Weird Attempts at DIY Pest Control

Weird Attempts at DIY Pest Control

DIY Pest Control

Some minor issues can of course be handled with simple DIY tactics, but more often than not, this is not the case. The frustration, and even fear, that pests can cause often urges homeowners to try taking things into their own hands for quick results… but this often ends in unresearched, scrambled together attempts that don’t necessarily work, and can seem rather odd. At Pointe Pest Control, we feel like we’ve seen it all – every odd attempt, every DIY failure, and every new bizarre idea… but even we weren’t prepared for some of the outlandish DIY pest control attempts in this list: **Pointe Pest Control does not recommend nor support any of the following DIY tactics. Some entries on this list are relatively harmless, while other are highly dangerous and could lead to severe injury if attempted. Please do not attempt these at home.**

Something is Fishy…

These DIY’ers decided that they would add fishponds to their backyards in order to reduce backyard pests. The theory behind this DIY tactic certainly makes some sense, both fish and frogs do consume some bugs, but it is a matter of weighing the positives and negatives. Building and maintaining a fishpond is no small feat and can cause its own multitude of headaches. Furthermore, the presence of a source of water (particularly standing water) can actually attract many different types of pests including mosquitos, rodents, ants, and more. So, while they may eat some bugs, the maintenance that’s required paired with the fact that it can potentially attract even more pests, makes the fishpond DIY a counterproductive tactic.

Ice, Ice Baby… Dry, Ice Baby

Not all species of wasps and bees make hives in trees and up high. For example, yellow jackets very often make their nests in holes in the ground, and in one case, a homeowner tried to handle such a nest on his own with the help of several pounds of dry ice. Placing the ice at the hole of the nest, his aim was to attempt to kill the yellow jackets by suffocating them with the CO2. Unfortunately, this direct intervention DIY method led to the man getting stung several times just within the first few minutes. Also, after waiting a significant amount of time, the colony was still rather alive. While some members lay dead on the ground, many of the yellowjackets had escaped and were extremely aggressive, stinging anyone nearby. So, in the end, the homeowner got injured, the nest remained, and he had gone through the headache of buying and dealing with dry ice all for this pest-control failure.

Do the Electric Swat

Bug swatters have been around for over 100 years, but electric bugs swatters are a newer pest control innovation. However, this does not mean that they are any more effective. In fact, they are roughly as effective as the original bug swatter with an added potential for injury. But even with its limited effectivity aside, no one really wants to be sitting around waiting to swat at bugs as they come by.

Turn Up the Heat

While this may sound like a far-fetched tale, homeowners have actually attempted these crazy ideas. From pouring gasoline onto nests and setting them on fire, to using small versions of flame throwers, some pyromaniacs have taken pest-control to an extremely dangerous level. These tactics can contaminate the ground and water, kill plants, create a standing fire hazard, and potentially lead to severe injuries or even death. **Such flammable pest control attempts should not be attempted!**

Ready… Aim… Fire… Swarm!

Thanks to YouTube and shows that promote dangerous activities for entertainment, many people have engaged in this particularly dangerous encounter with stinging pests. Armed with some kind of firearm, the eager DIY’er aims and shoots at a hanging nest of Hymenoptera (wasps, hornets, bees, etc.). Without fail, within a mere few seconds a swarm of particularly furious stingers form around the nest, lashing out at anyone nearby. While the reckless use of a firearm in such a capacity is dangerous enough, the severity of the situation is heightened by the fact that such tactics do not end the colony, but instead stir it into a frenzy. Even if the shot takes the nest to the ground, it is highly likely that the Hymenoptera will rebuild within the same area, making this both a highly dangerous and ineffective DIY pest control attempt.

Safe Reliable Pest Control

Keeping pests at bay can be a matter of your safety and security, which is too important to gamble with a variety of DIY attempts… especially if the DIY attempts are potentially dangerous themselves. Even simple store-bought products can be dangerously toxic and are rarely as effective as professional intervention. If pests are bugging you, we’ve got your back. At Pointe Pest Control, we offer safe, effective, and rapid results so that you can live a pest-free life. Don’t put yourself or your family at risk – call professional help today!