Safe Pest Control for Children

On Thursday, January 24, Catseye Pest Control had the great opportunity of being a sponsor for Parentology’s Parent of the Year Awards Dinner at the Mohawk River Country Club & Chateau in Rexford, NY. It was a terrific evening out as 20 awards were given to honor Capital Region parents.

When it comes to pest control and parenting, our technicians are frequently asked questions by parents who want to make sure they are not exposing their children to any dangerous pest control methods. Here are a few questions we hear quite often, answered by our expert, Luis Pabon:

Pesticides are dangerous, aren’t they? Should I allow them to be used in or around my house if I have small children?

They can be if misapplied, however, pest management professionals are not as eager to use them as many people have been led to believe. There are many techniques available that can be used with little to no pesticide use.

I have rodents and mice, but I don’t know the safest way to get rid of them since I have young children. What do you suggest?

The most effective way of addressing the problem is by excluding them from your home. When the access points have been sealed, the situation has been solved without the use of a rodenticide. This along with a trapping program as well as with well-placed bait stations in areas inaccessible by children and pets has proven both effective and safe.

Do you choose different pest control methods for people with kids? Are they as effective as the methods you’d use for people who don’t have kids?

When addressing any pest issue, we take a holistic approach. The key to any pest management program consists of pest identification, sanitation, harborage elimination and pest proofing. The success of the proposed solution will largely depend on whether each of the key elements mentioned are addressed. When faced with special situations the focus is always on environment modification rather than looking for some chemical as the solution to the matter. Therefore, our methods are the same since our desire is to provide the most environmentally sound pest management available.

My child plays in our backyard whenever it is warm out. What can I do to protect them from bites?

The use of insect repellents has been effective but the most effective way is to make sure that you remove any potential breeding sites for stinging insects such as mosquitoes, ticks and bees. This takes us back to what I stated earlier – environment modification is key. Making sure that stagnant water is removed to prevent breeding of mosquitoes, and place flowering plants away from areas children will be using when outdoors.

My child loves our dog, but I’m worried about the pests our dog may bring inside. What can I do to limit pest risks so my child can play safely with our pets?

Make sure the dog has a collar that prevents ticks or fleas from attacking him. Inspect the pet regularly to assure it has not been invaded by these unwanted blood suckers. Maintaining the lawn is also the key to an effective tick program. This would also include those areas along the periphery of the property. Discouraging the hosts (deer and mice) of the tick from coming onto your property is also important factor in controlling their numbers. Following these procedures, coupled with a pest management program, will keep these blood-sucking disease carriers at bay.

We hope with these expert pest control tips, you are able to begin managing your pest situations most effectively with less worry about the health and safety of your children. Should you have more questions or wish to speak to a pest control technician about the best pest control solution for your specific issue, contact Catseye today online or by calling 1-888-260-3980.