When you’re a kid, bugs are cool! Furry Caterpillars, Banana Slugs, Potato Bugs, Lady Bugs — they love them!

As a parent, you might encourage their young bright minds to learn more about insects through bug catchers, books, or other insect educational resources. But that doesn’t require you to live in a bug-infested house!

Plus, some pests are dangerous to kiddos. How do you prevent problems there?

Keep reading to learn more about kid safety when it comes to bugs and pest control.

What insects are dangerous to kids?

Biting insects are the ones you have to worry about most. These bugs are dangerous to humans and children alike because they’ll look to you as a food source or as something to attack if threatened.

You’ll want to help your children avoid the following types of pests.

Fleas

Fleas are a common pest that causes discomfort by biting and can also transmit diseases. Fleas are most often found in and around homes with animals. Thankfully, there are easy treatments to get rid of Fleas.

Bees, Wasps & Hornets

Honey Bees are pollinators and essential to our environment. But they don’t like to be messed with and will sting humans and kids when they feel threatened. Your children need to be especially careful of Yellow Jackets, as they are extremely aggressive and more likely to chase down and sting someone who bothered them, especially in late summer.

If your child is stung by a Bee of any kind, make sure the stinger still isn’t in the skin, then apply a calming salve to relieve any stinging sensation. Also pay attention to the symptoms your child displays after being stung and contact your doctor if anything seems off — many children are allergic to Bee stings.

Ticks

Ticks attach to the skin and suck blood. Though your child won’t usually feel the bite itself, there may be some redness around the area of the bite. Always check your child for Ticks after being out in the woods, camping, or other outdoor playtime. If you find a Tick, contact your doctor immediately to ensure you remove it correctly. Additionally, Ticks can carry Lyme Disease, so save the Tick in a container or bag to show to your doctor.

Spiders

There are about a dozen common household Spiders here in the Pacific Northwest. Most of these long-legged insects are harmless, at most leaving an itchy bump. However, there are 2 species that are considered dangerous: Black Widow Spiders and Hobo Spiders. Learn how to identify these Spiders and if your child is bitten by one of these insects, contact your doctor immediately.

Mosquitos

Bed Bugs

What happens if my child eats a bug?

Kids love to put things in their mouth — even creepy crawlers like Beetles and Ants. The idea of your child swallowing a bug might make you feel a little squeamish, but there’s probably not anything to worry about.

Most insects contain protein, a little fat, and in many countries are considered delicacies!

Of course, you don’t want to encourage your child to gobble down bugs either. If your kid is observing some insects and is at risk of turning them into a midday snack, act as a chaperone or remove them from the area.

While most bugs are harmless for kids to consume, don’t hesitate to contact Poison Control if you’re worried.

Concerned about a bug that your child just swallowed? Contact Poison Control through their easy-to-use online tool, or call 1-800-222-1222.

Is pest control harmful to babies and children?

Babies and children are much more susceptible to pesticides and insecticides than adults.

How are pesticides harmful to children? Consider that a child’s body and immune system are still developing. They don’t have the ability to fight off or deflect the toxic chemicals or irritants.

Plus, you have to consider that kids are much lower to the ground (perhaps only just crawling), and are much more likely to be exposed to pesticides. And then there’s that habit of always putting things in their mouths!

How to handle a pest infestation with kids in the house

Do you have a pest infestation in or around your home? Knowing that traditional pesticides are dangerous to children, how do you get rid of the insects while also keeping your kiddos safe?
If you’re set on handling a pest problem on your own, make sure you know the pesticide warning labels to look for. The three big ones are:

1. Caution — Slightly toxic if inhaled or eaten, causing minor eye or skin irritation.
2. Warning — Moderately toxic if inhaled or eaten, causing more severe irritation to eyes and skin.
3. Danger/Poison — The pesticide is highly toxic if eaten or inhaled, causing severe damage to the eyes or skin.

Never, ever leave pesticides or chemicals sitting around in the house. They should be stored under lock and key. Additionally, read the label carefully to understand instructions. Keep children away from any treated areas or get out of the house until it is considered safe. If your child comes into contact with a pesticide with any of these labels, call Poison Control or take them to the emergency room.

You can try your own methods — chemical or natural — for getting rid of bugs in the house. But considering the risk, the best way to get rid of bugs and keep kids safe is to work with an eco-friendly pest control company.

Keep your kids safe with eco-friendly green pest control

Questions about pest control and kid safety? Contact us

As an eco-friendly pest control company, we answer many questions from parents about how to safely eliminate pests. We’re dedicated to offering safe, green, and effective pest control treatments to our community and are here to help.

Contact us and let’s chat.

When you’re facing a rodent or pest infestation, taking matters into your own hands can be dangerous. If you’re not careful and don’t follow proper pest control methods, even the most sincere DIY removal efforts will backfire, leaving you worse off than before.

So if unwanted pests are poking around your home and property, don’t make the mistake of making mistakes. Keep reading to learn the DIY pest and rodent control tactics that simply do not work.

1. Placing mouse traps in high-traffic areas

While a Rat or Mouse may venture out to wide open areas on occasion, these critters tend to stick close to walls and corners. After all, their instinct is to always have an escape strategy close by.

So while you might think placing a trap in the middle of your kitchen, a better strategy is to stick them against walls, behind furniture, and in tight corners. Plus, a trap set out in the open makes it more likely that a family member will accidentally pinch their toe.

2. Overloading traps with bait

When setting a trap, the more cheese, peanut butter, and other bait, the better, right? Wrong!

Overloading a trap with too much bait can actually cause the device to malfunction, giving the critter a better chance of getting away. Instead, a small amount of bait will entice your intruder and ensure the trap can do its job.

3. Using dangerous pesticides or raticides

While the first instinct is often to hit any pesky intruders with a dose of deadly chemicals, using poisons can actually do more harm than good — especially if you have curious kids or animals in the house.

There are serious health and environmental risks associated with pesticide exposure. And with The World Health Organization estimates 3 million cases of pesticide poisoning each year, mostly caused by overzealous and untrained do-it-yourselfers. Spraying harmful chemicals as a way to quickly get rid of pests just isn’t worth it.

Don’t let your DIY efforts lead to sacrificing your health or the safety of your home. It’s better to use biological controls (like scents, tastes, and oils) or enlist the help of an eco-friendly pest control company.

4. Controlling fleas and ticks by only treating your pets

If Fleas and Ticks are your problem, treating your pets with a veterinarian-recommended medication is a great first step — but it isn’t enough to completely stop or prevent the problem.

You’ll also need to eliminate the Fleas and Ticks that may be hidden in your home or yard and ensure they can’t pop up again.

5. Setting off bug bombs

A bug bomb spreads a fog of chemicals into your space. While this tactic is meant to control pesky critters, the chemicals in these bombs can also seep into your carpet, furniture, and walls and hurt your health.

Bug bombs often have very high toxicity ratings — frequently higher than a professional exterminator would use. This isn’t something you want in your home. Plus, some studies show that your pests will sense the chemicals and immediately flee deeper into your walls, escaping the effects of the poison. Additionally, bug bombs have a very low residual so there is no longer term benefit to preventing a return of the infestation.

6. Killing bugs with electric swatters

An electric bug swatter will definitely help get rid of a few Mosquitos, Flies, or Moths, but if that’s your only method of control, you have a long road ahead.

Zapping away a bug here or there won’t make a significant impact on an infestation. Plus, these kinds of swatters are dangerous for houses with young families and could even cause an electrical fire.

7. Using gasoline to control Bees and Wasps

A common myth is that pouring or throwing gasoline (or any other type of chemical) into or around a beehive is an effective way to control infestations. This is not true!

Not only will using gasoline contaminate groundwater and kill plants, it’s a great way to start a fire and damage your property.

8. Setting out some bait (and that’s it)

Many people think setting bait is enough to control a problem like ants or cockroaches. In fact, truly eliminating an infestation involves solving the root of the issue. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in a loop of laying bait forever.

Fixing the root of the problem may involve…

• Sealing openings in your walls
• Checking doors and windows for gaps
• Cleaning up your pantry or sealing food in airtight containers
• Improving the condition and cleanliness of garbage cans or dumpsters

You also need to makes sure you don’t forget about the bait you’ve set out. For example, if your bait is in a trap (like a mouse or racoon trap) then you need to check these traps every few days for captures. And if you’re using a liquid poison bait, you should ensure it doesn’t sit for so long that it gets moldy.

9. Waiting for the problem to resolve itself

If you’re dealing with pests in your crawlspace, basement, or attic, you may not feel directly affected by the problem. Afterall, you probably don’t venture into these areas often (if at all).

This mindset is what leads many homeowners facing an investigation to simply cross their fingers and hope the problem will eventually just go away.

It’s a nice idea, but left alone, a pest problem will only multiply and get worse (not better). The longer you wait, the more likely these pests will cause serious damage to your home — from electrical damage to disease.

10. Trying to DIY more than twice

Sometimes, a simple DIY pest control solution is enough to stop and prevent any future problems. Maybe you really did just have one mischievous mouse in your house. However, if you’re repeating your efforts, it’s a good sign you have a bigger issue and need to call in the professionals.

We’re here to help with eco-friendly pest control

We know that there’s nothing more annoying than a pest infestation or rodent problem in your home. Thankfully, you don’t have to handle it on your own. Our pest and rodent removal tactics are quick, effective, and safe.

We use specially formulated pest removal and extermination treatments to target and eliminate pest infestations — all while being 100% safe for your entire family.

Contact us today and let us know how we can help.

Sometimes it makes sense to just let things be and see what happens. But when it comes to pest and wildlife infestations in your home, ignoring the problem is one of the biggest mistakes you can make.

In today’s post we’ll talk about the damage that can be done by uncontrolled pest and wildlife infestations. You’ll also learn about how early detection and preventive treatments can keep your home, property, family, and pets safe.

Why do homeowners ignore pests?

There are many reasons homeowners may not want to acknowledge a pest problem in their homes. In many cases though, it’s not intentional. Many homeowners just don’t realize there’s a problem until it’s too late.

If they are ignoring pests in their home, generally it’s for one of these reasons:

1. It’s a common but misguided belief that pests are seasonal or that they will “move on.” This just isn’t true. When pests have easy access to a food source or a place to nest and breed, they won’t be going anywhere!
2. Some homeowners may worry about the toxicity of pest control treatments. In reality, our modern and eco-friendly treatments are completely safe for people and pets. You don’t even have to leave your home!

What’s at risk?

Bugs, rodents, and wildlife infestations aren’t just an annoying hassle. They’re serious sources of potential damage to your home, a common cause of destroyed property, and are even a potential health hazard to people and pets.

Let’s take a closer look at the damage pests and wildlife can do, the most common types of infestations, and the warning signs you need to watch out for.

Your home

Common culprits

• Raccoons
• Bats
• Opossums
• Squirrels
• Rats
• Wood beetles
• Carpenter ants

What can happen

• Structural damage to roof, siding, insulation, electrical systems, and foundation
• Hard to clean and disease-causing droppings
• Eventual possibility of damage to property and injury to pets

What to look for

• Droppings
• Footprints
• Holes or other entry points for rodents and wildlife
• Scratching sounds inside walls
• Signs of wood chips or insects boring

Your belongings

Sure, your property is insured and things can always be replaced. But the headache and heartache of losing sentimental belongings due to damage from wildlife and insect infestations is completely avoidable.

Common culprits

• Raccoons
• Bats
• Opossums
• Squirrels
• Rats
• Mice
• Ants
• Moths
• Silverfish
• Carpet beetles

What can happen

• Moth larvae eat wool and other natural fibers, damaging clothing, furniture and other possessions
• Ants, moths, and rodents get into stored food, meaning it all has to be thrown out
• Rodents and wildlife chew through and nest in belongings stored in your garage or attic

What to look for

• Damage to food containers or any container where belongings are stored for long periods of time
• Moths in or around clothing – especially in attics or in seasonally stored garments
• Adult insects of any kind in your home

Your family and pets

Don’t overlook the threat that some insects and pests pose to the people in your family – and to your pets, too! Even “helpful” insects like spiders that eat other bugs can inflict painful bites.

Common culprits

• Raccoons
• Bats
• Opossums
• Squirrels
• Rats
• Mice
• Ants
• Fleas
• Spiders
• Bed Bugs
• Hornets and wasps

What to look for

• Pets scratching or itching themselves as the result of Flea bites
• Swollen and inflamed insect bites
• Wasp or Hornet nests outside your home or in gutters and eaves
• Signs of Bed Bugs like dark spots on bedsheets
• Spider webs especially in sleeping areas

What can happen

• Dogs and cats can fight with potentially diseased rodents and wildlife
• People may suffer painful stings or allergic reactions to insect bites
• Hornet and Wasp stings can be very painful and trigger dangerous anaphylactic shock even if you think you’re not allergic
• Stressful Bed Bug infestations that are very difficult to eradicate
• Wild mammals may carry rabies or other diseases

The importance of preventive pest and wildlife control

Inspect. Exclude. Exterminate.

It’s great to be on the lookout for the signs of pest infestations and invasive wildlife. But if you’re seeing damage to your home or property or your pets and family are being stung or bitten, the problem is already very advanced.

Preventive pest control can keep unwanted pests and critters out of your home and far away from your family, pets, and possessions. At EcoCare Pest Control our experienced pest control technicians take a multi-faceted approach involving:

1. Inspection – We not only look for signs of existing pest and wildlife infestations, we also look for the places pests may eventually use to gain access to your home. During our inspections we thoroughly examine the interior and exterior of your home, including pipes, electrical systems, your home’s foundation, and much more.
2. Exclusion – Through the application of preventive treatments and repairs like sealing gaps and holes, we create a barrier pests can’t cross.
3. Extermination – If an infestation is discovered, our eco-friendly treatments are specifically targeted to the pests we find. That means there’s no danger to your family or pets from toxic chemicals.

Protecting your home isn’t a one-time job

Seasonal inspections help keep pests out of your home all year round. Our annual Pest Insurance program includes:

• 4 seasonal pest inspections
• Eco-friendly pest control treatments
• Protection against nearly 40 common pests

Compared to the cost of fighting entrenched pest infestations and the damage caused by pests, our Pest Insurance program can save homeowners hundreds or even thousands of dollars every year.

Ready to learn more?

If you’re ready to take action against pest and wildlife infestations, contact us today for a free in-home consultation. We’ll tell you more about our services and how we can help you protect your home and your family.

There’s no time like the present.