Cheshire Pest Control

Archive for June, 2010

Keen bird watchers value bird feeders as an integral part of the backyard landscape. Now wherever there is bird food there is bound to be squirrels; welcome or not. If you want success at feeding wild birds, you will have to look at squirrel proof bird feeders . Here are some squirrel facts to consider.

Squirrels are agile, bold and persistent. They are rodents; so their teeth never stop growing and adults require up to two pounds of food per week. They are adept at climbing up a wide variety of surfaces, including brickwork. The harder the access to feed, the more they turn into ninja squirrels – truly ingenious acrobats. They are seldom outwitted, but they can be deterred and diverted.

Think about the best feeder types and optimal location in your backyard – always bearing in mind that squirrels can leap up to ten feet across a gap, jump as high as five feet off the ground and are happy dropping eleven feet from a height!

Feeders can either be suspended or pole-mounted. Choose to suspend them from an isolated branch of a deciduous tree (less dense foliage than pine) or you could try hanging them from a wire between two trees (although this makes refilling quite tricky). Always suspend from a metal chain or wire and hook, otherwise the squirrels will chew through the cord to make the feeder will drop.

A good squirrel guard is a baffle. Made from either heavy plastic or metal, it forms an umbrella over the top of both suspended and pole-mounted feeders. The squirrels simply slide off them. Baffles can also be placed about four feet above the ground below pole-mounted feeders – greasing the pole with Vaseline can also be effective.

Caged bird feeders are a good option because they allow small birds access to the feed, excluding squirrels and larger birds too.

You can always opt for more high tech squirrelproof bird feeders . They are weight-activated. When a squirrel lands on one, a spring mechanism causes a metal shield to come down over the feeder or its perches give way. Another, which is also very funny to watch, has a battery-driven motor that spins the squirrel (harmlessly) off it.

Squirrels eat a wide range of foods, but another way to fend them off is to offer the birds safflower seed, thistle seed (niger), and /or pure suet (without seed), because they are simply not that fond of them.

Of course, you can look at this from a completely different angle and get a squirrel feeder – complete with trapeze, tightrope and springboard. You can give squirrels their favorite foods in return for them putting on a wonderful circus performance for you. So while they are distracted, the birds get to eat too – everyone wins.

Let’s face it, squirrels will always be a part of our backyard gardens, and with strategic planning of bird feeder type, location and bird food type, we can ensure not only that the birds get their fair share but also that we are entertained by funny squirrel antics.

Betty Hammond is keen on birdwatching and writes for the bird store BirdsInYourOwnBackyard.com. She maintains an avid interest in environmental and conservation issues.
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Cockroaches are some on the nastiest pests known to man. Hence, many homeowners would want these parasites eradicated as quickly as possible. Cockroach infestation, when noted, should be tackled head on. If you ignore and let them proliferate, you will notice how quickly they will take over your house management. Roaches scavenge every food items in your house, raw or cooked. They will eat the food crumbs on the floor, countertops, shelves, cabinets and so on. The irritating thing is that roaches will also crawl on toilet surfaces, explaining why they cause diseases. Continue reading to learn some good tips on one cockroach killer that can help in the eradication of these pests.

One way to ensure the easy and quick eradication of cockroaches is to know their source. However, you must note that this should be a patient procedure. Many angry homeowners often employ methods that are very unwise or ways that are not in the best interests of those involved. Some of these eradication methods may often result in unwanted side effects or results, in the future. • Boric Acid as a Cockroach killer:

One of the best ways to eradicate cockroaches from homes is the use of boric acid. One common problem with the ordinary cockroach poisons is that after using them for some time, cockroaches get used to them. This makes the products ineffective. Boric acid will not produce that kind of result. The boric acid products eat away the wax, the same way they would eat away the outside layer of the cockroach. This causes the insects to dehydrate. Boric acid is a stomach poison when ingested.

• Powdered variety of Boric Acid

One of the most common forms of boric acid used as cockroach poison is the powder. If you put it in areas where cockroaches frequent, the powder will attach to the cockroach’s body. The most important thing to note however is that cockroaches will then carry the acid to their nest, where other cockroaches are killed as well. You could mix boric acid powder with other ingredients in order to make it appealing so that the cockroaches will ingest it.

• Boric Acid Gels and Pastes

Many cockroach pastes and gels do contain boric acid substance. These pastes and gels contain other ingredients that act as bait to ensure that cockroaches consume the paste. Use these gels and pastes along the major paths of the cockroaches.

Boric acid has its brighter side and speckled side. However, the benefits exceed the demerits in relation to roaches’ extermination. The limitation of boric Acid is one. It is very slow acting and it may take weeks for you to notice good results. This is not acceptable, especially if there is a serious infestation. When the roach infestation is serious, it will be better for you to look for a better way of getting rid of them. Boric acid is an effective cockroach killer, which is not harmful or toxic to human beings. Its effectiveness remains regardless of the length of time it takes to work.

G. Smitty is a writer who loves to discuss many topics ranging from Cockroach traps to professional basketball. Thanks for reading!
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