Rats! Not a Do It Yourself Home Repair
by Wendy Croix
Home Improvement Ideas Columnist
Many home owners declare an unsuccessful 'Us-versus-Them' war against household rodents, adopting a do it yourself attitude in their home toward their repair of the infestation problem. However, ridding yourself of rodents isn't a simple home repair--unless you're one tough customer, the cost is high. If you turn to the pros, you'll join the raft of homeowners fueling the 5% growth in the pest control industry, pushing the pest control revenues over the 6.5 billion dollar mark in 2005. Clearly pest control is a home repair with a cost that pales in comparison to the havoc rodents can wreak on your house.
Do It Yourself Extermination? Don't!
While you can do the home repair elements yourself--patching the holes and cleaning out remnants of nests and the like--you're wise to leave the dirty work of rodent execution to the pros. A survey commissioned by a pest control trade group found that 72% of home owners trust the pros to remove household pests more effectively than over the counter, do it yourself products that cost less, but offer no true solutions.
Pest Control Is a Health Issue
In earlier decades home owners would set their own traps, but today few health-conscious home owners will try to repair rat problems themselves. Non-toxic baiting and proper baiting strategies can not only eliminate a rodent infestation, but prevent its recurrence as well. Natural extermination products that work on the digestive systems of rodents and are safe for pets are available. Just ask your pest control specialist.
Still Want to Do It Yourself?
In point of fact, home owners used 163 million pounds of pesticides for home and garden do it yourself pest control in 2001, according to the EPA. However, pest control is a home repair whose costs are ultimately unknown, since long-term studies have yet to be done for many products. If you're determined to exterminate for yourself, don't miss. Leave only one couple, and Mr. and Mrs. Rat can breed a colony of 2000 others in just a year.
Sources:
- "Pest-control companies increasingly rely on non-chemical techniques." Portland Press Herald (ME) (Sep 02, 2005).
- "Pesticide-Free Pest Control," by Max Alexander. Prevention 57.8 (Aug 2005).
- "Rodent Pest Management Booklet." Journal of Environmental Health 68.7 (Mar 2006).
- "Rodent-Proof Your House," by Barbara Pleasant. Mother Earth News (Summer 2005).
About the Author
Wendy Croix, Ph.D. is a freelance writer, cultural critic and self-confessed home improvement junkie. She's also a university professor.
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