Description:
Sometimes, says Dan Hershey, author of The Critter Control Handbook, you just have to face up to it: it's them or us. Sure, bats are singularly interesting and do their helpful bit in the food chain by dining on pesky insects. Unfortunately, they can also roost in attics and chimneys, leave parasite-infested guano around and, incredibly, even do widespread vehicle damage at car dealerships. Cottontail rabbits damage gardens and fruit trees, snapping turtles gobble ducklings, deer destroy entire commercial crops. Then, of course, there are vermin.... What to do? Hershey acknowledges the full range of practical, ethical, and legal considerations when it comes to repelling or killing pests of all kinds, and his recommendations range from the conservative (grow plants unappealing to specific animals) to common sense measures (don't put "islands" in the middle of your pond if you don't want waterfowl there) to the extreme (get a hunting permit). The author isn't shy about suggesting controversial deterrents, e.g., toxic chemicals or leg traps; he does, however, caution the reader to be fully aware of wildlife protections and environmental laws peculiar to one's community. Though packed with information, the Handbook's content is streamlined and accessible, with concise guides, bite-size tips, helpful photos, and no-nonsense text. Dealing with pests is an uncomfortable fact of life; Hershey helps us shoulder the burden with the benefit of his experience. --Tom Keogh
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