This started out as a reply, but...

[noahgibbs]

I thought I should post it here too. Lucky you :-)

Oof, termites. We live in a notoriously termite-prone area of Fremont. We've been lucky (ish?) because our specific house is so overrun with ants that they eat all the termites. No sign of termites in our house at all!

And we have spiders, to keep the ants from overpopulating. And we're feeding a lot of birds lately, to cut down on spiders. We already *have* neighborhood cats to keep the birds in line. Plus roses and blackberries to put thorns in the food plants to keep the cats back. And a possum family that loves our yard to chase off any excess of cats. Now, what eats possums?

Comments

[beachglass]

greetings! we have a similar situation down here in the gates of hell(florida)where I reside! spiders, ants(at least 5 different exotic breeds), lizards, geckos, feral cats, ravenous rabid raccoons...the list goes on. distilled white vinegar sprayed generously is a great remedy for most of the bugs and some of the wild mammals. just be careful where you spray because some of the plant life doesn't enjoy it so much either. vinegar is great because it's non toxic and so friggin cheap. and it makes a nice cool drink on a hot summer day.

-angelique

[noahgibbs]

Ah! Vinegar is an excellent suggestion - if the birds wind up depopulating the ladybugs much, we'll need it for the aphids :-)

indeed

[beachglass]

we had purchased a factory made toxic spray that is supposed to "ward off" wild animals and such and it failed miserably. probably damaged our ecosystem as well. the vinegar is a better choice. and best of luck to ya!

[rightkindofme.livejournal.com]

Cars. Cars eat possums.

I don't think the possum population is so high we need to worry about thinning it out...

[dangerpudding.livejournal.com]

have the kids come up with the wonderland version of the old lady who swallowed a fly?

[rightkindofme.livejournal.com]

We have a couple of versions, including one where (s)he (Right now I seem to remember that it might be a man?) swallowed a coyote and other desert animals.