Dealing with Pests when you have Pets
Undertaking your own pest control, particularly for rodents, is not something you should consider if you have pets.
08/12/2021
A couple of weeks back, I was sitting in the family room and heard a scuffling noise. I couldn't quite pin down where it was coming from and didn't notice anything unusual. A week later when moving furniture around, I spotted what looked like a pile of fluff in a corner behind a cupboard. Imagine my surprise when removing the pile of fluff to find 6 baby rats, just born and all alive. Now I will admit to being a bit of a softy, even if they are rats. I took the piece of fluff and put it outside my house on the pavement. The next day, all the babies were gone, and my house was rat less, or so I thought.
There's a rat in the garden
Just a couple of days ago, I was sitting quietly in the garden reading a book when a surprise visit from a rat caught my attention. It walked across the lawn right in front of me and disappeared into a large bush in the corner. I can only assume that mommy rat likes the location and has decided to move in again. This brought to mind the fact that, since I have a dog, I cannot use rat pellets or the inhuman mouse trap, so what else should I do?
Pests and pets
Anyone who has pets will no doubt be aware of the dangers of pest control. All pesticides are toxic, and the majority are harmful to pets, whether birds, cats, dogs or others. Even aerosol pest control for flies should never be sprayed in the same room as pets and can be extremely harmful to birds. Go online and you will find plenty of instances where pets have died from consuming pest control products and foresight is far better than hindsight where your beloved pets are concerned.
When rats become a problem the most often solution is to put down rat pellets. The rats take these to their nest where the pellets are consumed and result in death. The other alternative is to put mouse traps down along paths the rats might frequent. Both are all fine and well - if you don't have pets. Rat pellets are poisonous to all small animal species and can result in death.
Cockroaches are another area of concern and, believe me, you don't need to have a dirty home to attract cockroaches. We live close to a restaurant which backs onto our development. Poor hygienic measures resulted in a cockroach infestation a few years back and it was only after an intensive campaign that we finally managed to get our home and garden free of cockroaches.
Hire a pest control company
When you hire a pest control company, these guys are experts at solving whatever pest problem you have and in a way that is not harmful to your pets. They will suggest that any pets be taken off the premises for a specified period until it is safe for them to return. And, hopefully, the pest problem will be sorted.
If you do contact a pest removal company, make sure to obtain all the pertinent details that might apply to your pets and the consequences of accidental poisoning.
Accidental poisoning
If you do bring any toxic or poisonous chemicals into the home, always read the label and instructions for use. It is important to follow these to the letter. Even some organic pesticides can be harmful to pets and wildlife and you need to take the right precautions to prevent this.
If you think that your pet has been accidentally poisoned or is showing symptoms of poisoning, contact your local vet immediately and advise them what chemical or substance the pet has ingested or inhaled.
Healthy pest control
If you want to avoid pest infestation of any kind, it is recommended that as soon as you discover any type of infestation that you act immediately. The following tips will be helpful in preventing unwanted pests from entering (or staying in) the home.
1. Keep all opened food in airtight containers.
2. Do not leave pet food in bowls overnight.
3. Keep fruit and vegetables in the cooler boxes in your refrigerator.
4. Remove any outdoor waste and close off a compost heap.
5. Clean outdoor cooking equipment after every use.
It helps to always be alert for pest invasion so keep an eye out for anything moving or crawling around the house that shouldn't be there. If you are vigilant when dealing with occasional pests and use eco-friendly methods to remove them, a full-on attack may be avoided.