when spring brings babies. Keep your garbage contained and away from access. Once they realize they can’t get in, they will stop trying. Also, make sure you feed your own animals indoors and keep them inside when unsuper- vised to prevent injury to themselves or other wildlife. With these and other wild animals such as foxes, deer, and bears — admire them from a distance, do not attempt to feed them, and contact a professional if they pose a danger or extreme population nuisance. This is usually a sign that something else is wrong, as this is not balanced natural wildlife behavior. It may be hard to stomach, but insects aren’t all bad. You should even encourage the presence of ones like bees and butterflies for their crucial role in pollination. Bees even produce delicious honey that has natural antibacterial properties and can reduce allergy symptoms with regular consumption. If you have a hive near your home, they will not bother you if you don’t provoke them. If the hive begins to swarm, and you see many bees clustered together outside the hive, that would be the time to contact a professional to help them start a new hive. Of course, if you or anyone at home has a severe bee allergy, the hive can and should be relocated for your safety. Bugs like ants and worms are very beneficial to gardens. They aerate the soil and should be left alone. However, ant populations can get out of hand, and in that case, there are environmentally safe ways to discourage their presence, such as sprinkling cinnamon or black pepper around your home and garden. They don’t like the smell and will move away. You can also grow herbs such as peppermint and rosemary, and these keep out mosquitoes and some spiders too. Mosquitoes are not the most beneficial insect, but you still want to find ways to discourage them without spraying toxic bug sprays into the air or on your skin. They dislike citrus oils, lemongrass, garlic, and lavender, and you can soothe the bites with aloe vera gel.
ANIMALS VISITING THE BACKYARD When warmer weather arrives, many animals come out to explore and enjoy nature. Some of the visitors coming out of hibernation will explore your garden. Most animals don’t represent any danger to your family, and they can even help get rid of some insects. Keep in mind that they can damage garden furniture and flowers in the backyard. Pets like dogs or cats will help keep them away from your home. There are many ways to protect your garden while keeping the animals safe. • Squirrels: They are charming creatures, but they can kill your plants and even damage the furni- ture you have outdoors. The smell of organic repellents can scare them away. • Skunks: When trying to keep them outside of your property, they may spray either you or your house. To avoid this, you must intelligently send it away using a bright light or citrus fruits. Taking several baths and using peroxide and baking soda solutions are among the most common recom- mendations when you get sprayed by a skunk. Eyes should be flushed with cool water for at least 5 minutes and call a doctor when hit in the face with musk.
113 MAY/JUNE 2022 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
112 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • MAY/JUNE 2022
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