In tribute to Brothers Ciaran and Lothin's dilemma:
My apologies for stepping out of the period info.
[Webmaster's Note: Squirrel invasion]Critter control:
Skunks, rodents, bats, other creeping crawlers (Hmmm, all Hollows eve???)For the spider invasion, mealy bugs, moths, fleas etc.:
Diazinon works wonders, is extremely toxic when initially wet. It is made of organic materials that are user friendly when dry and only needs to be applied every few years. Mix to directions, place in sprayer (one set aside for insecticides) and blanket the area with mist. Wear protective clothing, masks, gloves, etc. and wash thoroughly when you're done. Even your shoes. Hot pepper powder scattered around the base of your house helps also.Bats:
Moth balls placed in your attic every spring (February) are a great deterrent. Some have tried electrical sound devices, with moderate success. Others have found that although we cannot vibrate it fast enough to hear the sound, it can affect household pets (cats,dogs) and may affect us too without our knowledge.Rodent/varmint control:
Bleach placed in old butter containers with holes punched in the tops of them so the odor can escape and the cats don't play in it..will keep skunks and other waddling, crawling critters away from your property. They need to be refreshed every few weeks.For the occasional blast from the skunks, Scope mouthwash is the best at breaking down the chemicals that cause the smell. Bathe you and your pet in it. Yes tomato products do help. Scope works better. Your own fly trap can be made from water and sugar and an old container (as in hummingbird food) you may add red food coloring, but the insects realy don't care ... they want the sweetness. Place a cup of water and a 1/4 cup of sugar in a container (like and old butter dish) let it sit...as the water evaporates, the sticky substance is hard for the fly guys to ignore ... they get stuck there. You may have to add a little water occasionally to keep it from completely drying out. This works well for hornets and other stinging wasps. When it fills up with stuck critters, throw it out ... start again.
Rebekah