1. Denial:  To block out the pain of the realization, people often deny the reality of the situation.  Example:  “I heard a noise.  It sounded sort of like a mouse. No!  It couldn’t be a mouse in my house – maybe it was a ghost.  Yes, I think my house is haunted.”
2. Anger:  As denial wears off and the pain returns, people will redirect their emotions from the scary and helpless fear of being hurt to the less vulnerable state of anger.  Their rage may be directed at people, objects, or rodents.  Example:  “That yellow-bellied exterminator lied to me – this is all his fault! Next time I will check www.pestworld.org for a licensed pest professional” or “That stinking mouse trap/poison didn’t do its job – false advertising if ever I’ve seen such a thing!” or “I’m gonna shoot that dang vermin!”
3. Bargaining:  In an attempt to regain control of the situation, people often try to make a deal.  Example:  “Ok Mr. Mouse, so long as you confine your shenanigans to the garage, I will leave you be – but don’t come inside the house.”
4. Depression:  This is a stage people pass through that can be eased by loving support and empowering knowledge.  Example:  Victim, “Why bother cleaning the kitchen, the mice act as if I’m a short order cook anyway.”  Loving friend, “Don’t get so down, have you considered a natural rodent repellent, like Fresh Cab?”
5. Acceptance:  To overcome any challenge, one must first accept it.  This phase of acceptance may not necessarily mean happiness, but it is markedly different than depression.  Example:  Yes, I have a rodent problem, and yes, I can solve it.”

Chocolate is a popular token of affection.  Particularly around this time of year, heart shaped boxes of chocolate can be found in stores aplenty. The average American consumes about 11 pounds of chocolate a year.  If you’re a chocolate lover like me, you might have your own store of chocolate in a cupboard, a closet, a drawer, or - if you’re really like me - all of the above! 

Being such a chocolate fanatic myself, I went through an array of emotions when I came across this story, Chocolate:  Now Good for Endurance.  I am thrilled to find any ammunition to back up my chocolate addiction so the notion that chocolate may increase endurance is good news.  However, this particular study found a “greater endurance capacity” among mice!  I began to picture super-charged mice running away with my chocolate stash.  They were wearing muscle shirts and marching in formation while engaging in a cadence call.  There was no sign of retreat and I knew I must protect my reserve.  But then I was able to let out a sigh of relief because I remembered I had protected my chocolates, along with the rest of my home, with Fresh Cab. 

Some of the places I use Fresh Cab include:

• Pantry
• Behind dressers in bedrooms
• Behind appliances like the fridge and the washer & dryer
• Linen closet

When I was in my mid-20’s, my family and I took a vacation, travelling abroad.  Our trip offered an opportunity to see how other people lived and learn about different cultures.  What I learned has made a life-long impression.  One thing I learned was that rodent infestation is a universal problem.  Sadly, developing countries often have severe problems and virtually no way of controlling them. 
 
One memory from this trip remains particularly clear even after many years have passed.  We were walking through an impoverished neighborhood and I could see that the people had set out some sort of poison to combat the infestation; although it was clear the rodents still had the upper hand.  We met a family with 3 children, 2 boys and 1 girl.  The oldest boy was no more than 6 years old.  The mother shared with us a bit of what daily life was like, what they ate, and even showed us their home – I was surprised to see a family of 5 sharing a one room home!  We asked about the poison we’d seen set out and she explained what a nuisance rodents were and that she was always fearful one of her kids would get into the poison.  The mother added that seeing dead cats and dogs in the streets is common, either from eating the poison itself or eating rodents that have ingested the poison.
 
Years after meeting this family, we still stay in touch through the mail.  I always try to share any informative tips I have to help them stay safe from rodents.  I was even able to mail them some containers to store their food in and materials to seal openings around their home to help prevent rodents from getting in.  I hope that someday soon, Fresh Cab botanical rodent repellent will be available in their country.
 
In the meantime, I urge everybody to follow these mouse prevention tips:

• Store all of your food in sealable containers and keep those containers closed tight
• Keep your home free of clutter and debris 
• Do a thorough inspection of your home and seal and cover any holes or cracks that you find

- Living with rodents doesn't have to be life-threatening. Take care of your family with a safe approach to rodent control
 

Around this time of year a few years back, I noticed that my dog was acting funny.  He had no energy, he wouldn’t eat, and there was some white stuff around his mouth which I assumed was foam.  After a couple visits to the vet, and a couple hefty bills, I found out he had probably gotten into rodent poison.  As soon as I heard this, I rushed home and cleared out all the poisons I could find.  I was quite alarmed at how much had built up over the years!  I looked all around and found poisons under the sink, in my basement, in the garage and outside. 
 
Fortunately, my dog was fine since I had taken him in to the vet as soon as I noticed changes in his behavior.  However, it was now clear to me that I would no longer be keeping these types of products around my pets or my family.  What if it had been one of my children?
 
Although I’d found out about Fresh Cab Natural Rodent Repellent years ago, I continued using poisons at the same time.  I just assumed more is better.  After this scare with my dog, I learned that less really is more.  Since clearing all the poisons out of my home, I’ve only been using Fresh Cab and I haven’t seen any mice.  My peace of mind has doubled because not only have we been living mouse free, but I no longer worry about the health and safety of my family since Fresh Cab is made out of natural ingredients like essential oils and plant fibers.  This is a product I can trust.
 
In 2009, over 15,000 incidents of children ingesting rat poison were reported.  Some possible side effects of poisons include:
 

• Bleeding gums
• Sudden nose bleeds
• Blood in urine or stool
• Loss of hair

The world is getting smarter, "greener," and more environmentally conscious—and that goes for commercial businesses with rodent infestations, too. Many traditional rodent control methods can be dangerous to children, pets, wildlife, and the environment if used incorrectly. Surveys show that 3 out of 4 people with rat or mouse problems want a safer, "greener" solution for their pest problems. As a result, safer, “greener” EPA regulatory guidelines are making their clangy entrance.

Businesses turning to integrated pest management (IPM) programs

Do-it-yourself rodent control for a home is one thing; in a business or manufacturing plant, it´s a vastly different problem!  For this reason, businesses and public entities like schools turn to pest management professionals to help them develop effective integrated pest management (IPM) programs that will work tosolve their problem, rather than just control their problem with baits.
 
The best IPM programs usually combine several rodent control methods which may be mechanical (traps, seals, or screens), biological (parasites or pathogens), chemical (pesticides or poisons), or environmental (manipulating the temperature or the scent of an area). But, most importantly, they seek to treat the problem holistically to address the root causes. (Definition of holistic: emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts)

Using poisons or pesticides is one of the easiest rodent control methods, but since 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completely reshaped the agency´s pesticide policies. Pest management professionals are feeling the pressure to use IPM methods, including natural rodent control products, for their commercial clients. With rodents this is particularly difficult, as they are one of the most difficult pests to control.

The combination of methods included in the IPM program will depend on a number of factors. All business owners, and pest management professionals, however, need a program that works, and meets the following criteria:

• The least hazardous to human health—including the health of the technician making the application

• The least toxic to rodents (animal-loving employees and customers will appreciate this)

• The least disruptive to the indoor and outdoor environment

• The easiest to perform

• The most cost-effective


At last—an EPA-registered, natural rodent repellent that works, and fits the above criteria.

If your business is owned by a cooperative, federally funded in any way, or simply aware of the bottom line (and who isn´t?), there´s good news for you. The EPA registered the first bio-pesticide rodent repellent in 2007 to scientifically prove itself worthy: FRESH CAB®. To date, millions of pouches have been successfully used to keep rodents out and away from indoor and enclosed spaces, and Fresh Cab® is #1 on the USDA BEES list for effective & sustainable animal repellents.

 


Fresh Cab® is a natural rodent repellent that uses botanicals and balsam fir oil to simply drive rats and mice out and away from out from any enclosed area- and into your trap or bait station (or back outside).
 
 
As part of your IPM program, Fresh Cab® is perfect for structurally limited areas where mice go to nest, feed, hide, food cache, or congregate (and evade the PMP’s efforts):
 

• Drop Ceilings, sub floors, and attics
• Pool and Pump houses
• Zoos and kennels
• Pallet racks in food storage areas
• Air conditions, compressors, and generators
• Detached storage containers
• Junction boxes and panel boxes
• Remote buildings without daily maintenance

which exists to educate the public on safety & health issues relating to pests.