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Using chemicals with harsh odors is a natural way to repel bears. While the animal’s strong sense of smell is an asset in the animal kingdom, it’s a weakness here. Simply place bleach or ammonia in a bucket and leave it outside day or night. Ironically, bears also dislike the smell of pine, so you can use pine oil or a pine-based cleaning agent. Avoid using cleaning products with fruit or citrus smells, however.

Some natural applications are known to make bed bugs unhappy, like peppermint and tea tree oil. But bed bugs are tenacious and as long as there are sleeping humans around to feed on, they’ll stick around. It’s best to destroy them outright by using heat, steam, or fumigation methods.

To determine if you have a rat or mouse infestation, look for several key differences. The most obvious is the size of the rodent: rats are significantly larger with thicker bodies, while mice are much smaller and more slender. You can also identify them by their droppings; rat droppings are larger and rounder, about the size of a raisin, while mouse droppings are smaller, like a grain of rice, and often have pointed ends. Other signs include the sounds they make, as rats produce louder scratching and gnawing noises due to their size. Behaviorally, rats tend to be more cautious, whereas mice are more curious and might be seen more often. Additionally, rat nests are typically larger than those of mice. If you are unable to see the pest or find clear evidence, a professional inspection can provide a definitive identification.

It’s very rare that home insurance covers an exterminator. Pest problems aren’t covered under standard home insurance. They’re typically considered ongoing events that could have been prevented, which makes them ineligible. Some insurance companies will specifically ban termite and rodent services because costs can be high. However, a sudden and unstoppable infestation, especially one that resulted because of a sudden event like storm, may be covered. Call your insurance company and ask about the details if you aren’t sure.