are several things you can do that will help. Store as many fruits and vegetables in the fridge. This will keep many fruits and veggies from ripening too quickly. Also, the seal on the fridge door reduces the scent that allows the flies to find them.
Empty your trash frequently. Better yet, any trash generated by cleaning or preparing fruits and veggies should be disposed of outside. Especially peels, cores, and seeds. Wash any knives, cutting boards and dishes used to prepare your fruits and veggies. Be sure to wash your countertops and kitchen surfaces too! Keeping things clean is your best defense against attracting fruit flies.
Fruit Fly Traps
There are many different types of traps for fruit flies that you can buy. There are traps that can be made by using a canning jar. One trap call for you to put a small amount of apple cider vinegar in the bottom of the jar and cover the mouth of the jar with plastic wrap. Then just poke several small holes in the plastic wrap with a toothpick. Once the flies get in, most of them can’t find their way out.
Similar traps call for inserting a small funnel in the mouth of the jar, blocking the opening. The only way in is down through the funnel opening.
We’ve purchased, and use, the antique jar fruit fly trap above. This trap works great! It is made with an opening in the bottom. It looks like a decorative antique jar sitting out. Rinse it out every few days, as needed, and add fresh cider vinegar.
Conclusion
Pests in and around the home can be irritating, frustrating, and can cause significant damage. By apply using some of the tips, technics, and products discussed above, in most cases, you should be able to get many of your household pests under control.
However, for heavy infestations of certain pests, like termites, carpenter ants or roaches, it may be in your best interest to call in the professionals. The most important thing is to get started early and stay with it. That’s a good way to get ahead and eliminate your unwanted pests around the house.
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