Pumpkins are tempting treats for many unwanted pests, but most especially squirrels. If you have jack o’ lanterns outside of your home and are concerned about squirrels ruining them, here are some strategies to deter them.
Use a commercial repellent
Look for a brand made using rotten eggs. This will have a strong odor, especially right after it is applied. The smell should fade when the repellent dries, but you should spray your pumpkin away from the home.
Squirrels hate pets
Sprinkle some pet hair around your pumpkin.
Spicy Surprise
You can also mix hot sauce, water, and a drop of dish soap or vegetable oil to help the mixture stick to the pumpkins. You will need to spray them every day, and especially after it rains.
Straight up tabasco sauce can be an effective repellent as well, but it can become messy and can potentially stain both the pumpkin and your porch.
DIY Stink Bomb
Squirrels are repelled by the smell of distilled white vinegar. Vinegar can damage the pumpkin’s skin, so we suggest putting some in a bowl by the pumpkins.
Making a mixture of one part eucalyptus oil, ten parts water, and a drop of vegetable oil or dish soap to help it stick is also known to help. Apply iwith a cotton ball, repeating daily and after it rains.
Stick it to ’em
Squirrels dislike anything sticky. Another option is to coat your pumpkins with a generous coating of a vapor rub or petroleum jelly. This can last for weeks, even through rain.
You can also coat your pumpkins with a spray lacquer, letting it dry. This method will keep away some squirrels, but not every one of them. The spray must be applied to the whole pumpkin, inside and out.
Another solution is to spray the pumpkins with hairspray. You will need to reapply this every day or two, as well as after it rains.
When it doubt, scare them out
Owls are natural predators of squirrels. You will frighten squirrels by placing an owl statue near the pumpkins.
Another option is to place motion-activated devices near the pumpkins to frighten away squirrels.
Halloween spending has skyrocketed in recent years. The National Retail Federation has stated that “Americans are expected to spend $2.7 billion on Halloween decorations this year”.
In turn, wildlife organizations say they have also seen an increase in animal visits to local rehabilitation centers for injuries related to outdoor holiday decorations.
Halloween any other holiday in which homeowners decorate the exteriors of their houses is particularly dangerous for wildlife populations. Anything that hangs, flutters, or loops can be potential hazards. Increased human activity and scattered candy wrappers during Halloween can also put animals at risk.
We want to share some easy ways you can help make sure this Halloween isn’t a scary one for wildlife!
Keeping Wildlife Safe on Halloween
Limit the use of fake spiderweb or other decorations made of entangling fibers. Wild animals can easily become unable to break the material to free themselves.
Avoid decorations with loops and circles. A foraging animal can unknowingly put its head through a loop or circle and choke.
Avoid decorations with edible-looking parts.
Don’t leave candy where wildlife may find it, always being sure to dispose of candy wrappers.
Carved pumpkins may also be attractive to wildlife as food, so properly dispose of them to avoid unwanted, post-holiday trick-or-treaters.
Be on the look for nocturnal wildlife while out trick-or-treating. Avoid cutting through lawns and brushy areas to avoid accidental encounters.
Drivers on Halloween night know to be alert for children; however, we encourage you to keep an eye out for wildlife that may be scared out by all the increased nighttime activity.
Strings of lights can become snare traps for adult male deer who get them caught in their antlers. As a result, avoid hanging lights or decorations in areas where deer pass.
Wildlife is not the only at-risk critters this Halloween. It is important to be mindful of household pets, too!
Tips for Keeping Household Pets Safe on Halloween
Stash your treats.
The candy bowl is for trick-or-treaters, not the household dog. Several popular Halloween treats are highly toxic to pets. Chocolate in any form—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for cats and dogs; candies labeled ‘sugar-free’ contain the sugar substitute xylitol which can cause serious problems in animals.
Watch decorations and keep wires out of reach.
While a jack-o-lantern is certainly festive, pets can easily knock over a lit pumpkin and start a fire. That being said, curious kittens are especially at risk of getting hurt by candle flames. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and corn are relatively nontoxic but have the ability to produce stomach discomfort in pets who snack on them.
Be mindful of costumes.
For some pets wearing a costume can become stressful. If you do decide to dress up your pet, be sure the costume does not limit his or her sight, ability to breathe, move, bark, or meow. Check the costume carefully for easily chewed-off pieces that could become a choking hazard. Poorly fitting outfits can become twisted on external objects and result in injury.
Be sure to try on the costume before the event; however, if they seem distressed or show abnormal behaviors, consider foregoing.
Keep pets easily identifiable.
Halloween brings exciting activity with visitors arriving at the door; overstimulation and strangers can often become scary and stressful for pets. Even the most social animals should be kept away from the door during trick-or-treating hours. While opening the door, be sure that your pet doesn’t dart out. Always make sure your pet is wearing proper identification!
The main goal of Halloween along with any other holiday you decorate for is to have fun. It is important, however, to always be mindful of how we affect those around us— animals too!
“Halloween Home Decor Can Hurt Wildlife, Officials Warn.” WDRB, 17 Oct. 2019, www.wdrb.com/news/national/halloween-home-decor-can-hurt-wildlife-officials-warn/article_fd700df2-f100-11e9-8162-47f987f12c4e.html.
Michigan is actually home to some of the scariest pests you may imagine. Our state is host to venomous spiders, but aggressive predator and something called an Assassin bug. These are all pests of different species that live in different environments and desire different things. The only commonality they share is that they all scare!
These five Michigan-infesting baddies aren’t necessarily the most common, dangerous, or even destructive pests we share a home state with. Not this post. No, these are simply the critters we’d least like to find underneath a couch cushion or, worse, in our beds. “We ain’t afraid of no critters,” of course, but even us professionals would think twice about approaching the top five scariest pests in our great state of Michigan:
1. Masked Hunter Assassin Bug
We said we weren’t kidding around about true “scariest” contenders here; get a load of that name.
.The Reduvius personatus belongs to the family of assassin bugs (yeah, there’s a whole family). They are small, glossy dark brown or black insects with wide abdomens and distinctive “beaks.” Along with their name and appearance, assassin bugs are the scariest because of how they feed.
Masked hunters prey on smaller insects such as bed bugs. Their beaklike mouthparts are actually hollow and sharp, like a needle. They stab their beaks into prey, which they use to inject a digestive enzyme into the victim’s body. This enzyme literally liquefies their victim’s insides, which the bug then drinks it up through its beak like a straw! That’s probably one of the most savage things we’ve heard. However, before you pack your bags and move, it’s important to note that these bugs can’t drink your insides. However, they will bite you if they feel threatened (it’s about as painful as a wasp sting), but it isn’t dangerous.
2. Woodlouse Spider
This spider has many nicknames: woodlouse, sowbug killer,
pillbug hunter, literally the scariest thing I’ve ever seen. Females are about ½ to ¾ inches long, while males are generally much smaller. Their many names refer to the fact that woodlouse spiders are predatory. They are nocturnal hunters that enjoy feeding on pillbugs and sowbugs.
Woodlouse spiders are easy to spot. Their coloration is quite distinctive: adults have a purple-brown body and bright orange legs. These legs are arranged mostly in front of the spider’s body, enabling them to run very swiftly. They also have large, threatening fangs that point forward. The spider uses these fangs like scissors to grab prey. It’s pretty unpleasant. Luckily, humans are rarely bitten by the woodlouse spider. Even if one did bite you, it would not be medically significant (i.e., dangerous). Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the next creature on the list…
3. Brown Recluse Spider
Yes, the infamous brown recluse spider appears to have taken residence in our state. They are also referred to as “violin” or “fiddleback” spiders because of the distinct violin-shaped marking on their backs. They measure about 1.3 centimeters (about the size of a quarter) and appear grey-brown, brown, or tan. Unlike most spider species, brown recluses only have six eyes as opposed to the normal eight.
Unlike the Woodlouse spider and many others, the Brown recluse isn’t just scary. They also happen to be one of Michigan’s most dangerous pests. Brown recluse spiders administer a potent hemotoxic venom when they bite. This venom causes rashes, chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting; however, the worst symptoms include necrosis, which is the death of cells. Fortunately, brown recluse spiders are aptly named and are reclusive. They are not aggressive and prefer to avoid humans. Brown recluse spider bites are infrequent, even if the spiders live amongst people. However, brown recluse spiders aren’t the only venomous spider in Michigan.
4. Northern Black Widow Spider
You’re probably familiar with the Black widow. They’re arguably the most infamous spider on the planet, much less in the US. One particular species, the Northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus), happens to call Michigan its home. These spiders are paperclip in size and mostly black in color, except for an hourglass-shaped red marking on their abdomens.
Black widows are said to be the most venomous spider in North America. The venom they can inject via bites is considered 15 times more potent than a rattlesnake’s. Black widow venom is a “latrotoxin,” which means it attacks the nervous system. Their bites can trigger nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fevers, and even more severe symptoms. Luckily, black widows bite humans very rarely, and even when they do bite, they don’t inject much venom. Black widow bites are rare, but if a black widow bites you, you should take it very seriously.
5. Blacklegged Tick
The Ixodes scapularis, aka the “black-legged” or “deer” tick, is one of three tick species commonly found in our state. Black-legged ticks are most common in western Michigan, but you really can find them in any grassy area. These ticks are small and brown with distinctive black legs. Like all ticks, Blacklegged ticks hunt by perching on foliage and clinging to prey as it passes by. This tick species primarily feed on humans in the summertime.
Blacklegged ticks are the main transmitters of Lyme disease in the Northern United States. Blacklegged ticks pick up the disease-causing Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria when feeding on deer. They then transmit the bacteria into that human’s bloodstream after latching to them. Lyme disease causes headaches, fevers, fatigue, and an expanding rash called Erythema migrans. To avoid tick bites, apply repellent when walking outside and stay out of long grassy areas. Be sure to thoroughly inspect your body and remove any ticks that attach themselves to you right away.
From the frightening/dangerous to the just plain scary, Michigan has its fair share of monster pests to contend with. Luckily, you’ve also got your own personal pest-slaying force: Hogarth’s Pest Control.
If you’re losing sleep about the creepy-crawlies in your basement or attic, give us a call today. We’ll bust those pests before you can say, “Happy Halloween!”
Consider yourself warned: this article is going to be nightmare fuel for arachnophobes. While it doesn’t contain frightening or grotesque spider photos, the topics discussed are enough to make you queasy if you’re not the fondest of the eight-legged creatures. There are so many creepy species of spiders and the things they do, and all that info is just a Google search away.
Of course, not all spiders are bad— not even most. They’re aesthetically unpleasing to many, yes; however, spiders are a crucial part of the ecosystem. They help naturally control pest populations, as well as weave beautifully artistic webs. Spiders actually become more fascinating as you study them. That doesn’t mean you should click on just anything tagged “spider” on the Internet, though.
Whether you’re just morbidly curious, courageous, or plain masochistic, here’s a roundup of spider-related things you probably shouldn’t search on Google.
1. Ear Spider Infestations
Spiders living in ears may sound like an urban legend, and many of the pictures you’ll find of the ‘condition’ have been photoshopped. However, there are true recorded cases of spiders being found lodged in both humans’ and animals’ ears.
Spiders don’t typically seek out ears to crawl into— or noses or mouths for that matter. When it does happen, though, the accounts are genuinely disconcerting. Individuals describe the scratching sounds they hear as the spider tries to move, mention unexplained headaches and ear pain. Even though it’s doubtful to ever happen to you, it isn’t terrific to think about.
2. Ballooning Spiders
Do you know what’s more frightening than a huge ball of spiders? A huge ball of spiders that can fly. In an act called ballooning, some spiders create a parachute of webbing that they can use to catch the wind and travel to other places. Like all things, what goes up must come down, and before long, witnesses will experience spiders raining down from the sky.
In Australia, this can occasionally become a major issue. Witnesses have reported millions of spiders falling from the sky, covering full towns in arachnids.
3. The Baltimore Wastewater Treatment Plant
This might be the worst spider infestation to date. The year was 2009, and the Baltimore Wastewater Treatment Plant sought help for what they deemed an “extreme” spider problem. When they said extreme, they weren’t kidding. Almost four entire acres of the property were completely coated in spider webs. Scientists who studied the event estimated over 107 million spiders were living there, with over 35 thousand spiders per cubic meter in some areas.
If you’re still debating whether or not you should give this a Google search, maybe this quote from the local paper will help your decision: “We were unprepared for the sheer scale of the spider population and the extraordinary masses of both three dimensional and sheet-like webbing that blanketed much of the facility’s cavernous interior… Far greater in magnitude than any previously recorded aggregation of orb-weavers, the spectacle’s visual impact was nothing less than astonishing. In places where the plant workers had swept aside the webbing to access equipment, the silk lay piled on the floor in rope-like clumps as thick as a fire hose.”
4. The Ukraine Mutant Spider
This story is an urban legend, no doubt, but it’s still one Google search to avoid when you’re alone late at night. The tale goes that, in the ’90s, a man was found dead in a Ukrainian elevator, with no immediately obvious cause of death. However, there did seem to be a bite mark, and an examination showed that he was missing a ton of blood.
Later, more victims were discovered, and authorities became concerned that there was some mutant creature or vampire. A police sergeant and detective decided to take matters into their own hands and search the elevator. They heard a strange sound from the top of the elevator and went to check it out. They discovered a giant spider with a head the size of a man’s fist. The detective managed to take out the spider – but not until it had claimed its final victim, the sergeant.
5. The Goliath Birdeater Tarantula
The Goliath Bird-Eating Tarantula is the world’s largest known spider. It can grow to roughly the size of a child’s arm and weigh as much as a puppy. Not all of them reached that immense size, but the largest one was recorded as 12″ long. Because they are so hairy, these spiders are often mistaken for small mammals.
This tarantula’s body is covered in barbed hairs, makes a loud hissing noise if threatened, and has fangs that are a staggering two inches long, capable of piercing a mouse’s skull. Oh, it’s also venomous and can regenerate lost limbs.
6. Brown Recluse Bites
Bites from the brown recluse are truly gnarly. Now, before you go suppressing your gag reflex, there’s something you should know: many of the terrifying bite images you will see when searching are misdiagnosed. Brown recluse bites are often blamed for diabetic ulcers, skin cancer, and complications from unrelated MRSA and Staph infections. Some are even bites from other animals. They can still really really mess you up, of course, but many people are quick to claim recluse when it’s actually something else.
All that aside, the images, whether misdiagnosed or real, are completely nauseating. And if you so choose (or not), you can look into what actually happens when you suffer a brown recluse bite. It’s not pretty.
7. Zombie Spiders
Imagine you killed a spider – and then it came back from the dead. This isn’t exactly what happens with zombie spiders, but the very concept of how they work is downright eerie. Ichneumonid wasps lay their eggs on the backs of orb weaver spiders. The eggs then become larvae and burrow down into the spider until it is pretty much dead. But the larvae don’t stop there; they assume control, ordering the spider to stop spinning webs to catch prey instead of making a new bed for the larvae. The larvae then let the spider die, eat it, and wait to turn into wasps to restart the cycle.
8. Wolf Spider Babies
Wolf spiders aren’t exactly as fuzzy as their namesakes. They got their name because they hunt down and catch their prey, rather than spinning a web and just waiting.
Wolf spider babies are far creepier than you could ever imagine. When a wolf spider lays her eggs, she attaches an egg sack to her stomach and carries it around until the babies are ready to hatch. She continues to carry her young around when they do, just like a human mother would – only more terrifying because she’s covered with swarming baby spiders.
9. Trapdoor Spiders
While ingenious, trapdoor spiders are also jump-scare masters. These little critters create burrows under the ground, made of earth, plants, and their own silk. Once the burrow is built, it creates a lid, complete with a camouflage top, which blends right into its surroundings. Then, the spider crawls in, shuts the burrow, and waits. When it senses its prey through vibrations outside, it springs its trap by throwing open the door, reaching out, and grabbing the creature. Spiders of this sort catch frogs, baby birds, and even fish!
10. Decoy Spiders
Some spiders don’t want to make themselves known to predators or prey, so they create a sort of diversion. These decoy spiders are, to put it mildly, pretty creepy. Some South American spiders will collect their prey and enemies’ corpses, and jungle refuse, to create a second spider on their web. Spiders in the Philippines do something similar.
Upon first glance, you might assume you see a spider and shy away. But if you see a spider decoy, you should also know that the spider is nearby, watching your every move.
