Florida Has Tons Of Wildlife That Can Serve As Natural Pest Control For Your Home
Here in Florida there are lots of animals that can be beneficial to home owners and gardeners when it comes to providing natural pest control against harmful insects and other pests. For example, did you know dogs can be trained to detect termites? While the local wildlife may not be able to substitute for a professional pest control plan, by attracting the right animals to your yard, you can seriously curb the presence of any destructive pests to your home.
What Types Of Animals Can Provide Natural Pest Control?
Below is a small list of highly effective natural pest control predators that you can have around the home to keep pest populations down.
Eastern Screech Owls And Birds
The eastern screech owl is the most common owl found in Florida and they are expert hunters of rodents. They can be extremely effective at keeping mice and rat populations down around your home. In addition to rodent control they have been known to hunt moles and insects as well. If you are interested in attracting screech owls to your home, consider installing a nesting box on your property.
Be sure to find ways to bring birds into your yard as well. Many songbirds and wild birds are very effective hunters against destructive insects like grasshoppers, slugs and snails to name a few. Be sure to place a bird feeder or two on your property to put these winged pest control experts to work for you.
Cats
Regardless of whether you're a dog person or a cat person, cats are excellent hunters and can keep any rodent problem under control. They are so good, in fact, the ancient Egyptians viewed cats as sacred that were capable of bringing good luck to those that provided homes for them. In addition to keeping rodents under control, they may hunt gophers, moles and other destructive animals. However, not every domestic cat will hunt rodents. If you are specifically looking for a hunting cat, consider these tips to find one for your home.
Bats
Bats truly do a bad rap. Many view them as blood suckers or destructive towards fruit trees, when that is much further from the actual truth. Over 70% of all bats consume insects. There are several different species of bat in Florida and almost all are effective natural pest control experts. The Brazilian free-tailed bat is the most common bat found in Florida and eats insects including beetles, moths, mosquitoes and others. A single bat can eat between 600 to 1,000 flying insects each hour! Some up to 5,000 bugs in a single night. That's effective pest control if we've ever seen it. They have also been known to eat tomato hornworms and grasshoppers too. Knowing they can keep mosquito populations down and can work to protect your garden, bats don't seem to so bad after all. If you want to attract bats to your home, consider purchasing a bat box for your yard. They are inexpensive and easy to install just about anywhere.
Frogs, Toads and Salamanders
Amphibians like toads and frogs can consume up to 100 insects in a night. If you have a garden, consider finding ways to attract these insect hunters. They are very effective at eating snails, slugs, caterpillars and insect larvae which can damage plants. However, frogs don't seem to discriminate and may end up eating beneficial insects as well, like lady bugs. It may be a small price to pay for helping to keep destructive insects under control. If you can attract salamanders to your yard, you'll have the added benefit of these hunters consuming ticks and mosquitoes. Inviting toads and frogs to your yard in Florida is pretty easy. You can ensure a healthy population by building some simple toad houses in your garden for them.
Ladybugs
We don't often think of ladybugs as predators, but they are beloved by gardeners everywhere, and lucky for us, there is an abundance of ladybugs in Florida. Their main source of food are aphids, which are known to destroy gardens and crops. One ladybug can eat as many as 5,000 aphids in its lifetime. They also eat mites, leafhoppers and other destructive insects. So, be sure to find ways to attract them to ensure a balanced garden ecosystem, which can include growing ladybug friendly plants and building ladybug houses.
Call Super D Pest Control To Supplement Your Natural Pest Control Methods
As we said earlier, supporting local wildlife while attracting animals that can provide effective pest control is a great way to keep harmful pests at bay and it can work in harmony with a professional pest control maintenance plan from Super D Pest Control. We have been providing effective pest control services that keep homeowners safe for years throughout the Tampa Bay communities. Use the contact form below or call us today at (727) 433-5310 to schedule a free consultation today.