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Question about the Nite-Guard Animal Control Light.

Q:"How does the Nite-Guard work? How many do I need to protect my yard from raccoons? Do I need to mount them differently for deer?" Thanks. George

Answer: The Nite-Guard Solar is a new addition to animal control products. Solar powered, each Nite-Guard light flashes a red light on and off from dusk to dawn. Scientific research shows that night animals flee when they see the red flashing light as they fear they have been discovered or are being watched. This completely weatherproof animal pest repeller works best if used in multiples of at least 4 units. Otherwise the animal most likely will enter your yard or property from a direction away from the flashing red.  Each light mounts to flash in only one direction with an approximate 30 degree angle of sight as one moves right or left away from it. This is why multiple units are needed and spacing between lights is needed as well.

If mounted high, the light can be seen for a long distance, depending on the lay of the land. A flat, open area with four Nite Guards placed at 10’ for owls will protect an area 1/2 mile in each direction. Even at 3 feet off the ground a range of several hundred yards' protection is common. A night predator stops the instant he sees the flash. So mount lights according to what you want to keep away. Deer will respond to higher lights than bobcats, raccoons, etc.

For small predators, these are the manufacturer's installation instructions:

For predators like raccoon, opossum and skunk; put lights approximately 25 feet apart, around your entire perimeter (all four sides of the area) and place them eye level to the predators approximately 10-12 inches off the ground. If the area has sides longer than 50 feet, more lights should be used on each side. Face lights outward from protected area.

For deer, these are the installation instructions:

1. Four Nite Guard lights placed on a single stake 4 feet high, each light facing a different direction. Moving the Nite Guard lights and stake every 7 to 10 days is absolutely critical as it breaks the pattern that deer may get used to. You do not have to move them far, 20 or 30 feet is fine, more is better. If you do not move the post with the lights around the deer will begin to “pattern” them in the exact position night after night, thusly losing fear of the flash.

NOTE: Deer are perhaps the most destructive nocturnal animal in modern times, they are also the most intelligent. Deer are very hard to deter from an area and, with the exception of the Nite Guard, will ignore most attempts to stop them from getting at the food that they want. The also act differently than a predator type animal and so we need to approach the placement of the lights differently.

2. You could also use a perimeter type placement against deer, placing lights 100 feet apart and approx. 4 feet high. Again, you will need to move the lights around every 3-10 days to break the pattern. Suggestion: Use the Nite Guard in conjunction with some of the other “weapons” they may already have in their “arsenal” against deer. Most people with deer problems are very well away of the deer’s intelligence and know that they get used to things easily. Use the Nite Guard lights along with some type of “repellant spray”. The deer then will not only “see” the predator (the flash of the light), but they will also “smell” the predator. This can be a very powerful deterrent for those deer that seem impossible to repel. You will be able to outsmart deer and protect your gardens and crops with the Nite Guards!

Some suggestions about deer deterent sprays or granules are: Deer Scram , a granular repellent; Deer Away spray for deer and squirrels by Havahart and Deer Off Deer and Rabbit Spray by Havahart. All three use natural scent repellents.

This is a solar powered unit that is completely weatherproof. Daylight as well as direct sunlight can power the battery. Best results are when the solar panel is mounted to capture the most light.

Thank you for your questions.

Sincerely,

Barbara

Question about the Tattle Tale and the Animal Away Devices.

Q: My boxer sneaks into the kitchen when we are out. He has eaten entire loaves of bread including the wrapper, cakes, candy and whatever he can get off the table or the counter. This all began after we hid pills in bread several months ago. Would the Tattle Tale or the Animal Away device work better to keep him off the table and/or out of the kitchen. We always know when he's raided the kitchen as we come home and he is hiding in his kennel. Thanks Steve."

Answer: Steve and I discussed this. We decided the Tattle Tale was not the best choice for his situation as his dog is not disturbed by noises, the db level is 90 and the unit sounds only for 2 seconds.

The Tattle Tale is quite effective for most cats and dogs, however. I explained how I used the Animal Away to keep my dog from going into the bathroom to pee on the rugs during bitter winter days. Since the alarm is silent, no one else is bothered but the animal. Just insert a battery, turn on the unit, test after 30 seconds by waving your hand in front of the motion detector and your unit is ready to keep dogs away. Or use outside to keep animals such as rabbits, cats and dogs out of your yard or out of parts of your yard.

The Animal Away Pro model uses two 9V batteries or an optional AC adapter. This unit is somewhat stronger in output and has a variable frequency which also works to keep out raccoons, rabbits and more. It covers a fan shaped area at 70 degrees at a distance of up to 40 feet.

Steve decided that the Animal Away placed toward the doorway to the kitchen was his best option as that would keep the dog out of the kitchen altogether.

Thanks again, Steve, for your question. Glad we could solve your problem without causing pain to your ears or to the dogs.

Sincerely, Barbara

Barbara reviews the Squirrel Evictor MB10K and MB100K strobe lights These pest animal control units are mounted in attics or crawl spaces. Home pest control includes these environmentally safe strobe lights that get rid of roof rats, squirrels, raccoons, feral cats and mice. No damage to your building, no poisons, no traps, no repeat visits by exterminators, no decaying animal smells, no harm to the animals.

Question about the Deergard, Deer Scram, Scoot Deer, Deer Chaser, ShakeAway Deer and Deer Fortess.

Q: "I have a deer problem and wonder which product or products will be most effective to discourage deer from my yard. Thanks."

Answer: Using several products typically works the best. My suggestions are to use at minimum the Deergard and Deer Scram if it is a winter problem. For warmer weather, the Water Scarecrow is quite effective. The Deergard also keeps out most wandering animals depending upon the height at which it is mounted. Hungry deer will ignore most repellent products especially once patterns of travel are set. And often even if not hungry, they will attempt their old trails even if there is now a 6 ft chain link fence in the way. (I had 500 feet replaced three years after it was installed as the deer butted huge dents in it the first two years.)

In the spring, you'll find the Deer Fortress repellent which is hung on plants, works quite well. Deer Fortress combines a proven deer deterrent (blood) in a weather resistant package. Highly effective, blood based deer repellants are not 100% effective. Best results are seen when Deer Fortress is installed at planting, before existing plants start growing and before deer are accustomed to feeding in that area. If food is limited or a favorite food is readily available, deer have been know to ignore many types of repellents. As with humans, predicting deer behavior is not a guarantee.

Deer Scram, a granular product spread on the ground, is guaranteed to work in winter, too. "Deer Scram works effectively in winter to get rid of deer. No mixing is required: easily sprinkle the granular formula in any conditions. Apply as directed above in late November or before first heavy snow. Works well under up to 18 inches of fresh snow. Can be applied on top of existing snow cover. Re-apply after 100 days. Note: If snow becomes crusted or iced over an application of Deer Scram, break up the crust and re-apply in the loose snow."

Scoot® Deer is a liquid with microencapsulated particles. This new formula is active for up to 30 days and is water resistant. One treatment has full strength effects that last up to15 days and as much as 50% protection for a full month. It appears better to be used on grass and plants and also works for rabbits.

The Deergard has a built-in infrared motion sensor that activates when pests move into the repellent's coverage zone. Use it with the continuous or motion-sensor operation settings and adjust the frequency to keep out other pests like raccoons, dogs, etc. On the deer setting, it is silent. Mounts anywhere with keyhole slot. The Deer Chaser uses an infrared sensor that activates a light and/or a radio (choose your favorite station or your least favorite) to scare off deer.

Do remember that batteries can freeze. So using a unit with an AC adapter means you'll get sounds even in the most bitter cold.

Thanks again for your questions. We stock these products on site 365 days per year except for Deer Fortress which is a growing season product.
Sincerely, Barbara

Question about the Product Code: EP-MB100K PROFESSIONAL Evictor Strobe Light Squirrel Rat Repeller

Q:"I have had more than six raccoons in my attic since January. They lined up in front of my window so I could count them. How nice! I can't close the opening under the roofline because I can hear babies squealing in the walls and the Exterminating Co. we hired only trapped one and then gave up. I need another method. WILL A STROBE LIGHT REALLY WORK? And how do I get it into the attic without being attacked? As you can see, I really need HELP.. Please be honest as we've already thrown out money for the Exterminating / Trapping company. Thanks, Esther"

Answer: For raccoons, the Professional Evictor is the better choice of the two Evictor strobe units as it will cover about 1600 square feet of open attic and is 6 times stronger in light intensity than the home unit. If your attic is an irregular shape, you may need two or more of these lights.

The first challenge is getting an installer and the units into the attic! Raccoons are essentially nocturnal animals but occasionally venture out in the daytime particularly toward evening. So the best time to install the Evictor is during daylight hours. Of course, attics tend to be dark even in the daytime so the raccoons may be moving about during day time. So first you need to get the raccoons out of the area where you plan to install the light.

Today I received this email from Evictor's sales rep. Here is his suggestion:

" For this situation, your customer needs at least 3 of the professional Evictor lights. We do not know how long the raccoons have inhabited the house. The large Evictor lights work well to expel raccoons. With that many raccoons and if they have babies, entering the attic is dangerous unless you are a trained professional exterminator/ Evictor installer as the raccoons are likely to attack.

Not only must the lights be installed but the access holes must be closed and traps set on the outside to catch the raccoons as they leave the premises. The activity in the walls is only temporary as they are exploring their current residence.

If the homeowner plans the installation himself, it would be best for two people to handle the installation. First, make and continue making a lot of noise before entering the attic. Take with you a radio on maximum volume tuned to a talk show. Leave the radio on and bang on a pan or make similar noise while you set the lights and leave as quickly as possible." Mike.

This was my original answer:

"A sonic animal repeller that can be set to be on continuously is the first step. Get a long extension cord, plug in a Yardgard set to the small animal setting, turn the volume to the loudest setting, push the attic access open and place the device on the nearest rafter. The noise should encourage the raccoons to hide or vacate the attic especially if you also have a way to turn on an attic light.

After a few hours, it should be safe to install the Evictor or Evictors if yours is an attic that has an irregular shape. If you have an electrical outlet in the attic, you can quickly install the unit by hanging it onto a rafter and plugging the cord into a timer. Or if the raccoons have temporarily abandoned the area, have the units wired so there is a switch handy to the access so you can turn it off before entering the attic to clean up after the raccoons.

Once the raccoons are gone, do remove overhanging tree limbs and other accesses to your roof and close off the entrance points. "

The only good news is that the damage to your house is probably covered by insurance. At least when this scenario happened to a friend who was then living in Milwaukee, her insurance company paid to have all her upstairs ceilings replaced as the damage was not done rodents.

Thanks for your question and good luck!

Sincerely,
Barbara

Question about the product Evictor Strobe Light Squirrel and Rat Repeller Product Code: EP-MB10K

Q: "Squirrels have eaten into our eaves, but have not gotten into the house (yet) Will this or a similiar product work in that type of area? We are not exactly sure where they are, but have seen them go in and out."-Debbie

Answer: The Squirrel Evictor Strobe Light is designed to be used indoors. It is a very large strobe light and will most likely cause the neighbors to complain. You could install one indoors in the attic area in case they do get in. You may want to try Bird Proof Gel or Bird Proof Liquid . You can apply the gel using a caulk gun or the liquid can be sprayed on. This is an EXTREMELY sticky substance and the squirrels HATE it. Once it gets on their fur they can't get it off.

Thanks for your question. Good luck!

Sincerely, Barbara

Question about the product Product Code: M240, Victor Woodstream Electronic Rat Trap.

Q: "We would like to use this in our backyard to kill the rats that are being attracted to our bird feeder, 1st year we have had the problem in 15 years of having a bird feeder. My questions is, we also have squirrls that we do not want killed. Is the opening only large enough for rats???" -Gail

Answer: The opening of the trap is about 4 inches wide and 3 inches high, tunnel shaped. It is unlikely that a squirrel would venture into this trap. However, anything is possible. Usual bait is peanut butter or peanut butter and bread. Some folks use bird seed. The trap is about 8 inches long and about 5 inches high. A green light goes on when there is a rat in the trap. The unit operates on batteries which should be sufficient to kill about 12 rats.

These traps work well on rats because there is a double shock on the grid as the rat's heart is harder to stop. Voltage applied for up to 2 minutes to insure death.

Good luck with your rat problem.

Sincerely,
Barbara

Q: Re: YardGard Electronic Animal Repeller. "I want to get rid of the neighbors dog, but will this product effect my INDOOR cat? We do open windows, so please advise."

Answer: If you aim the unit away from your home into an open area, the YardGard will not effect your indoor cat even with windows open. Ultrasonic sound waves behave more like light rays rather than sound waves. So they will be absorbed into solid fences, walls, etc. The bounce back is virtually zero.

I do suggest that you use the AC adapter if possible, at least initially. Use the "on" always position. Mount the unit at approximately the head level of the nuisance dog. To be a good neighbor, aim the unit so that the coverage is only of your yard.

Thanks for the inquiry.

Sincerely, Barbara

Q: " Will the Super Bark Stop (ES-VT-BC16G) work through a fence?"

Answer: Not if the fence is a solid one. This is an ultrasonic sound device just like the ultrasonic rodent repellers but tuned to the frequencies that dogs here. Ultrasound behaves more like a light beam than sound that you hear. If the fence is a cyclone fence or the Barkstop is placed in the open space between the fence posts, some of the ultrasonic waves will go through to the adjoining yard.

Some customers install this unit in a birdhouse enclosure and aim it down over the fence. This will limit the area of coverage, however. Others have mounted the unit to their house or to a tree. The closer the unit or similar units are to the animal, the more effective it is. The maximum range is about 35 feet.

Please contact us if you have more questions.

Sincerely, Barbara

Q: "Is the strobe from the Professional Evictor Squirrel and Rat Repeller on constantly or does the unit have a motion sensor?"

Answer: Yes, the Squirrel Evictor strobe light must be on continuously to get rid of squirrels, to get rid of rats or for other pest animal control. There is no motion sensor or on/off switch. The 1,000,000 Candlepower strobe light strobes 90 times per minute.

Although the professional squirrel repeller unit is more powerful, often better results come from installation several of the smaller regular Evictors. This is due to irregularly shaped attics or crawl spaces. Squirrel pest control is most successful when the Squirrel Evictor operates in a dark, uncluttered space where its strobe is the only light source and where the light invades all the nooks and crannies. The instruction manual recommends leaving enter/exit holes unsealed for at least one month. Squirrels, attic rats, raccoons, etc. are trained by the strobe to hate protected areas: if you seal the holes too soon, the pest animals cannot get out!

Please contact us if you have additional questions.

Sincerely, Barbara