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Pest infestations are a common problem for homeowners and farmers. Pests cause damage to property, contaminate food, and spread diseases. Here at the Co-op we understand how urgent this is and we provide a large selection of products to help you get the upper hand with options like baits, poisons, and live traps. Let's look at some of the main components in dealing with these pests.‍

Best Practices for Pest Management

Prevention is always the best approach to pest management. Simple steps like maintaining a clean environment, sealing cracks and crevices, and properly storing food can help prevent pests from entering your home or farm. Regular inspections of your property can also help you identify potential pest problems before they become a major issue.

Another best practice for pest management is to use integrated pest management (IPM) techniques. IPM involves using a combination of preventative measures, monitoring, and targeted treatments to manage pests while minimizing the use of chemicals. This approach is more environmentally friendly and can be more effective than using pesticides alone.‍

Preventatives for Pest Management

There are several preventatives that can help reduce the risk of pest problems in your home or farm. Here are some examples:

Clean up spills and crumbs promptly to prevent pests from being attracted to your home or farm.
Seal cracks and crevices to prevent pests from entering your property.
Store food in sealed containers to prevent pests from accessing it.
Keep your property clean and clutter-free to reduce hiding places for pests.
Remove standing water to prevent mosquitoes and other pests that breed in water

Managing an Infestation with Baits, Poisons, and Live Traps

If you have a pest infestation, there are several options for managing it. Baits, poisons, and live traps are all effective tools for managing pests, but they each have their pros and cons.‍

Baits: Baits are a form of pest control that uses a food attractant to lure pests to a trap or poison. They are effective for managing pests like rodents and ants. However, baits can be dangerous to pets and children if not placed and handled properly. Most Poisons in today's pest control market are also baits to encourage consumption, but other bait is never a bad idea to add. Depending on the type of animal, the most common types are going to be feed varieties we have in our stores or warehouses. Things like wild bird seed mixes, sunflower seeds, grains, and even canned food are all common types of feed that most pests are attracted to. These options are particularly helpful when using a live trap!

‍Poisons: Poisons are another option for managing pests. They work by killing pests when they ingest or come into contact with the poison. Poisons are effective for managing pests like rodents and insects, but they can be dangerous to pets and children if not placed and handled properly. The other benefit of poisons is that the pests often bring it back to their living area and it’s ingested by the other pests there as well making it very effective. Providing the right type of bait station can be important to secure the poison away from the unintended targets. We have all of this at our stores!

Here are some of our Bait Station options:‍

Live Traps: Live Traps are a humane option for managing pests. They work by trapping pests alive so they can be released elsewhere. Live Traps are effective for managing pests like rodents, but they can be more time-consuming than other options. There are various methodologies for effective livetrap use. One popular strategy is integrating the trap into the environment to get them used to it can be a great idea before applying bait and setting it. Then apply bait while still not setting the trap to spring to get the critters used to going in and out of the trap and being comfortable with that. Then finally set it. This method is specifically for when trying to trap multiple critters. For single pest trappings, going straight for the trap is great since there are no other pests the trapping would scare off and deter them from being trapped. We have options for both single and double-door with our large selection of live traps in both of our stores.

‍Kill Traps: Kill Traps are one of the most classic options for dealing with pests and come in many sizes now. The nice thing about these are that they make it very clear if you are making progress or not, but can limit the effectiveness of your efforts if you are not diligent about checking and resetting your traps. Here are some of the many options we have for kill traps in our store.

‍‍Risks of Pest Problems and How to Administer Each Type of Treatment

Pest problems can have several risks, including property damage, food contamination, and disease transmission. To administer each type of treatment, it's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions and use caution when handling pesticides.

Baits and poisons should be placed in areas where pets and children cannot access them. Live Traps should be checked frequently, and trapped animals should be released in a safe location away from your property.

What to Expect and How to Get the Best Results

When managing a pest infestation, it's important to have realistic expectations. It may take several treatments to completely eliminate the pests, and it's important to continue preventative measures to reduce the risk of future infestations.

To get the best results, it's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions and use the appropriate treatment for the type of pest you're dealing with. It's also a good idea to consult with a professional pest control company for more complex or severe infestations.

Here at the Co-op we offer products for Mice, Rats, Voles, Gophers, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Rabbits, Weasels, Moles, Ferrets, Skunks, Raccoons, Foxes and much more.

We even carry deterrents for larger animals such as: