Vegan “Pest” Control Techniques for the Home & Garden

Being a bona fide, no-harm animal lover can put one in a precarious situation when it comes to animal “pests” in the house and garden. Sure, those critters are just going about their own lives, doing what they do to survive, but sometimes that runs in direct contrast to what we humans are doing.

This contrast becomes problematic when it’s time to get rid of pests and protect our own spaces. Lots of people turn to poisons, inhumane traps, and other harsh remedies. For many of us, though, killing and harming other animals isn’t a desirable option. We have to look for other ways.

With the right outlook and perhaps some patience, there are effective routes to take to help with unwanted run-ins with rodents and insects.

Mice in the House

There is no getting around the fact that mice tend to tear up things like insulation and boxes. Furthermore, they leave a trail of tiny feces and urine as they scurry about. In short, mice can be expensive guests in the house, and they can cause some health risks for co-habiting humans. So, what can we do?

• Plant mint around the perimeter – A common traditional method for preventing mice problems is to plant mint around the perimeter of the house, especially outside the kitchen door. Other aromas mice don’t like include cinnamon vinegar, black peppers, and cloves.
• Put steel wool in the holes – Mice can fit into incredibly tiny holes, so if you discover any, put steel wool in the holes. They can chew their way through it, so they’ll likely have to find a new route in. Hopefully, they won’t!
• Utilize plug-in repellents – There are humane, plug-in mice repellents that emit ultrasonic noise that drives mice away. The noise is imperceptible to us. These can work for some insects and other rodents as well.
• Humane live traps for rodents – In the instance that mice seem to be undeterred, there are very effective humane traps that let mice into a metal box but not back out. They need to be released at least three miles away from the house to prevent them from finding their way back.

Ants Everywhere

There are nearly 800 species of ants. Some of them are more or less harmless. Some will damage wood. Others will bite humans. Some just find their way into any and everything. It can be frustrating.

• Keep things super tidy – Generally, ants are scampering around in search of things to eat, so being diligent about cleaning up crumbs and sealing food packages can help with not attracting them in the first place.
• Try natural ant repellents – There are lots of natural ant repellents. Like mice, they aren’t fans of cinnamon, peppermint, and vinegar. Some other options are spraying a mixture of water and soap around the house, or putting dried citrus peels where they come into the house.
• Seal access holes – Of course, tiny ants can get into tiny holes, but they often aren’t very sneaky about it. If possible, follow the line of ants to see where they are entering and exiting. Seal the access hole with a bit of caulk or even super glue.

Garden Issues

The number are garden insects that one might encounter is staggering. The healthiest way to deal with them is to create a diverse ecosystem that fosters the problematic insects and beneficial insects, the ones that prey on the pests. Here are a few common culprits and some ideas for thwarting them.

• Water the aphids – Aphids get onto plants and suck sap from the leaves. They multiply like mad once they get going. A classic way to deal with them is simply to spray the plants’ leaves with the jet stream on the hose nozzle until they are gone.
• Spice up caterpillars & flea beetles – Sometimes seasoning our veggies with a bit of garlic and cayenne while they are still on the plant will prevent caterpillars and flea beetles from eating them. Soak some cayenne and garlic in water overnight and use it regularly.
• Distract slugs & snails – Knowing that slugs and snails like shady, moist places best make them easy to distract. Stick those discarded leaves from greens and so on under a board in the garden and periodically collect the slugs and snails from beneath it to move them elsewhere.
• Stink out burrowing animals – Burrowing animals tend to steer clear of certain smells underground. A good way to protect trees is to surround them with plants like garlic, daffodils, and horseradish.

Instead of using lethal and harsh methods on other animals, we can co-exist by using our powers of persuasion and dissuasion to keep our home and garden healthy and happy.

Related Content:

• 8 Ways to Help Pollinators
• How to Attract Pollinator Friends to Your Garden
• 8 Tips on Humanely Keeping Garden Pests at Bay
• 6 Simple and Humane Ways to Protect Your Veggies from Pests
• 13 Insects You Want to See in Your Garden

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