Best pest control specialists near Ruthton, MN

DIY treatments exist, but professional extermination is recommended for thorough elimination and prevention.

You can find a variety of humane bird repellent sprays online and at home improvement stores. However, if you want to try a DIY method that will keep birds away without harming them, mix some water, dish soap, and a few drops of peppermint oil and spray the area you want bird-free. Peppermint oil is a notoriously lovely smell for humans, but birds tend to avoid it.

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.

While it may cost more to hire an exterminator than trying to treat the problem yourself, a professional is worth hiring if you have a major infestation. If the problem is severe and the ants are causing damage to your home, then DIY methods may not be as effective as a professional treatment. Plus, if you have carpenter or fire ants it’s best not to risk the damage they can cause to your home.