Showing posts with label Rodent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rodent. Show all posts

23 May 2009

Solutions for Yard Moles

Close-up of moleImage via Wikipedia

by Nathan W. Naquetta

When walking in your yard, have you ever stepped on a piece of grass and felt your feet sink down a little? This is not because it was wet or muddy, but because the ground isn't as solid as it should be. You might also see little hills or mounds dotted around your yard, tunnels openings to the underground. Before you get paranoid and think that this is the work of some elaborate plan to destroy your yard, stop and breathe. Whatever is happening, it needs to be dealt with, because with the mounds there may be spots of browning grass appearing all over the place that like the grass is dying. While we know, it looks just horrible, know too that this might be the work of gophers or moles.

They are annoying, the little vermin, and they can totally take over your yard if you ignore them. Don't beat yourself up too much, because it really doesn't have anything to do with the way you take care of your lawn. Moles and gophers can move into anybody's yard, and once they're there, you have to do something about it. Rest assured, you are not alone in this fight. There are hundreds of millions of yards out there that have been affected by these small, furry rodents. Every day, they set out to damage your yard, and left to their own devices, they can destroy your lawn more than you probably ever thought possible. At other times, you might barely notice that they are there, because there's neither rhyme nor reason as to why they move in and what they do. Your lawn, once under attack can die quickly, and while that may be distressing, it's not incurable.

Some irate homeowners, fed with having the little critters, have gone to extreme measures to try and get rid of them. These attempts have only seen mixed results, and in fact, the solutions can end up costing more cash and waste time to boot.

There are poison peanuts, sprays, granules that you spread over the yard, and many other devices. "Poison peanuts" are a great idea, but how can you be sure that the little varmint will eat it? He has to eat the poison in order for it to work. Another recent device uses sound to get rid of the pests. You put batteries in it and dig it down into the ground. It then emanates a high pitched vibration that supposedly gets rid of the critters. While it may work for awhile, what happens when the batteries run out? You have to dig it back up and refill it, then put it back in the ground. How convenient is that?

Some really angry homeowners have even taken to more drastic measures like pumping car exhaust into the holes. This might work and it might not. However, it is very dangerous anytime you're dealing with toxic fumes. Some other angry yard owners have even resorted to flooding the holes with a garden hose. It might get rid of the creatures temporarily, but this is not a permanent fix. Does it get rid of the pests when it rains a lot? Of course not. So why would pumping water in the holes be any different?

In all honesty, there is a better more effective way to get rid of gophers and moles. It is through the use of mole traps or gopher traps with the exact knowledge to use them properly. It is highly suggested that you look into an instructional program such as "Ultimate Mole Control" which shows you how to get rid of your underground house pests for good. You might want to consider checking them out so that you can get your plush green grass back in your yard.

About the Author:
Nathan W. Naquetta is a well known public speaker and author in the area of mole pest control and recommends "Ultimate Mole Control" to learn how to properly use a mole trap


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28 April 2009

Three Fresh Ideas For Homemade Hamster Toys

hamster eyesImage by onlinewoman via Flickr

by Bert Gaton

Hamster toys provide a ton of different benefits for your pet. You can buy a variety of different toys that allow hamsters the opportunity to play and exercise at the same time. The most common types of toys for hamsters are of the running variety. There are also lots of toys available that encourage hamsters to climb and dig.

What if buying hamster toys isn't an option though? Maybe you don't have enough money or just can't be bothered to make your way to the pet store. Have no fear. There are quite a few really neat hamster toys that you can put together yourself. Here are few basic ideas.

A common cardboard roll can make for a great hamster toy. If you have a little hamster, you probably want to use a cardboard tube from a toilet paper roll. For chubbier rodents, go with the tube from a paper towel roll. My hamster adores these rolls. Just place it in his cage and watch him rip through his own personal tunnel. For added excitement, you could even combine multiple tubes into an obstacle course of sorts

Another great hamster toy that can be made for cheap is a simple box. All you need to do is take an empty Kleenex box and put it in your pet's cage. Make sure you remove any plastic from the box before doing so. This way your hamster won't eat anything that he's not supposed to. Rodent's love to hide and the Kleenex box allows him to do this. For real creative individuals, you can even take this toy a step further by connecting a few boxes with cardboard tubes. Make your little buddy a hamster castle!

The third hamster toy that I want to talk about is a little bit more difficult to make. It's basically a hamster maze created out of cardboard. In order to make this maze you need an empty flat of soda and some scrap cardboard. Take the empty flat and cut your hamster an entrance and an exit to the maze. Now cut the cardboard scraps into long strips that will eventually become the walls of the maze. Simply glue the strips into the flat, arranging the maze as you see fit. Place your little pet near the entrance to the maze and watch him go!

Making hamster toys at home isn't that difficult. With a bit of cardboard and a lot of creativity, you too can put together some pretty neat toys for your pet. You'll save money and have fun at the same time.

About the Author:
Do you want to learn more regarding Using Hamster Toys To Keep Your Pet Healthy? Please read Bert Gaton's interesting piece on hamster toys

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