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Heat is the most effective instant killer of bed bugs. Exposing them to temperatures above 131 degrees Fahrenheit for over an hour can eliminate them. Methods like steam cleaners and using a dryer on high heat are effective for this. Other options that can kill bed bugs on contact include EPA-approved pesticides, bleach, disinfectant sprays with alcohol, diatomaceous earth, and hydrogen peroxide. While freezing can work, it is not an instant solution, as it can take several days at 0 degrees Fahrenheit to be effective. Keep in mind that many DIY treatments won't reach bed bugs hidden in cracks or behind walls. For severe infestations or the most effective results, it is best to hire a professional exterminator for a professional heat or chemical treatment.

A wasp is less likely to sting you if you remain still and calm when it lands on your or flies around you. Most wasps only sting when they feel threatened or disturbed, which is how they may interpret rapid movement or swatting. This is why it’s best to suppress movement and wait for the wasp to fly away.

Although raccoons aren’t particularly picky regarding food, certain sounds, metals, and smells bother them. You can place these items around your home to keep raccoons away:

• Place wire mesh screens around and underneath decks and porches to prevent raccoons from nesting. 

• Put metal sheeting around the edges of your roof or at the base of trees to deter raccoons from coming close. 

• Place a loud battery-operated radio near the raccoon’s den to keep them from nesting.

• Keep a bowl of cider vinegar on your deck or porch.

• Remove old raccoon scents by thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting underneath porches and decks.

Yes, wolves are generally afraid of humans, as well as most large carnivores, such as bears. The risk of a wolf attacking a human or killing them is very low. Biologists hypothesize that this fear was instilled over centuries of humans hunting wolves and the fact that humans have an upright posture like bears that wolves are also afraid of. Like all wildlife, it’s best not to feed wolves and keep them at a distance from yourself and your home.