We have spiders and pill bugs in our basement. I want to spray for them, but I also have pet rats that I like to let wander around on occasion, and don't want them to get sick. Is there a natural bug spray that is rodent safe? (I know, our basement sounds like a fun place) [more inside]
posted by mecran01 on Oct 15, 2009 - 11 answers

Something strange is going on in the kitchen...What has done this to the label on top of my recycle bin? Went to the recycle bin under the sink. in the picture you can see the lid with the label on it. Is it a mouse, a rat....something else? picture here No human in the house has done this!
posted by razzman on Aug 13, 2009 - 13 answers

I've got a couple cherry tomato plants on my windowsill that have been growing like gangbusters -- there's even one little tomato that's JUST starting to turn red. But -- they're also dropping stems off the main plants at an alarming rate. What's happening, and how can I stop it? [more inside]
posted by EmpressCallipygos on Jul 15, 2009 - 29 answers

What animal has made a den in my barn? [more inside]
posted by tylerfulltilt on Jul 8, 2009 - 11 answers

The book I just received from Amazon is covered in ants, which have now infested my mailbox (and my nightmares). What to do, whom to contact? [more inside]
posted by thebazilist on Jun 24, 2009 - 34 answers

I have some questions about pest control in the garden, coupled with mysteriously disappearing plants. [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot on Jun 23, 2009 - 16 answers

Bats are living (and excreting) in the attic of my condo unit. I first noticed them in Sept 08, and immediately contacted my property management company for removal and cleaning. Since then, I've called every 2-3 weeks and attended two HOA meetings to bring up the issue. I keep getting excuses or brushed off. How can I motivate them to ACTUALLY remove the bats, protect my unit from further infestation and clean the insulation? [more inside]
posted by steeb2er on Jun 22, 2009 - 8 answers

how do I utilize my have-a-heart trap to get the bunnies out of my garden? [more inside]
posted by genmonster on May 25, 2009 - 12 answers

I live on the edge of a huge canyon. Gophers are tearing up my yard. How can I keep them out, when an inexhaustible supply lives just outside my property? [more inside]
posted by changeling on Apr 8, 2009 - 11 answers

We've been hearing rustling overhead. There is a narrow crawlspace up there. I made an opening, stuck my camera up and recorded a video. [more inside]
posted by cosmac on Apr 5, 2009 - 24 answers

This weekend I learned that two mourning doves are building or have built a nest on top of my master bedroom air conditioner (the only air conditioner in the house). This is not a good situation, as we will need to run the a/c come summer, and I do not want the blood of baby doves on my hands. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by tastybrains on Mar 31, 2009 - 18 answers

I live in a 15th floor condo. We get tons and tons of spiders on our balconies, windows, everything. Right now it's winter, so there are no spiders, only their little cocoons, which are everywhere. How can I get rid of these cocoons before they hatch, and hopefully disuade the spiders from coming back? [more inside]
posted by zachawry on Feb 13, 2009 - 16 answers

I am completely overwhelmed with all the information online about starting a vegetable garden. Looking for personal anecdotes about what works and what doesn't; bonus points if you started on extremely clay-based soil. [more inside]
posted by thecaddy on Feb 8, 2009 - 36 answers

A squirrel is nesting in my friend's car and it keeps coming back. Does anyone have a (non-cruel, non-lethal) way to convince squirrels to find another warm spot? [more inside]
posted by Kimberly on Jan 23, 2009 - 14 answers

Yet another flea question. I know it's been asked many times before, but nothing has worked. We've tried bombing, professionals, borax, buying a new vacuum, capstar, frontline, flea shampoo, but they keep coming back. How can we rid ourselves of these pests for good? [more inside]
posted by slactoid on Nov 11, 2008 - 22 answers

My outdoor basil plants are being chewed away by something that leaves behind tiny black grains. Who is the culprit, and how can I stop it? [more inside]
posted by teem on Oct 31, 2008 - 5 answers

How long did it take for Terro to exterminate the ant population in your apartment/house? I started using Terro's liquid-filled ant baits on Wednesday, September 17. Now, four days later I am still seeing ants trickle in - not as many as before, but enough to make me grit my teeth, and wonder if they're just waiting for the next set of eggs to hatch before they come in droves again. How fast did Terro work for you? Did it take you a few days, a week, etc?
posted by Esther Festers on Sep 21, 2008 - 11 answers

How do I choose an exterminator who will make this episode of Tom and Jerry end once and for all? [more inside]
posted by brina on Sep 7, 2008 - 3 answers

How to get rid of Cicada Wasps? [more inside]
posted by timsteil on Aug 30, 2008 - 10 answers

What is this plant? And what is eating it? [more inside]
posted by condour75 on Jul 24, 2008 - 7 answers

Several questions about rat infestations, including this one: If I use poison on the giant rats who are suddenly infesting my house, what are the chances of a poisoned rat deciding to die where my dogs can get it and then, if they do get it, will they die too? [more inside]
posted by mygothlaundry on Jul 3, 2008 - 13 answers

Have you every used an electronic cat deterrent? [more inside]
posted by Solomon on May 17, 2008 - 6 answers

I think I have squirrels in my attic. They make scratching noises, fighting noises, and noises that sound like something is galloping around up there. If you have had a similar experience, can you recommend a good pest control company? I am in Austin, TX. [more inside]
posted by 23skidoo on Jan 18, 2008 - 16 answers

Why do these flies zig zag around the middle of my room in the afternoons if I leave the window open, and how do I get rid of them?
posted by randomstriker on Jul 24, 2007 - 13 answers

Strelitzia reginae and other conservatory plants seem to suffer with soft scales...more inside [more inside]
posted by koahiatamadl on Feb 24, 2007 - 11 answers

i've just moved into an apartment with a large tree right next to the balcony--i could touch the branches. what are good ways to keep the bugs away? i was thinking about a bird feeder...
posted by thinkingwoman on Feb 18, 2007 - 15 answers

Are mosquito lamps effective and do they pose any health risks to pregnant humans ? [more inside]
posted by matholio on Feb 5, 2007 - 9 answers

how do i get rid of flying squirrels? [more inside]
posted by thinkingwoman on Jan 13, 2007 - 10 answers

How do I rid my Brooklyn apartment of mosquitoes--in JANUARY?! [more inside]
posted by tk on Jan 11, 2007 - 26 answers

This small pile of dirt appeared under our windowsill in our dining room. Can anyone ID the culprit from the crimescene?
posted by copystar on Sep 7, 2006 - 8 answers

Any recommendations about the use of Bacillus thuringiensis? I've got some nasturtiums that are being devoured by caterpillars, and I'd like an option that's a little simpler than "pick them off by hand".
posted by Guy Smiley on Jul 26, 2006 - 6 answers

Rats/mice. I seem to have a new friend living in my flat. It's small, brown and furry and I'd like to dispose of it (them?) quickly and effectively. I have absolutely no intention of giving it the humane treatment as I simply don't have any way of removing a living creature from my flat in london to somewhere else (no car etc.). How can I kill it? Kill it up good. [more inside]
posted by iamcrispy on Jul 25, 2006 - 33 answers

How do I identify garden pests? And what do I do about them once I've identified them? [more inside]
posted by nebulawindphone on May 15, 2006 - 7 answers

How do I get rid of all of these fruit flies?? [more inside]
posted by Jon-o on Nov 19, 2005 - 16 answers

Something has been nibbling on the window sashes in my attic. Do you know what it is?
posted by alms on Oct 29, 2005 - 16 answers

Drywood termites: fumigation or liquid injection? [more inside]
posted by ldenneau on Oct 12, 2005 - 1 answer

Do Ultrasonic Pest Control devices really work for mice and rats? When we moved into our current house there apparently was a bad problem with rats that we only found out about by one dying in the walls. We have since gotten rid of them but I have this fear that they will find a way back in. So, if I set a couple of these devices up in our crawlspace and attic would that work to deter them? And will they really not bother my dogs?
posted by GrumpyMonkey on Oct 7, 2005 - 12 answers

Itty-bitty-fly-filter: Every year around this time, our home is invaded by these teeny-tiny flies... [more inside]
posted by Thorzdad on Jul 22, 2005 - 25 answers

Where are all these flies in my house coming from, and why all of a sudden? [more inside]
posted by suchatreat on Jul 18, 2005 - 8 answers

GAH! Cockroaches! Please help! [more inside]
posted by loquacious on Jun 25, 2005 - 21 answers

Yuck: Our house has a flea infestation. Looking for the best treatment option. [more inside]
posted by kmel on May 27, 2005 - 21 answers

Could you give me any ideas for ridding my horse barn of English Sparrows. Their population has reached plague proportion. They have driven away the barn swallows, phoebes and robins that used to nest in the barn. we would prefer a live trap as we would like to keep our native birds and bats, but we are frustrated enough with the sparrows’ mess, that we wouldn't be fussy about what traps we set during the winter.
posted by Daddest on Mar 8, 2005 - 7 answers

OK, I have Drain Flies. Dirty, disgusting, ewww, gross!!!! How can I get rid of them quickly without poisoning myself in the process? I hate flies more than spiders, snakes, mice, more than anything; so THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!!!!
posted by lilboo on Oct 13, 2004 - 9 answers

Spiders and bathtubs. Great big hairy jumping spiders keep magically appearing in my bathtub. How do they materialise thus (given the windows are shut etc)? Spontaneous generation?
posted by Mossy on Sep 20, 2004 - 17 answers

Cicadas will attack (well, not attack, but annoy) the Eastern United States starting in about a month. What kinds of things are people doing to prepare, and for a pedestrian and cyclist, are there any recommendations for keeping these things out of my hair (literally)? [more inside]
posted by benjh on Apr 19, 2004 - 14 answers

I'm starting a research project on animal pests, and I'm interested in any and all information (and info sources) you may know of...[more inside] [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky on Mar 31, 2004 - 3 answers

Personal anecdotes on the topic of Squirrels--how to get rid of them are hereby solicited.
posted by y2karl on Mar 9, 2004 - 23 answers

mouse troubles - after trying the old standard: mouse traps, and hired guns: (mouse hunting cats) both of which were effective but didn't finish the job ... im wondering if anyone has any advice for curing a mouse problem once and for all?
posted by specialk420 on Jan 26, 2004 - 25 answers

I have an allergy which makes fleas bites on my body a real problem. In a concentrated infestation, I may actually become ill from too many. I'm looking for an effective way to keep my house clear of them. [more] [more inside]
posted by scarabic on Jan 18, 2004 - 11 answers