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One of the most obvious forms of cruelty free pest control is using repellents. Any repellent that does not harm the insect or animal is “cruelty free.” There are many different types of natural repellents you can choose from. For example, offensive smells and tastes can be sprayed in areas that you have a pest problem. Rotten eggs and pepper are commonly used in gardens to responsibly repel rabbits, squirrels, groundhogs and other garden vermin. When animals encounter these smells, they stay away, but they are not harmed either temporarily or permanently.

Citronella oil is a common insect repellent that has no harmful effects on insects. Citronella is often found in candle form, and when the candle burns, the citronella smell releases into the air. Flying insects such as mosquitoes are repulsed by the smell and stay away. These candles don’t provide the largest range of protection, usually only about 10 to 20 feet radius, but several candles strategically placed can cover a large distance.

DEET is the chemical found in most common insect repellents for the skin. These products are particularly effective against biting insects like mosquitoes and ticks. While DEET can be used as a pesticide, it does not kill insects when used in the insect repellent form. Instead, it simply blinds the senses and dulls the instinct of insects so they are not compelled to bite humans or animals.

Controlling insect infestation on your pets is very important because ticks, fleas and mosquitoes can carry harmful diseases that can be fatal for your pet. While some insect repellents for pets actually kill the insect, there are others that just repel them. Choosing one of these more natural alternatives is a way to stay cruelty free and also protect the health of your pet.

You can create natural barriers around your home to prevent pests from entering. It’s important to know what type of pest you are targeting, however, because not all pests are repelled by the same thing. If you have a problem with ants, for example, planting spearmint, peppermint and pennyroyal around the periphery of your home can provide a barrier. Mint and basil are natural repellent for flies. There are also some natural sprays you can use that employ these and other natural repellents, but they can be easier to implement. Natural sprays are also easy on the environment and biodegradable.

Traps are another form of cruelty free pest control. When you think of rodent traps, you often think of the traditional spring-loaded mouse trap that smashes and kills the unfortunate mouse that is lured into it. These are not the only type of trap on the market, however. Humane mouse and rodent traps lure rodents to the trap, but instead of killing them, it locks them inside a chamber they cannot escape from. You are then free to release the rodent into the wild unharmed. These traps can be used for mice, rats, squirrels and any other unwanted animal intruders. Besides being humane, these traps have the added benefit of not requiring you to handle the dead carcass of an animal.

Electronic pest control devices are another form of cruelty free pest control. While the efficacy of many of these products is up for debate, the principles behind many of them are cruelty free. Some electronic pest control devices use ultrasonic sounds to drive out pests. The pests are not harmed by the sounds, just irritated by them. Other electronic pest control devices use electromagnetic waves to create an unfriendly environment for pests to live in. This in intended to make pests want to find another place to live and leave willingly. None of these devices cause any lasting harm to animals in any way.