Rats

There are many alternatives to traditional toxic methods of pest control. Almost all of them start with maintaining a clean house, wiping up spills immediately and never leaving food out. If your pests are already established, other methods are often required to remove them. For rodents, traps are perhaps the simplest method and allow you to know exactly where the carcass is for timely disposal. There are two main categories of traps — live traps and kill traps.

Live traps work by luring the rodent into a cage which then closes behind them. Peanut butter, chocolate or dried pet food make good attractants for your trap. The rodent can then be taken away to a safe location and released. These traps are completely safe for pets and children as well.

Kill traps work equally well, though they can pose a small risk to pets or small children who may view them as toys. Be sure to place your traps where they are not easily accessable. Kill traps come in several flavors:

~ Electronic rodent "zappers" are basically a small container with bait inside that will sense the presence of a rodent (or hand so be careful) inside and deliver a lethal jolt of electricity. They usually run on AA batteries and are extremely easy to set up.

~ Snap traps are your standard, stereotypical mouse trap with bait on one end and a spring-loaded "snap" at the other. Snap traps should be set up in groups of two or three since only one side of the trap is lethal. Any rodent that snatches the bait from the non-business end will escape unscathed and probably trap-shy.

~ Glue traps, or glueboards, are just what they sound like: a board with something sticky on it and some bait in the middle. When the rodent walks on the board, they become stuck. These are a favorite among food service establishments since the rodent does not die immedietly giving you a chance to remove them before decomposition starts.

*Remember to always handle rodents with extreme caution. Live ones will bite and scratch and both live and dead ones may be carriers of disease.*

To shoo rodents away and make sure that they stay gone, some people prefer ultrasonic pest repellers. These devices work by emitting a very high-pitched sound that attacks the auditory and nervous system of pets. However, while they claim to be inaudible for pets and humans alike, you wouldn't be the first person to report hearing the whine. At $20 - $50 a piece, these can be an expenisve way to find out that you can hear ultrasonics. Many people report no problems with the devices, however, and are quite happy with the results.

Finally, if you prefer not to deal with the rodents personally, many pest control companies will use trap-only methods if you request it.

Happy Hunting!

Fleas

Our first question asks about non-toxic flea control methods. There is a wealth of information available on the subject, but to be brief:

Common methods of flea control and prevention include the use of pesticides, particularly DDVP (dimethyl dichlorovinyl phosphate) and Sevin (carbaryl) which work by attacking the nervous system. Unfortunately these chemicals may attack your pets as well as the fleas. Additionally, exposure to these chemicals may build up a tolerance in the fleas, resulting in a need for even nastier pesticides in the future. We strongly recommend avoiding these products.

If your pet has fleas, the first step is to vacuum thouroughly. Vacuum the floors, corners, upholstery, sofa cushions, under the couch, anywhere a flea might be hiding. Immediately burn the vacuum bag or at least seal it securely to prevent the captured fleas from escaping. Repeat this process frequently. Be sure to wash all throw rugs, bedding and other materials that your pets may sit/sleep on in hot water. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the carpet—as well as outside on your lawn, under bushes and in shady areas—to kill any remaining fleas on the ground. Finish up by bathing your pet followed by a thourough flea combing.

There are several options for maintaining a flea-free zone:
- Feed your pet one clove of garlic a day
- Add a touch of vinegar to your pet's water (may also help control mange)
- Saltwater baths may discourage fleas
- Flea traps also have been known to work well. A flea trap is a light held about 6 inches from a dish of water with a small amount of detergent mixed in. The flea is attracted to the light, fall into the bowl and drown. Flea traps are also available for purchase at many locations that use a "capture" pad instead of a bowl of water if you prefer.

Flea infestations should be taken seriously. Besides the risk of allergic reaction, fleas also carry the bacterium that causes bubonic plague and can carry tape worms.

Welcome

Winter has hit, and with it the rains and resultant influx of ants into kitchens across northern California. Before reaching for poisons, which seem to only work on ourselves and our pets anyway, we'd like to encourage you to use this forum to seek information regarding non-toxic alternatives to dealing with your pests. From ants to fleas to invasive weeds, all requests for information will be answered as completely as possible. So please share your concerns with us and we can begin building a healthy, non-toxic future.