Keep out the critters

They’re the last thing you want to deal with when moving into a new house or apartment — four-legged, furry transients or anthropoid infesters. Bloomington is no stranger to these critters, but with a bit of investigative work and the right product, renters can at least keep them far from their doorstep.

Vickie Davison, the owner of Bloomington Hardware, has seen her fair share of pests. She said oftentimes, locals even bring pests to her in plastic bags, ready for inspection and classification in-store.

Davison said that’s the key: to know exactly what you’re dealing with before you try to treat the problem.

Mice and other rodents are a group Davison said she’s been helping customers treat more often then usual, something she suspects the past summer’s drought helped exacerbate.

And now, with Bloomington on track to experience another mild winter, insects might have time to flourish.

“When we’ve had such mild, mild winters, that cold never really got into the ground,” Davison said. “As the insect population keeps growing, the rodent population gets larger and larger. It’s a natural circle.”

She recommends doing a visual inspection of common insect/rodent entry points,
including the building foundation, area underneath doors and space that encircles piping.

For treating mice and other rodents, a variety of options range from simple kill traps to electronic noise devices. Here’s the rundown of options.

For treating insects, there are a variety of products on the market, not all of which use toxic chemicals.

Davison said she’s seen a recent switch to more earth-friendly, less toxic methods of insect control, including products with capsicum, or pepper. Other traps, with sticky surfaces, also eliminate the need for harsh chemicals.

“I think if people use too many products, it affects the world around them,” she said.

Regardless of treatment method, the important thing to remember is to seek help from products, an inspection or exterminator service or even your landlord. 

“Nobody should be embarrassed that they have bugs,” Davison said. “From time to time, it’s something we all have to deal with.”