Spring Break 2013: Pest Control

This time of year is really exciting for a lot of kids throughout neighborhoods nationwide – spring break is here! For some families, this break may already be underway but for many school districts, the week following Easter will be a great opportunity for kids to get out of the classroom and play outdoors. With changes to the daily routine inevitable as kids play around the house instead of hop on the school bus in the morning or families pack up for vacations, we wanted to remind you of two big pest situations you should look out for!

When kids eat their lunches at home, make sure to not attract Carpenter ants or common ants. Will your kids be eating peanut butter and jelly at the kitchen table or on the bench outside? Will they rummage through the cupboards looking for snacks throughout the day? Droppings of crumbs and forgotten garbage can quickly attract large groups of ants, who have a chemical sensory that will direct them to your left-behind nourishment.

When you travel, watch out for bed bugs – and don’t bring them home! Spring break is a great opportunity for families to travel together, especially if they’ve lived in a cold climate during the winter and are ready to get away. Unfortunately, when travelers spread throughout the country, so do bed bugs. Places to stay such as hotels, motels, B&Bs and other residences are often victims of bed bug outbreaks initiated when a guest unknowingly carries the pests on the property. When you get to your spring break residence, thoroughly exam your room for any signs of bed bugs. Look under the sheets, under the mattress and under the bed as well as in and around any chairs for bed bugs, which can look like small apple seeds.

If your kids are restless this spring break as you try to do some housework, make a game out of spring cleaning – and get some good pest prevention taken care of, too! Whether it’s raking up leaves uncovered after the snow has finally melted away, or cleaning out closets and uncovering pest nests, get your kids involved in the work around the house. There are plenty of ideas online when you search “fun ways to get your kids to clean” – check out these ideas from Inner Child Fun!

Have a fun, safe spring break!