Don't Let Mosquitoes Ruin Your Outdoor Fun!

in Country Garden

I understand that bugs are essential to the eco-system, but do we truly need this many? In the country, and of course depending on where you live, bugs that bite and sting both people and farm animals are getting to be a serious problem!

We've got West Nile Virus to deal with but even without that worry, mosquitoes, black flies, horse and deer flies can really take the family fun out of warmer weather.

Mosquito Control - West Nile

With the West Nile scare every summer here in Ontario, everyone is out to get the lowly mosquito by any means necessary. According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 9,100 documented human cases of West Nile virus were reported in the United States in 2003 and 228 people died.

People are helplessly buying up expensive propane vacuums (and places like The Home Depot are making a killing off us), that do little good to get rid of the problem and quite likely damage the delicate balance of nature in the process! Think about it, who's getting richer and who's still getting bit?

Let's be both nature-minded, conscientious and smart about controlling those nasty bugs!

You see, Mother Nature created her own 'vacuum' that deals with all kinds of pesky bugs, not just mosquito control. You can effortlessly relieve your property of an over abundance of bugs for under $50.

Mother Nature's #1 Secret Weapon against Mosquitoes? Bats.

Now don't get all queasy on me...bats are great to have around. If you can let your superstitions sit on the back shelf for a moment and listen to the facts I might just be able to convince you of their worth...

FACT: One small bat can consume 500 insects in one hour!
FACT: In an average feeding evening, one bat will eat 6,000 bugs.
FACT: All you need to do to attract a bat is correctly install a well constructed bat house. (If you need tips on installation, email me with your area's average high temperatures in July and I'll reply with best bat house installation tips).

So tell me, would you like to keep helping The Home Depot to get rich by spending $300-900 on a propane vacuum that tips the environmental balance or would you be happier to use the tool that nature intended and attract a bat to your property for under $50?

Of course you don't have to spend the money - you can build your own bat house. But do your research first. A bat house must meet specific criteria in order to attract bats. The interior must be notched, for instance, spaces above, below and between should be accurate, and daily temperature as well as ventilation should also be considered.

I found out the hard way, because before bat houses became easily available to order, I had a few built for our acreage. (In northern Ontario the bugs are ferocious!) The labor and materials costs were three times what I would have paid if I'd just waited a year!

However, since that time I have found a few great order sources for you if you are planning on adding a bat house. Dependant on your location and when you're reading this, a bat might not move in until spring but there's nothing wrong with installing early before the bats migrate so they know where to take up residence next year.

See how nice a home for an animal that gets rid of your mosquito problem and controls the situation affordably, really can be.