Joe’s tips for outsmarting pests
HEED THE WARNINGS ON PESTICIDES
The labels on insecticide and rodenticide products have important information on how to use them safely, including where to spray, when to spray, how much and how often. Keep yourself, your family and the environment safe by strictly following these guidelines.
ASK GOOD QUESTIONS OF POTENTIAL EXTERMINATORS When hiring a pest control service, ask:
How do you plan to identify the pests?
What removal methods do you use, and how do you keep pests out?
When do you decide to resort to chemicals, and what products do you use?
The answers can help steer you to a professional, safety-minded company. For more info about hiring a pro, visit pestworld.org.
DON’T EXPECT INSTANT RESULTS Pest control is a process, not a set-it-and-forget-it solution. Joe often makes several trips to identify, monitor and solve problems. In some cases, you’ll need ongoing service to keep pests from returning.
OVERDO TRAPS
Joe always puts out more than the required number of traps. If the situation calls for 15 traps, he puts out 20. This ensures that he catches all the rodents. For extra insurance, he leaves a few traps behind.
PROTECT OTHER ANIMALS
When targeting pests, you can accidentally harm other animals. This is called secondary poisoning, and birds and other animals that make a snack out of pests can get caught in the crossfire. Joe uses pesticides that contain warfarin or bromethalin because they pose less risk to birds and mammals through primary and secondary poisoning.
DOUBLE UP
Mice can nibble away expanding foam, and tiny insects can sneak past copper mesh. When possible, use both. Stuff in the mesh then seal it in with foam.
DON’T SKIP TINY HOLES
Mice can fit into a hole as small as 1/4 in. If their elongated skulls can fit through, the rest can too. Plus, filling those holes will also keep bugs out.
KEEP THE LIGHTS OFF
To find pest entry points, head to the basement, crawl space or garage and keep the lights OFF. Light shining through gaps and cracks will show you where pests can get in. And you’ll have better luck tracking down rodents and other pests because many are nocturnal and sensitive to light—when a light goes on, they will scurry!
SAFE, EFFECTIVE PESTICIDE Diatomaceous earth is harmless to humans; some brands are even considered safe for consumption (although there’s no reason to eat it). Here’s how it works: When insects like bedbugs or ants crawl over diatomaceous earth, this abrasive powder scratches off the waxy layer of their exoskeleton. The bugs then become desiccated and die. Joe spreads diatomaceous earth with his bulb duster under mattresses, bed frames and at the baseboard trim.