When it comes to pest control, most people think of methods such as trapping and the spreading of insecticides. These are certainly highly effective and form a big part of the services offered by pest control companies across the nation.
However, there are some strange and frankly bizarre pest control tips and tricks that people swear by when it comes to keeping insects and rodents at bay. If you are considering putting preventative pest control Bolton at home measures in place and are wondering if the stories you have heard have any truth behind them, you are in the right place.
In this article, we will examine a number of peculiar pest control methods that sound ridiculous but may actually have some basis in fact, and actually prove pretty effective.
Ducks keep slugs and snails at bay
Yep, you read that right. If you want to keep slugs and snails from devastating your garden, getting a few ducks might be the perfect solution. Admittedly, this might be quite a dramatic step to take, and is certainly more expensive that purchasing some slug repellent from your local supermarket, but it does work. Ducks will happily eat moth snails and slugs and they are actually very good for them. Remember that looking after ducks is a big commitment and buying some simply to tackle slugs and snails is not a good plan. It is a nice side benefit if you’re getting them anyway though!
Peppermint deters insects
Peppermint gives off an aroma that wee as humans find very pleasant. For some reason, however, spiders and certain other pest insects find it disgusting and will steer well clear of any areas that smells of it.
Planting peppermint plants in and around your home is a great way to reduce the risk of nasty insect pests coming too close. You can also create a pretty effective insect repellent spray by mixing a small amount of peppermint oil with water and placing the concoction into a spray bottle.
Cat hair puts off rodents
Like most animals, rodents such as rats and mice will do pretty much anything to avoid their predators. Cats love to chase down and play with rodents before killing them which makes them a pretty intimidating prospect if you are a rodent.
Whilst cats on their own are not enough to keep your home protected against the threat of mice and rats, their scent is a strong deterrent in itself. If you are a cat owner, you will undoubtedly have a plethora of car hair hanging around from brushes, pet beds and pretty much everywhere else in your home.
Collecting some of this hair and spreading it around the areas in your home that you think be susceptible to rodent activity will help to keep them at bay. However, be careful. Only hair from cats that are fully up-to-date with their flea and tick treatments should be used for this purpose as otherwise you could be helping other pests to spread themselves far and wide within your property.
Hand up CDs to put off Birds
Birds can cause just as many pest control issues as rodents or insects. Although some species such as magpies are well known for their like of shiny objects, most pest birds such as feral pigeons and gulls are not so keen. A great homemade bird deterrent involves numerous CDs being hung up on a string, from where they will blow about in the breeze and create flashes of light that will scare off birds and prevent them from choosing anywhere nearby as a suitable landing or roosting spot.
Overall, there are numerous ‘old wives tales’ regarding home pest control that vary widely in their connection to the truth. Unconventional approaches to pest control can be entertaining and fun to try, especially harmless ones such as planting peppermint plants in and around your home.
That said, if you are actively dealing with a pest infestation, you don’t want to be messing around trying out techniques that may or may not prove effective whilst the population of pests that have made your property their home continues to grow larger and larger every day.
If you have clear evidence that there has been or is currently pest activity inside your home, get in touch with a professional pest controller as soon as possible. They won’t mess around with leaves, cat hair, or CDs. They will use their extensive experience and access to the very latest pest control equipment and techniques to create and carry out a plan to eliminate all your pest problems once and for all. No pest problem is too big or too small for these qualified experts who will be happy to provide you with advice on how to stop pests from returning.