Pest Control: 7 Animals That Can Help as Natural Pest Deterrents

Are you dealing with a pest problem? Looking for a natural solution without chemical use? Here are seven animals that can aid in natural pest control.

Dealing with pests can be quite a hassle as they can ruin your garden and all the crops or flowers you have planted. For every gardener, taking care of pests means a lot of time and effort, and the use of chemicals can be expensive and possibly harmful to the plants.

Have you ever considered getting some animal friends to help with this issue? You’ll find seven animals that can aid in natural pest control listed below. That’s right; some animals can serve as natural pest deterrents.

1. Snake and Lizards

One of the most effective animals in dealing with pests is the snake. Most snakes do not contain venom and are quite harmless to humans. The garter snake is known for hunting slugs, snails, and grasshoppers. Rodents are common prey for them.

If you are still against snakes, you can bring in lizards for the job. These reptiles also feast on beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and slugs, snails, and roaches. Most lizards are also safe for humans as most of them are not venomous.

You should, however, feed them high-quality food so that they stay healthy. You can visit https://www.topflightdubia.com/ to find the best meals for your pets, especially if you have exotic pets.

2. Cats

Did you know that your domestic furry friends are animals that can aid natural pest control? Cats are a ferocious bunch when it comes to hunting. It is very common for cats to feed on rats, mice, and gophers. This makes them ideal for getting rid of rodents that might infest your garden. Not all cats will run after these rodents, so you should see if your breed is interested first.

Feral cats or barn cats are well capable of assisting you with your pest problems. Hence, you should give them a shot and see if the problem is dealt with.

3. Different Birds

Birds are natural predators that feast on pests and can prove to be beneficiary for your garden. They are experts in exterminating rodents, moles, gophers, flying insects, and other pest birds that can also ruin your garden. One well-known animal that can aid in natural pest control is the barn owl.

In addition to barn owls, songbirds, and wild birds are good for keeping your garden pest-free. Insects such as grasshoppers, webworms, slugs, snails, and various moths are common prey for these birds.

4. Frogs and Toads

Frogs are hunters of the night that devour up to a hundred insects every night. They have no preferences, so most pests such as beetles and caterpillars will be taken care of. However, some helpful insects, such as ladybugs are also their prey.

Toads are also closely related to frogs and are just as effective at keeping pests out of your crops and flowers. Another amphibian is the salamander which also hunts down insects that frogs and toads are known to eat. Salamanders can also get rid of mosquitos and ticks as well.

These amphibians thrive in the rain, which is a great plus point. This is because different weather affects the rate of pest infestation, and rain is well known to bring out different bugs.

5. The LadyBugs

Every gardener hates most bugs that infest their garden. The ladybug is one exception as they eat aphids, a serious threat to crops. Mites, scale insects, and leafhoppers are all terrified of ladybugs as well. A single ladybug can eat up to five thousand aphids during its lifetime. While too many ladybugs can cause a pest problem, they are usually looked at positively as they support the garden’s ecosystem.

6. Dogs

Dogs are known as a man’s best friends as they are loyal and will do anything to help their owners. They are known for their acute smelling and hearing, so there are so many different uses for dogs. If you take a dog for training, they will become expert bug detectors.

Dogs can sniff out bedbugs and termites with the right training programs. Many pest termination companies also use trained dogs for inspection to quickly detect hidden insects. Even a single bedbug can reproduce and cause a recurring infestation.

Hence, a dog that can sniff each and every one of them out is very helpful for gardeners. This is a very cost-effective way of dealing with pests as a lot of us are already familiar with dogs and how to take care of them.

7. Different Insects

Apart from ladybugs, other insects can aid in making your garden a much healthier place for your plants. At first, we have the ants, known as farmers themselves. Ants can fend off harmful insects and aerate the soil for you.

Siders can be scary, but they are also known for patrolling around to catch insects. Siders have effective methods of catching pests thanks to their ability to produce webs. Other spiders hide flowers and plants to ambush their prey.

Lastly, the dragonflies are expert hunters that travel through the air at high speeds. This makes catching other flying insects such as mosquitoes, gnats, and midges. They keep your crops safe, but they also allow you to enjoy your outdoor space as no flying insects will be bothering you anymore.

In Conclusion

Animals that can aid in natural pest control can take care of all the bugs and pests in an infested garden and serve as a natural remedy against the pest problem that gardeners can face. This saves you a lot of money while keeping expensive, manufactured chemicals away from the garden that can also cause some damage.

We hope that this article has taught you how garden animals are beneficial and contribute to a healthier garden overall.

FAQs

What are the three natural predators for pest control?

Microbes, parasitoids, and predators are the three natural predators used for pest control. Birds, spiders, and ants are all part of this group.

How Can You Control Pests Naturally?

Pests can be controlled with the help of different predators, pathogens, and parasitoids as well.

What insects are Harmful to Gardens?

Cockroaches, termites, bedbugs, lice, and ticks are just a few of the insects that are harmful to your garden.