From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-05-09 17:30:01 UTC
Subject: RE: ants and other pests
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3234751.1115659801680.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
When we have been able to find out where the insects are coming in we've found that some won't cross a scent line of lemon essential oils or peppermint essential oils. Years ago we had a strong problem with the tiniest stages of "fungus beetles" who came up from the mulch and then went right through screen and the tiny cracks between windows. Putting lemon oil and peppermint oil (available from an herb seller and from a health foods store here) has completely ended their entrance in our home and hense the ferret's food dishes since they turned out to like grains.
In our home ants usually come up along the pipes in the sink cabinets. That is where we place baits and we lock the cabinets and put lemon and peppermint oils along the edges inside-- ants in and ferrets out.
Sometimes little ants come in along two doors, so we use the oils there on the outside.
We repeat the oils often.
So far we have used this approach for years with nothing negative occurring.