It depends on the critter. For me, pretty much everything I get, I can handle myself. Mice, no problem...and living a block from extensive fields, I get mice.

Fortunately, the fox takes care of most of those.

Ants, no biggie. Boric acid works and is pretty non-toxic to the rest of us. And so on.

It's not impossible that I wouldn't end up with a problem requiring an exterminator, but so far, that hasn't happened.

Thank you morpheuspa! The neighbors had some pest control spray something and then we got this mice. Not sure if that's what prompted it. Is your lawn comfortable morphe? Like no bugs biting or mosquitoes?

I think it depends on the size of your yard. If you have a postage stamp size yard in the city, it may be cost effective to have the same company that handles your termite control take care of the yard.

We live on a 3/4 acre lot in a rural subdivision where all the lots are of similar size. The addition is surrounded by farm land.

I carry the little construction flags on the tractor and mark the fire ant mounds, We then go back and poison the mounds. It we get a concentration of ants in one area of the yard I spread a general insect poison. I also spread the general insect poison around the foundation of the house. I use about a 40 pound bag per year, plus the fire ant poison, which can vary.

As for mice, voles, rabbits, squirrels etc, we have foxes and hawks. The possum and birds are keeping the ticks under control. We promote birds and such, with a butterfly garden and bird feeders. There are probably raccoons and I suspect a bear or two, to supplement the program

The program keeps the pest under control.

Ralph, you must be be able to read and understand the label and follow the directions carefully. That's where many homeowners fail....even the professionals are guilty of skipping that important step.

Thanks krnuttle and rhizo! I dont have termite control. We moved to this home 4 years back and it is now a 12 year old home. I read that termite control is only needed if termites are present and if they do , once in 5 or 7 years. So why are people going for this termite treatment? I am all for protecting the home from termites and have friends who do it for their new homes. I would imagine a home built now has a sealant applied before they pour the concrete.

rhizo - Just a bit nervous as this is my first time about spraying something. Our's is a .2 acre lot and don't plan on spraying the lawns but atleast around the house and keep the pests from getting in. I am not skilled to get to the second floor with a ladder and check for any openings where the mice may have got in. I guess this is where having a pest-control company do it, will probably be worth it? The plan is to get a pest control person/pest control company seal any openings and then go the DIY route.

I do get mosquitoes and a few other minor biters, and of course there are tons of bees and other pollinators like butterflies and the (rare but common on this property) beefly and preying mantis (the latter are endangered in Pennsylvania). So I'm very careful with what I kill and how.

I'm not looking to repel every bug from the house, I live in the boonies and bugs are a fact of life. So are spiders, which eat the bugs.

I use plug-in repellers for rodents, which do seem to help and don't bother the dogs. So far, I'm mouse-free for the last few years.

Agreed, we have humming birds coming for the first time and want to be careful about that as well :).

Where I live, a termite company comes in and sprays every year. It is a lot cheaper to pay the exterminator once a year a small fee, than to pay big bucks to pay for all the damage they can do, before you know you even have them.

If termites have been and are a problem, I agree wholeheartedly. For me, and in my locale, they aren't (treated wood for the house, plus well north of the optimal termite freeze line, working on advice from my father and mother; mom was a builder, dad was an engineer and lumberman, a match made in Heaven).

For others in different locales with different build scenarios, ignoring things may be less of an option. :-)

"Honestly, I worry more about my children than about birds"

Yeah, birds cause less damage and I'm more likely to use a pesticide on the children. :-) I'll be here all week, tip your waitress and try the fish...

But yes, pesticides can harm both.

Helpful.