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When it comes to keeping birds from doing their business on your porch rails, you have several DIY options and home remedies you can try: 

• Tie a fishing line from one end of the deck post to the other. Birds won’t be able to see the line across the railing, so they can’t land on it.  

• Hang wind chimes close by, which may scare birds away. 

• Apply a bird gel repellent to the railings, which contains smells that birds generally don’t like. Or, similarly, you can apply citronella or lemon oil around the railings, since birds don’t like strong smells.

Termites are very hard to remove, especially if you don’t work with a professional pest control service or keep up with routine treatments. Queen termites can lay up to thousands of eggs per day, meaning these pests can spread quickly. You may need to combine DIY treatments and professional extermination services to get rid of a termite infestation.

Grass spiders, also known as funnel-web spiders, are the culprits here, building small webs directly into the grass to catch any insects that have the misfortune of crawling too close. They are often confused with wolf spiders, as the two species look nearly identical, but grass spiders are actually great helpers in maintaining your lawn.

Several skin conditions and insect bites can be mistaken for a tick bite, including mosquito bites, spider bites, chigger bites, and even allergic reactions. Tick bites often start as small red bumps, which may develop into a bullseye-shaped rash if Lyme disease is transmitted. However, similar-looking rashes can result from conditions like eczema, ringworm, or hives. Without a visible tick, it can be hard to confirm the source, so it’s best to monitor the area for changes and consult a doctor if symptoms like fever, fatigue, or worsening redness occur.