The key to effective pest prevention and control is a willingness to ask questions. Learning about the critters that are waging war on one's home and the different options that are available to prevent or get rid of them is the first step. All pests need water, food, and shelter. In most cases, pest problems may be solved by simply removing these key items. All homeowners here in Delaware have to eventually deal with pests such as rodents, raccoons, weevils, ticks, cockroaches and other insects. Fortunately, there are effective ways to eradicate and deter these little monsters.
The fact remains that rodents and pests can have harmful effects upon people's health. Everyone should understand the dangers stemming from pest infestations and take the necessary measures to eradicate the problem at the earliest opportunity. Rodents such as rats and mice, for instance, are a common problem in most properties. In addition to causing serious health implications such as Hanta virus, they can also cause significant structural damage to one's property if a plan of action is not put into place. An infestation of smaller critters such as bed bugs, cockroaches, and ants can also have damaging consequences on one's health.
Cockroaches
Twenty percent of kids in the U.S. have a severe sensitivity to cockroach allergens, which are introduced through cockroach droppings, saliva and the decomposing bodies of dead roaches. This is according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, which also states that these allergens have an enormous impact on childhood asthma. These pests can also carry bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli, which can contaminate food surfaces, cooking equipment and food.
Unfortunately, once roaches invade a home, it can be very difficult to get rid of them. They can snack on food, books, wallpaper, and even electronics. Property owners should serve cockroaches an eviction notice and prevent them from coming back by using a bait, trap, insecticide, or barrier approach that works best. Depending on their size and the temperature, roaches can live for up to a month without food, but no more than seven days without water. Therefore, property owners should find and fix all water leaks, which will force the roaches to go for gel-based baits. Other ways to get rid of cockroaches include:
• Cleaning the house thoroughly
• Keeping food containers covered
• Mopping the floor regularly to clean up sticky spots and crumbs
• Taking out trash regularly
• Using cockroach bait
• Using a simple solution of water and soap
• Using insecticide spray that is meant for use against cockroaches
• Using traps
• Calling a professional pest control specialist
For additional tips on eliminating cockroaches, watch this video, and then continue down the page for the article about controlling rodents, another common household pest.
The fact remains that rodents and pests can have harmful effects upon people's health. Everyone should understand the dangers stemming from pest infestations and take the necessary measures to eradicate the problem at the earliest opportunity. Rodents such as rats and mice, for instance, are a common problem in most properties. In addition to causing serious health implications such as Hanta virus, they can also cause significant structural damage to one's property if a plan of action is not put into place. An infestation of smaller critters such as bed bugs, cockroaches, and ants can also have damaging consequences on one's health.
Cockroaches
Twenty percent of kids in the U.S. have a severe sensitivity to cockroach allergens, which are introduced through cockroach droppings, saliva and the decomposing bodies of dead roaches. This is according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, which also states that these allergens have an enormous impact on childhood asthma. These pests can also carry bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli, which can contaminate food surfaces, cooking equipment and food.
Unfortunately, once roaches invade a home, it can be very difficult to get rid of them. They can snack on food, books, wallpaper, and even electronics. Property owners should serve cockroaches an eviction notice and prevent them from coming back by using a bait, trap, insecticide, or barrier approach that works best. Depending on their size and the temperature, roaches can live for up to a month without food, but no more than seven days without water. Therefore, property owners should find and fix all water leaks, which will force the roaches to go for gel-based baits. Other ways to get rid of cockroaches include:
• Cleaning the house thoroughly
• Keeping food containers covered
• Mopping the floor regularly to clean up sticky spots and crumbs
• Taking out trash regularly
• Using cockroach bait
• Using a simple solution of water and soap
• Using insecticide spray that is meant for use against cockroaches
• Using traps
• Calling a professional pest control specialist
For additional tips on eliminating cockroaches, watch this video, and then continue down the page for the article about controlling rodents, another common household pest.
Rodents
Rodents such as rats, mice, chipmunks, and squirrels can enter a building through any crack or opening. Property owners should, therefore, inspect for rodent droppings in undisturbed areas like pantries, along walls, and under baseboards. Other evidence of rodent infestation includes chewing marks on cereal boxes, woodwork, and plumbing pipes.
Mice and rats have babies often; therefore, it is important to find and get rid of them as soon as possible. The best way to get rid of rodents is by using traps loaded with bait. Getting a cat is also a great idea. The smell of a cat's presence can make a home less attractive to rodents. Other ways of preventing rodents from invading a home include:
• Eliminating water and food sources
• Eliminating living and hiding spaces
• Repairing cracks and covering crawl spaces with steel mesh or metal screening
Property owners should avoid using poison to control rodents. Poisoned rats or mice, for instance, can crawl away and die in hard to find areas, and their decomposing bodies can become breeding grounds for disease. In addition, poisons can also harm pets, other animals, or even small kids.
All insects and pests have three things in common; they must have shelter, water and food. By eliminating one or more of these, one can force the pests to move out. In addition, contacting a pest control professional with ongoing state certifications to perform a thorough inspection and treatment is a great idea.