A Pound of Prevention – DIY Pest Control
There are two kinds of pest control service calls. One is the emergency infestation call, and the other is the regular monthly pest maintenance call. One is about the eradication of a pest, and the other is about prevention. Keep reading as we go over a few DIY tips for home and business owners that help prevent pest control infestations.
DIY Ant Control
If you don’t have a massive infestation in your kitchen, then you have an opportunity to prevent one. Ants invade our homes because they want food or water or both. Foraging ants don’t bring in the masses of workers unless there is a massive haul of food. During really dry spells, they will come inside for water. A good tip is to use a little orange oil around the windowsills and around openings under the cabinets where pipes come through the walls. Ants do not like orange oil, so applying it is an excellent way to keep ants away. The good news is that orange oil is not toxic to humans, so you are not spreading pesticides around the inside of your home or business.
Keeping Termites Away
Generally, termites invade during the spring, but you can do a few outside chores that help to keep termites away from your home. First, make sure that it’s difficult for a termite to gain access to the underside of your home. Apply sealer to the gap between the house and foundation. Make sure that the areas where pipes enter the house are sealed too. Just like with ants, orange oil has a profound impact on termites. What orange oil does to termites is that it kills the bacteria in their gut system, helping them digest wood. Termites eat wood as food. Without the bacteria, they cannot digest the wood, and they die. Adding a little orange oil helps prevent termite infestations.
Keeping Wildlife Away
Wildlife prowl around our homes and businesses looking for easy foraging for food and water. Sometimes they come looking for a quiet spot to make a den or nest. Keep available food at a minimum. Make sure pet food is kept indoors and that you feed outdoor pets at specific times. Be sure to remove uneaten food quickly. Cat and dog food not only attracts raccoons, possums, and skunks, it attracts pest birds too. Most dry pet food is grain-based, and birds love it also.
Wildlife, such as raccoons and squirrels, also hunt for den and nest locations where they can overwinter. Be sure to check outbuildings often and look for signs of entry. Squirrels tend to chew their way in or take advantage of broken screening on vents or around eaves, while raccoons may den inside; they may also dig a den under a shed.
These tips may not prevent pest infestations, but they help to reduce the threat of pest issues. Little things make for significant impacts on pest prevention. For affordable and comprehensive pest control services, give us a call. We provide complete pest control services throughout the Byran and College Station communities. Ask us about ongoing pest control services and our monthly service plan.
