Backyard Bug Control

[nick name]

Hello LTT!  Just got a new puppy so I am much more sensitive to what I am using to control the mosquitoes in the yard.  I was using Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray and I was happy with it.  And I actually used it again right after we got the puppy, but I was terrified about letting him in the backyard because it's heavily shaded and I didn't know when everything would be dry enough for it to be safe for him.  He is teething and is a puppy so he is putting his mouth on everything he finds in the grass.  Including the grass.  And being a small breed he is at eye level for everything basically.  Well luckily I worried a little bit less because it rained almost immediately after I sprayed the Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray and then it rained some more the next day.  So I felt safer that it all was basically washed away.  To make certain I licked a bunch of grass.  However, now the mosquitoes are back in full force.  I am talking more than three per ankle when you're standing still.  

 

So backstory done -- does anyone have recommendations for backyard bug control in a densely shaded yard with a mix of grass and bare dirt (due to the shade) that will be safe for a 3 lb puppy?  I would die if something happened to him because I didn't want to get bit by mosquitoes.  I also worry about the bugs getting in his coat and bugging him too.  

[Guest]

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[nick name]

7 hours ago, Oso Sin Nombre said:

And you're sure that's safe for small puppies?  Because Amazon has it with free 1-day delivery and it's on sale.  

[Velcade]

He's a cutie.

 

I'd recommend a bat house.  

 

[Velcade]

1 minute ago, comander said:

Yeah but when you need to get rid of the bats

No reason to get rid of the bats.  They keep to themselves

 

[Velcade]

@comander  Maybe animals don't exist in Silicon Valley but all I suggested was building a bat house.  Bats will only come around if they're already in the environment. Certainly introducing an invasive spices to a new habit is ill-advised.

[nick name]

13 minutes ago, Velcade said:

He's a cutie.

 

I'd recommend a bat house.  

 

 

7 minutes ago, comander said:

Yeah but when you need to get rid of the bats, you'll have to get falcons. Then when you need to get rid of falcons, then what?

Oof.  I don't know if I want to introduce something that would lure in birds of prey.  My pup is never going to be a big dog and the last thing I want is to see some massive bird come snatch him up.  Much of the backyard is canopied and it isn't a rural neighborhood, but I hear owls at night and have seen a sizable falcon/hawk chilling in the driveway before.  

[Bartholomew]

18 minutes ago, comander said:

Yeah but when you need to get rid of the bats, you'll have to get falcons. Then when you need to get rid of falcons, then what?

Common consensus to get past the falcon stage:

[nick name]

1 hour ago, Bartholomew said:

Common consensus to get past the falcon stage:

Amazon sells this as an add-on item so I guess I could get it with the flamethrower.  

[johnny5c]

Check out some of the trap options, I have two of these Dynatraps and can fill a gallon bucket with dead Mosquitoes weekly without using any chemicals or propane.

 

 https://www.amazon.com/DynaTrap-DT1750-Dynatrap-Insect-Trap/dp/B00JMZOVUO/ref=pd_cp_86_2?pd_rd_w=guVtk&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=N3YATEP83ERYGKD11JV9&pd_rd_r=f1a91c2c-9e43-11e9-b560-d1ccd7a1f402&pd_rd_wg=Uvy2C&pd_rd_i=B00JMZOVUO&psc=1&refRID=N3YATEP83ERYGKD11JV9

[nick name]

3 hours ago, johnny5c said:

Check out some of the trap options, I have two of these Dynatraps and can fill a gallon bucket with dead Mosquitoes weekly without using any chemicals or propane.

 

 https://www.amazon.com/DynaTrap-DT1750-Dynatrap-Insect-Trap/dp/B00JMZOVUO/ref=pd_cp_86_2?pd_rd_w=guVtk&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=N3YATEP83ERYGKD11JV9&pd_rd_r=f1a91c2c-9e43-11e9-b560-d1ccd7a1f402&pd_rd_wg=Uvy2C&pd_rd_i=B00JMZOVUO&psc=1&refRID=N3YATEP83ERYGKD11JV9

My main concern with attracting and then trapping is bringing in mosquitoes that normally wouldn't have ventured to the area and then those mosquitoes finding me instead of the trap.  Have you found that to be a problem at all?

[johnny5c]

1 hour ago, nick name said:

My main concern with attracting and then trapping is bringing in mosquitoes that normally wouldn't have ventured to the area and then those mosquitoes finding me instead of the trap.  Have you found that to be a problem at all?

This is the first year I've had them but so far they're working great. I have a heavily wooded 7 acre lot with a roughly 400' square clearing in the center.  Both traps are close to the woods line behind the house and after a few weeks of 24/7 operation we're only seeing a few mosquitoes by the house instead of the usual swarm.  This is in a area where you'd never have your outdoor lights on if you're going to be outside after the dark.