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You should not spray pesticides of any kind into your air vents. The spray won’t reach far into the vent, minimizing its effectiveness in killing roaches, but more importantly, it’s dangerous for people and pets to inhale these chemicals. Roach spray is not a natural roach repellent, and it’s not safe to spray into air vents.

Roaches have a strong sense of smell and are repelled by a variety of potent aromas. Scents that can help deter them include citrus (such as lemon and orange), herbs like peppermint, mint, basil, thyme, and oregano, spices like bay leaves, cinnamon, clove, and garlic, as well as lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, tea tree oil, and vinegar.

You can use these scents in several ways to create an unwelcoming environment for roaches:

• Plants: Place mint or lavender plants in your home or garden.

• Powders and Leaves: Sprinkle garlic powder or place crushed bay leaves and citrus peels in high-risk areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and entry points.

• Sprays: Create a diluted solution with scents like lemon or vinegar to spray in your home. These can also be used in cleaning products or as room fresheners.

• Essential Oils: While essential oils of these scents can be used, be cautious as they can be toxic to pets if inhaled.

It is important to note that while these smells can help keep roaches away, they typically do not kill them and may not be enough to drive out an existing infestation entirely. For best results, combine these scent-based deterrents with regular cleaning. Be sure to clean up all food spills, crumbs, and dirty dishes promptly, and keep trash cans covered with a tight-fitting lid to remove potential food sources.

You should never use toxic baits or poisons, such as rodenticides designed for mice and rats, to kill or trap possums. Using these toxicants is illegal in many areas and can lead to fines or other penalties. Furthermore, these poisons can cause unnecessary suffering for the animal and pose a significant risk of accidental poisoning to pets or other neighborhood wildlife. Instead of using poisons, it is best to stick with humane methods like live trapping.

Tree sap is not usually dangerous to humans or pets. But some trees do produce dangerous sap. Notably, ash, birch, cedar and similar saps can irritate the skin but aren’t dangerous. Sap from trees like the Brazilwood, Mahogany, Milky Mangrove or well-named Poison Walnut can be corrosive, cause nausea, or trigger those with asthma. But for most backyard trees, protective equipment like a sturdy pair of gloves should be fine.