Green tips

At Critter Get Ritter, we are leaders in environmentally friendly pest and wildlife control, cleaning and structural work (to name a few).  From our streams, rivers and lakes; to the drinking water you, your family, employees and pets are exposed too, we keep your health in mind, and would like to share simple, green solutions and tips, to help you lighten our environmental footprint while reducing pests.

Especially in our warm, pacific northwest summers, pests are always ready to nibble on your treats (or you) while camping, barbecuing or eating/doing things outside.

Outside Pests:

Here are some simple, and environmentally friendly tips to keep those pests at bay.

1) Burning candles scented with essential oils makes a great centerpieces for backyard barbecues, but it also sends pests packing for the night, or at least until the party is over…

2) Bats, Frogs, dragonflies, ladybug beetles, spiders, praying mantises and crane flies outside of your home, you will help reduce the critter population, since these predators will feed on insect pests…

3) In gardens, use beneficial pests to keep your roses healthy: ladybug beetles and lacewings feast on aphids, and they can be purchased from us ((604)-902-7417) or your local nursery and hardware stores.

Indoor pests:

Flies:

1) Prevention is key. First, make sure your window and door screens are free of holes and gaps that allow flies to enter. Keep food and condiments covered.

2) Flyswatters give you exercise and eliminate flies. Watch out for anything breakable when you swat!!

3) Reducing moisture and any gaps you can dry and wrap organic garbage in old newspapers before you place it in your trash receptacle. Doing this will reduce those unwanted visitors. Make sure your trash container has a properly fitting lid, which will deter flies.

4) A clean kitchen is a happy kitchen. During the heavy fly season, give your kitchen a thorough wipedown with pine oil cleaner. Pine oil is a natural fly repellent.

Ants:

1) Remove the source! Most ants have a sweet tooth and by removing empty soda cans and bottles, as well as candy wrappers, you can reduce household ants. Children and pets may drop particles of food, which also will attract ants. So give your floors – carpeted and non-carpeted – a quick daily vacuum.

2) Also, be sure to wipe down those counters. Ants are attracted to organic matter, and particles of food left out on a kitchen counter will attract them.

3) If you see a trail of marching ants, follow them to the source. Watch where they come from and where they are going. After establishing their destinations, use these instructions:

A. Fill a bowl with soapy water (usually dish detergent does the trick), dip a sponge into the mixture and wipe up the ants from point A to point B. After you have wiped up most of the ants, place a teaspoon or so of soap into a plastic spray bottle filled with water, and finish them off.

B. Ant scouts will seek out food, and they leave a pheromone trail for all their sisters to follow. By using this green tip, you’ll be breaking that invisible chemical trail and cutting off the ants’ food source.

Fleas:

Fleas prefer to enter your home on your pets, Trojan-horse style. For each flea hitchhiking on your pet, there may 30 more in your pet’s environment, including inside your home.  Rather than grabbing a can of bug spray, try these safe and environmentally sound alternatives:

Citrus contains a natural flea deterrent and by pouring a cup of boiling water over a sliced, scored lemon, the skin will release more citrus oil.  In this case, more is better so let the mixture soak overnight, and sponge it on your dog or cat to kill fleas instantly.

Trap fleas in your home using a wide, shallow pan half-filled with soapy water. Place the pan on the floor and shine a lamp over the water. Fleas are attracted to heat, and will jump to the source and land in the water. The liquid detergent breaks the surface’s tension, preventing the flea from bouncing out.

Other ways to GO GREEN!

1)Recycle
2)Compost
3)Use refillable water bottles to reduce the number of plastic bottles at our land fills.
4)Use energy efficient light bulbs.
Use Energy saving appliances.
5)Car pool, or use public transportation.

Thank you for taking the time to learn what you can do to help protect our planet.

https://www.crittergetritter.com