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Household pests
Some weeks ago, I noticed that a Ziploc bag of pistachios had a hole in it. I shrugged and rebagged it. Then I noticed a sandwich bag formerly containing brownies was now empty except for crumbs. Oops.
I've never had mice before, but a closer inspection revealed a few droppings. I started asking around for recommendations for exterminators. The very last straw was an avocado that I left in the same area (stupid, I know) that had what looked like a human bite taken out of it -- and a trail of droppings between it and the edge of the counter.
Yesterday, the guy from Rainbow Pest Control came and did a preliminary inspection. He said that I probably only had one or mice, which was a relief. I had envisioned an entire colony of mice. I'm glad I reacted reasonably promptly. He completed Phase one of the de-mouseification process, which involved setting out cat-safe poisoned bait, and a trap behind the stove. That was around $400.
The next step will be to block all the mouse access to the house. That's going to be another $1,500 or so.
That's one damned expensive mouse.
This time of year is when the fight against clothes moths ramps up as well. I protect my spinning fiber, but I still see the occasional moth flying around, which means there is a source (or sources) for the eggs that I haven't found. I put out the pheromone traps in hopes of reducing the chances of females finding males, and that seems to keep things at minimal level. But I really wish I could find an affordable permanent solution.
I haven't seen any ants so far this year, so possibly the last extermination of those is still keeping them out. That was pre-pandemic, so I'm probably due fairly soon.
Ah, the joys of being a home owner.
I've never had mice before, but a closer inspection revealed a few droppings. I started asking around for recommendations for exterminators. The very last straw was an avocado that I left in the same area (stupid, I know) that had what looked like a human bite taken out of it -- and a trail of droppings between it and the edge of the counter.
Yesterday, the guy from Rainbow Pest Control came and did a preliminary inspection. He said that I probably only had one or mice, which was a relief. I had envisioned an entire colony of mice. I'm glad I reacted reasonably promptly. He completed Phase one of the de-mouseification process, which involved setting out cat-safe poisoned bait, and a trap behind the stove. That was around $400.
The next step will be to block all the mouse access to the house. That's going to be another $1,500 or so.
That's one damned expensive mouse.
This time of year is when the fight against clothes moths ramps up as well. I protect my spinning fiber, but I still see the occasional moth flying around, which means there is a source (or sources) for the eggs that I haven't found. I put out the pheromone traps in hopes of reducing the chances of females finding males, and that seems to keep things at minimal level. But I really wish I could find an affordable permanent solution.
I haven't seen any ants so far this year, so possibly the last extermination of those is still keeping them out. That was pre-pandemic, so I'm probably due fairly soon.
Ah, the joys of being a home owner.