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Safe Pest ControlPest Control Options If you're one of the people who can't remove a cobweb until the spider has vacated it; if you worry that the mouse living in the sofa is getting a balanced diet; and if you spend countless hours devising enrichment activities for the goldfish, it's time to come out from under the fridge and be counted. You are not alone. Many of the world's great religions hold all life to be sacred, and they neither kill nor consume flesh. Vegans show the same compassion for their fellow creatures. I try, but I have a confession to make. I am an ant slayer. Anything else I use my hit man, which also happens to be my partner. My 4 year old son also helps out & will use his bare hands, which I rush to the bathroom to wash. Most caring people, like myself, will avoid using any chemical poisons, not only because they kill, but also because they introduce poisonous ingredients into the environment & or have children, like myself. Beware of the distinction between humane and natural methods of pest control. Humane methods avoid the taking of life.The natural approach is designed to kill the animal. Natural devices may use non toxic substances but can involve lingering, suffering deaths, often by starvation. The following are some suggestions for maintaining a healthy, hygienic, pest-free home while avoiding breaking the precept against killing. Most of the Essential Oils mentioned below are available for purchase RIGHT HERE! Rats & Mice Most good hardware or pet shops will stock humane traps that allow the animals to enter but not leave. They will also accommodate more than one animal at a time. You will need to CHECK TRAPS REGULARLY, every few hours, as mice may die in them if not promptly released. Spiders A spray made with Chestnut and clove oil scents deters spiders. If you don't like catching them, like me, a battery operated suction device is available that allows you to gently vacuum up spiders,wasps and other crawling and hovering insects and release them outside without harming them. Flies Try burning citronella oil or basil oil near open windows and doors to prevent flies from entering. Ants Find the trail that leads between your home and their nest and obliterate it with mint sodium bicarbonate or aromatic oils like lavender or paprika. Ants also dislike pennyroyal and garlic. The idea is to keep destroying their signposts that lead to your home. Cockroaches Even the cleanest of homes may host a small population of roaches. Apart from catching and relocating them, the most useful deterrent is the device mentioned in Rats & Mice that emits a pulsing current which distresses them. Mosquito's Prevent mosquito's breeding by keeping sources of still or stall water away from the house. Herbs that repel them are Citrinella, pennyroyal, pyrehrum, basil, mint, chamomile and tany. You can use either plant fresh herbs outside your windows or use any of these in an oil form & just wipe some outside your windows or doors. Moths Moths dislike the smell of lavender, natural camphor, cloves, mint, sage, wormwood and rosemary. Rid clothes of moth eggs by hanging them in the sun. You can also wipe down the inside of your closet or drawers with some of the above oils to keep them away. Weevils & Food Moths Small moths in your cupboards usually indicate weevils or food moths. Check dried food for eggs and larvae. Place a bay leaf in your dried food containers will will discourage them from laying their eggs. Termites Termimesh is an Australian designed termite barrier created in response to the environmental and health implications of toxic chemical spraying. Made from steel, the mesh is too fine for the termites to penetrate and too hard for them to chew through. Fleas Supplementing your pet's diet with brewers yeast, garlic, zinc or barley grass concentrate can make the animal's body chemistry inhospitable to fleas. Add several drops of essential oils such as citronella, tea tree, wintergreen or eucalyptus to your dogs shampoo as a deterrent. You may like to also use Pure Earths pet soap which has been made with the added benefits of citronella and tea tree essential oils to help keep flees off your pet. If you like you can dilute the oils with water to spray carpets and your pet's bedding. Spritz the animal lightly with the solution before letting your pet's outside to deter hitchhikers. Possums Establish where the possum is getting into the house, block up the access points and lay the trap. By law, possums aren't allowed to be taken more than 50m from where they are caught. Providing a possum box in the garden will encourage them to live outdoors. Planting native trees as food source will deter them from scavenging. There are four general rules for humane and healthy household pest control:
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