Book On Insect And Animal Pests

Book on insect and animal pests FARM HOME Miscellaneous 16-6-32 I recently came out with a second edition of my book which contains many of my ideas for getting rid of unwanted insect and animal pests around the home or farm. The book sells for $12 (postpaid). Readers can also write or call me with their problems (if I'm not there, I'll call back collect). Here are some of the latest new ideas I've come up with: To kill groundhogs, first plug up one of their two holes with dirt and then roll up a bunch of newspaper into a volleyball-size ball and pour gasoline all over it. Then put the ball of paper in the ground hog hole and seal it up tight. The fumes will kill it. To get rid of ants, mix up equal parts of 20 Mule Team Borax and powdered sugar and spread it around. The sugar attracts the ants and the Borax finishes them off. Works great and is harmless to the grass or other animals. To get rid of roaches, mix 20 Mule Team Borax with coconut flakes and sprinkle it around. Another good roach killer is a mix of one cup of flour, one small onion chopped, 16 oz. of boric acid powder, and 1/4 cup of oil. Add just enough water to form a stiff dough and shape into balls the size of marbles. Place the balls wherever roaches hide or travel and it'll kill them. To catch rats and mice, first boil your traps to eliminate body odor. Then mix up a bait of 1 tsp. peanut butter, 1 tsp strawberry jelly, and 2 drops of cooking anise. This mix has an unusual odor that attracts mice. Just put a dab on the paddle of each trap. To kill mice outside, mix equal parts of Portland cement and flour (both dry - no sand or gravel) and spread it out on a tray. Rats and mice will consume this mixture and plug up in 3 hrs. and die. You can also "plug up" rodents by putting out instant mashed potato flakes next to a small jar lid of water. To catch a skunk, use a long pipe with a cable or wire threaded through it to create a snare. Slip the loop over the skunk's head and quickly lift it off the ground. A skunk cannot spray with his hind legs off the ground. To catch squirrels, put a bucket in the ground and fill it halfway with water. Float a few peanuts on the surface of the water. The squirrel will jump into the bucket to get the food and will not be able to escape. To catch chipmunks, which chew insulation off wires, use a piece of PVC pipe about 20 in. long. Put a piece of screen over the bottom of the pipe using a clamp or piece of wire. Make peanut butter ball about the size of a golf ball and roll it down inside the pipe. Tie the pipe to a tree so the bottom is off the ground about 2 in. The chipmunk will go down into the pipe and will not be able to get out. This idea also works on rats and mice. Here's two fishing ideas. Make holes in the center of Alka-Seltzer tablets and put them on the hook with your bait. The sizzling will attract a lot of attention and when you catch a fish it will already be de-gassed! To make a simple heater for ice fishing (for use only out in the open, not in a fish house), punch afew holes in the side of a5 gal. metal bucket and fill it with dry sand and about a gallon of kerosene. Mix well and then throw a lighted match on the surface. The sand will catch fire with a nice blue flame. To get rid of bees or wasps bothering you in a picnic area, coat the bottom of a pie pan with honey. They'll go for the honey and get stuck in it. You can also put a little orange juice in pie pans. It'll ferment in the sun and the bees will drink the juice and drown. (Harold E. Bailey, "The Friendly Trap-per", 3014 Middletown Road, Columbiana, Ohio 44408 (ph 216 549-2010)

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