Intercept, Tackle and Eliminate Pests at your Next Tailgate

Football season is in full swing and that means weekends are filled with family and friends at tailgate parties decked out to support their favorite team.   A huge pregame tradition in our area, tailgating parties are not complete without grilled food, tasty sides, and delicious desserts, but all that food is a big attraction for pests like mosquitoes, flies, wasps, and ants looking to crash your party! In an effort to keep pests from intercepting your tailgate fun this football season, we put together the following tips so you can relax and enjoy the festivities!

Wasps and yellow jackets are notorious party poopers with a sweet tooth.  We recommend keeping desserts in sealed containers and always pack a lid for your drink pitchers, especially when you are serving sugary beverages.

Mosquitoes are always on the lookout for their next meal and it isn’t your delicious spread they will enjoy –it’s you.  Known for the itchy red welts they leave behind, they can also transmit diseases such as West Nile Virus and Chikungunya Fever. With mosquito season continuing into November in many areas, we recommend that tailgaters and football fans tackle these pests head on and apply an insect repellant containing DEET to exposed skin before heading outdoors.

House flies are a common irritation at tailgate parties and will travel up to 20 miles to get a taste of your pre-game goodies. To prevent these unwanted guests we recommend that mount a strong defense with well-sealed garbage cans and all food stored in well-sealed containers. Removing the trash regularly will also help keep flies and will even help make clean up easier!

Ants are attracted to the same savory foods and sweets that we all enjoy but can quickly put a damper on the fun if they decide to attend your tailgate. Odorous house ants, fire ants, and Argentine ants are commonly found in our area this time of year but you can help eliminate these party crashers by keeping food in sealed containers and covering it immediately after grilling or serving.

We hope these simple tips help you intercept, tackle and eliminate pests at your next tailgate so you can focus on the excitement of the game. Unfortunately, we can’t do anything about the opposing fans!