Pest control in the country

[pbwalker]

Well, with Spring essentially here, the critters are coming out!

We're out in the sticks now, and out property backs up to a large ranch. So far, we've run across scorps, tarantulas, and snakes. They don't bother me one bit as we're living on their land, and we've got to share.

But I've got two little ones (2 and 3 year old girls) and my biggest fear is one of them getting stuck. Does anyone have any recommendation for a decent pest control for a one acre area? Granules will likely be easier, and I'd prefer to have something where I don't need to worry about my dogs or kids getting sick from it. Not necessarily poison, but a deterrent or repellant?

Someone told me moth balls keep snakes away...any truth to this?

Thanks!

[DocV]

I am trying Snake Away that I found at TSC.

[RPB]

Well, with Spring essentially here, the critters are coming out!

We're out in the sticks now, and out property backs up to a large ranch. So far, we've run across scorps, tarantulas, and snakes. They don't bother me one bit as we're living on their land, and we've got to share.

But I've got two little ones (2 and 3 year old girls) and my biggest fear is one of them getting stuck. Does anyone have any recommendation for a decent pest control for a one acre area? Granules will likely be easier, and I'd prefer to have something where I don't need to worry about my dogs or kids getting sick from it. Not necessarily poison, but a deterrent or repellant?

Someone told me moth balls keep snakes away...any truth to this?

Thanks!

you don't want mothballs around kids
http://www.ehow.com/how_4485909_handle- ... lowed.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
And I wouldn't throw them under a house crawl space again
Those things can be dangerous to people's health
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 017AAZnUBo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Crossfire]

You need a cat. Our cat, who lived a long life, recently give up his ninth life. I think a coyote had something to do with it. But I digress... Fact is, he took care of ALL those things. Snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, dove, and even rabbits. He was something.

So, get you a big ole barn cat. Your girls will love it, and it will take care of the critters.

[jmra]

You need a cat. Our cat, who lived a long life, recently give up his ninth life. I think a coyote had something to do with it. But I digress... Fact is, he took care of ALL those things. Snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, dove, and even rabbits. He was something.

So, get you a big ole barn cat. Your girls will love it, and it will take care of the critters.

I can't stand worthless indoor cats but an outdoor working cat is priceless.

[strider67]

You need a cat. Our cat, who lived a long life, recently give up his ninth life. I think a coyote had something to do with it. But I digress... Fact is, he took care of ALL those things. Snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, dove, and even rabbits. He was something.

So, get you a big ole barn cat. Your girls will love it, and it will take care of the critters.

I can't stand worthless indoor cats but an outdoor working cat is priceless.

100%
We live out in the sticks on a small parcel and we have a cat, Shadow. Priceless for sure, as she has, among many other things, a rattlesnake to her credit...a young un', but a rattlesnake nonetheless. I woud not have believed it, had I not seen it myself.

[pbwalker]

You need a cat. Our cat, who lived a long life, recently give up his ninth life. I think a coyote had something to do with it. But I digress... Fact is, he took care of ALL those things. Snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, dove, and even rabbits. He was something.

So, get you a big ole barn cat. Your girls will love it, and it will take care of the critters.

Great idea, and my wife loves it too. I just hope they stick around and don't go exploring forever, never to be seen again...

[Jumping Frog]

If you get yourself a king snake, it will kill poisonous snakes.

[Crossfire]

You need a cat. Our cat, who lived a long life, recently give up his ninth life. I think a coyote had something to do with it. But I digress... Fact is, he took care of ALL those things. Snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, dove, and even rabbits. He was something.

So, get you a big ole barn cat. Your girls will love it, and it will take care of the critters.

Great idea, and my wife loves it too. I just hope they stick around and don't go exploring forever, never to be seen again...

Gotta neuter them. Cuts down on the exploring. And, you dont want to end up with a whole herd of kitties.

[Divided Attention]

Guinea fowl are great pest deterrents! We have chickens and rarely see a snake - have seen them eat some baby copperheads where they dug them in a remote leaf pile, but rarely see a snake. THEN I get fresh eggs too! Would love to have Guineas, but they are rather noisy, and my neighbors might not appreciate them. (we only have 2.5 acres).

The best thing you can do for your babies is teach them DON'T touch. We practiced with rubber snakes. Not to make them afraid, just to teach them - walk away and get a big person. Keep their immediate play area picked up from snaked hidey holes - rocks, large toys that kids can move that will sit for long periods undisturbed etc. Snakes will typically not hang in areas that are "active", and will look for a way out if they have one, so if the kiddos are taught to walk away, that is great.

I have been told that a snake will not cross copper.... never tried it, but a friend used to run copper wire around their chicken coop and swore by it.

For the spidey and other arachnids, we used to use cedar shavings on our yard perimeter to help with fleas. Worked pretty darn good - our neighbors in our old postage stamp lot neighborhood did not treat their yard, but we did, a losing battle backing up to them not treating and the woods. When we started putting cedar shavings on the perimeter monthly noticed a huge difference. Also use a product called Cedarcide on kids and critters to help deter skeeters and flies - smells a bit like a clean hamster cage, but works pretty good and isn't sticky or DEET filled like the other products.

Enjoy your sticks!

[Rex B]

The only issue we have is scorpions, and we have had plenty on our rocky hillside acre. Our indoor cats do a great job of keeping them cornered when they show up inside. They "point" almost like a birddog and make a distinctive noise. We know when they have one cornered and deal with it before one of them gets stung. Cats also take care of any other insects in the house.
Still we had scorpions. Best thing I ever did for that is buy a UV flashlight. Scorpions fluoresce like a neon sign under UV. You have to see it to believe it. About 10:00 every other night or so I walk around the house with the UV flashlight and a can of Raid. Takes 5 minutes. You will be amazed (and a bit creeped out) how many you find at first. It's actually kind of fun. I've had dinner guests get caught up in it LOL. We were almost disappointed when the scorpion population dropped to the point it was rare to find one.

[RPB]

Had 1 scorpion here in 2007 which got the tip of my finger as I brushed "whatever was tickling my face in my sleep", upon awakening, I swatted the critter with a flyswatter.

The next day, I spray-dusted boric acid powder (I get 5 gallon buckets of the blue powder at chemical supply in Pasadena, if prevents roaches, termites etc if inside the walls, so I put it everywhere) inside walls at every opening, then caulked all baseboards, window trim, (and under the trim) door frames etc ... then got Silicone rubber seal and sealed every wall plug, wall switch, ceiling fixture, breaker box and plumbing hole.

Then I sprayed the foundation with some oily poison, and put a 15 foot perimeter around the house of various stinky poison granules.
My niece brought in fleas once and I put the carpet flea powder out.
There's 1 dog and several outdoor cats, but I don't see many bugs unless I get a shovel and dig.

I found a few "Natural Citrus based" "poisons" which kill yellow jackets/wasps faster than the poison poisons.

Solutions Stores Pest & Pool in Pasadena is where I went, but it's a chain I believe
http://www.solutionsstores.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.solutionsstores.com/More_Pes ... 150&page=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Rex B]

Had 1 scorpion here in 2007 which got the tip of my finger as I brushed "whatever was tickling my face in my sleep", upon awakening, I swatted the critter with a flyswatter.

The next day, I spray-dusted boric acid powder (I get 5 gallon buckets of the blue powder at chemical supply in Pasadena, if prevents roaches, termites etc if inside the walls, so I put it everywhere) inside walls at every opening, then caulked all baseboards, window trim, (and under the trim) door frames etc ... then got Silicone rubber seal and sealed every wall plug, wall switch, ceiling fixture, breaker box and plumbing hole.

Then I sprayed the foundation with some oily poison, and put a 15 foot perimeter around the house of various stinky poison granules.

Goodness! Does the EPA know about you? LOL

Actually I did most of those things with little effect on the scorpions.

Nothing like a scorpion stinging you in the middle of the night in bed to get your attention.

[RPB]

Had 1 scorpion here in 2007 which got the tip of my finger as I brushed "whatever was tickling my face in my sleep", upon awakening, I swatted the critter with a flyswatter.

The next day, I spray-dusted boric acid powder (I get 5 gallon buckets of the blue powder at chemical supply in Pasadena, if prevents roaches, termites etc if inside the walls, so I put it everywhere) inside walls at every opening, then caulked all baseboards, window trim, (and under the trim) door frames etc ... then got Silicone rubber seal and sealed every wall plug, wall switch, ceiling fixture, breaker box and plumbing hole.

Then I sprayed the foundation with some oily poison, and put a 15 foot perimeter around the house of various stinky poison granules.

Goodness! Does the EPA know about you? LOL

Actually I did most of those things with little effect on the scorpions.

Nothing like a scorpion stinging you in the middle of the night in bed to get your attention.

Awwe, 'round here we don't worry about a little poison, the radioactive water concerns us, imagine scorpions mutating into 5-foot long stingin' land-lobsters after they drink some of this
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/investigat ... r-supplies" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Radioactivity in some water supplies
Nearly 50 systems found to exceed federal limits

[Rex B]

Awwe, 'round here we don't worry about a little poison, the radioactive water though concerns us, imagine scorpions mutating into 5-foot long stingin' land-lobsters after they drink some of this
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/investigat ... r-supplies" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dang! Now I'm gonna have bad dreams