Rats – Mice – Insects After SHTF – What To Do About It
In every major disaster, in most of recorded history, and all of prehistory, rats, mice, and insects may have been the number one most common cause of death.
You must be adequately prepared for them. They can very easily become the major problem that kills you, your family, neighbors, or your group.
Guest post -by Papa Smurf
– What am I talking about? Just rats, mice and insects.
These pests can destroy far more food than they can eat.
They can harbor a number of diseases that can easily result in your death in a survival situation.
In a SHTF situation, what do you do about it?
Well, Be Prepared is one answer.
Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome is another.
Keep A Clean Environment
Just basic cleanliness. This may not be as easy as you think. You could be living in a dirty environment. You could be living in the ruins of your current home. You just don’t know.
So, a couple of brooms and dustpans. You likely have these now. But you might need to have a few more. Do you think you will be able to use your vacuum? Will there be electricity? Probably not. We’re talking about SHTF collapse conditions.
Trash. Food cans will need to be burned out and buried. Or washed and used for repair materials or any number of things. You can’t just toss them without thinking. Same for other ‘disposable’ food and water/drink packaging. How about an adequate supply of matches and dish soap?
In my garage, I have a sealed five-gallon plastic bucket of matches. Can I start fire other ways? At least a half-dozen. Can everyone who lives in the house now or in the future? Hmmm…
Continue reading: A Fire Starter Kit List
Mouse traps
How about mouse traps. Will a dozen be enough? The plain “Victor” snap traps work as well as any I have used. A small amount of peanut butter makes a good bait. So do candy gumdrops.
[Ken adds: I’ve been using these reusable traps for years! ]
Related: How to Protect your Food Storage from Rodents
You may want a couple of live traps as well.
“Mice Cubes” are very good (see them here).
Rat traps
They are another consideration. You may need a dozen for vermin control.
A rat trap, though, is one of the best means of providing survival protein going. It is capable of catching and killing everything from birds to rattlesnakes.
Insects & Repellent
Bug spray. At least one dozen large cans. The kind you can put on skin. You might consider doubling that if finances allow.
[Ken adds: This is my new favorite type of insect repellent (with Picardin) ]
Picardin Pump Spray
Sawyer Products Insect Repellent with 20% Picardin
Repellent on your Clothes
You will also want the kind you can put on clothes and let dry. This will typically last for as many as half a dozen washings.
Permethrin Insect Repellent For Your Clothes – Here’s How It Works…
You will be spending a lot more time outdoors, and the bug populations can be expected to soar.
Bug Foggers
You will need enough of the room fogging type insecticide to bomb your home at least three times. When you use it, use the old stuff and replace it. That should get you through at least one year.
You and your group will be going in and out of doors pretty regularly, and insect populations are going to be up if prior disasters are any indication.
Fly swatters, about 6. And keep another dozen cans of room/yard spray.
Wasp & Hornets
Keep at least 4 cans of wasp spray.
You don’t want to deal with them without the stuff.
Insect Repellent for Pets
Don’t forget any animals you may have. Have enough on hand to get them through a year, especially those that may share your home or bed. The ‘one-drop’ treatments work better than collars or powders, but have something available.
Example:
FRONTLINE Plus for dogs (45-88 pounds)
FRONTLINE Plus for dogs (23-44 pounds)
FRONTLINE Plus for dogs (5-22 pounds)
CONCLUSION:
I hope I have given you something to think about; maybe a new direction for things you need to prep for.
-Papa S.
[Ken adds: I’ve republished this article with updated information since it’s original 2017 posting, for your interest.]
Related: How To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes (Mosquito Control)
Related: 8 Things That Attract Mosquitoes