Dealing with Pests

One of the recent problems we’ve had to deal with on our homestead is a variety of pests and some people don’t think far enough in advance on how to deal with them and I’ll write this down now so you can prepare ahead of time and learn from our issues. If you move an RV or tiny house onto a piece of property, then please take the time to read my suggestions.

Rats – If your RV or tiny house has under storage or attic storage, then there is a chance that a rat will infiltrate these areas, looking for comfortable place to make a nest. Be on guard and check your storage spaces every few weeks to see if anything is out of place. You can create a deterrent with a mix of white vinegar, chopped onion, chopped garlic and chopped jalapeno pepper. You may want to mix this vile concoction in an outside area. Rats are highly sensitive to smells and once this mixture kicks in wherever you put it, watch out! You can set out the old-fashioned snap traps in your storage areas as well.

Ants – Unfortunately, for us humans there are many varieties of ants and you have to be vigilant and check your surroundings to make sure they can’t get in. My recommendation would be to purchase some ant “motels” and place them in places like the kitchen, bathroom and a few in the sleeping area. There’s a product called Diatomacious Earth (D.E.) that can be sprinkled around all openings and underneath where your vehicle is.

Roaches – Another issue we Floridians deal with is an abundance of different species of roaches, they come in teeny tiny to very huge. While they don’t bite, they do consume any tiny scrap of food you leave behind and they are poop monsters so if you have an infestation, they make a large mess. In order to take on these pests, you can apply the D.E. as instructed above and purchase the little roach “motels” which work quite well.

Fleas & Ticks – While numerous TikTokers and YouTubers live in an RV or tiny house with pets, I would caution against bringing animals into the home you share with your partner and/or children. The chemicals used in animal flea treatments can be dangerous for animals but even more so for humans. However, if you already have an infestation, then you need to apply the D.E. powder to all carpeted areas and purchase two or three of the bug lights. Be sure to thoroughly wash all sheets and apply D.E. to any crevice where they might have ended up. Be sure to check your children frequently for ticks and fleas to keep away any illnesses related to these pests.

Yellow or Horse Flies – During the wet season in Florida, these pests become an absolute nuisance for a few weeks and they will feast on you, your partner, your children and even your pets if allowed. Avoid going out in the early morning and late evening as this is when they seem more active. Purchase your family members some breathable khaki pants, thin long-sleeved shirts and a hat with a screen veil. If you have the income, I will highly recommend you purchase two bug zappers and place them near the common outside areas but set them on timer to go on when they are at their worst. You can purchase natural bug spray that doesn’t contain dangerous chemicals to spray on your clothing. If you do end up going outside, bring a fly swatter with you and use it freely against these beasts.

Wasps – While it’s useful in the garden to have wasps, these creatures are an immense threat to small children and pets, so you can not only employ the use of a bug zapper but there are special wasp traps that you can purchase off various websites that will attract wasps into the traps where they will die. Place traps around your seating and cooking areas outside. There are wasp sprays that you can purchase, but these are designed for long distance targeting of their actual nests.

Snakes – While you can’t eradicate every snake on your property (nor should you want to), these creatures need to be kept out of your home so that your children are safe. Make sure all hatches are closed up and any openings plugged in with something to keep these nosey predators out. In situating your homestead, be sure to set it up in such a way that there is a distinct woodlands area surrounding your property, but make sure you keep debris and logs out of the areas where you spend the majority of your outside time. If you have a garden, use a long stick to check under plants before harvesting.

Armadillos/Possums/Racoons – You can purchase humane traps for these creatures that will allow you to eradicate them as you see fit or rehome them to another location. Be sure to have trash cans with locking lids and avoid leaving out anything that they will view as food. Be sure that any animal pens you have are secure to prevent these creatures from destroying your animals and causing great financial losses.

Grasshoppers & Other Garden “pests” – I won’t encourage you to use pesticides or herbicides on your property because I want you to live a long life and have a healthy family, but I will say that there are natural plants that you can plant which will deter various species that may decimate your food plants. Don’t do monocropping because you will simply attract insects to your garden that will hop from one plant to another. Look into germinating seeds from mints, nasturtiums, marigolds and milkweed, then plant liberally.