Keeping your 4th of July Pest-Free

FAIRFAX, Va. (July 3, 2013) – The Fourth of July is a quintessential summer holiday in the U.S., with summer in full swing, children out of school, and a day off work for most. While the holiday may start full of plans for outdoor fun, it can quickly turn into a swatting game with summertime pests.

Nobody invites yellowjackets, ants, or mosquitoes to the cookout, but they will most likely come anyway. To keep the holiday fun and festive, pest experts encourage people to take preventative measures against pests.

• Shy away from fragrances that pests may be attracted to, such as perfume and scented candles.
• Be sure to keep food in sealed containers so pests don’t contaminate your meal.
• Immediately clean up any spills to reduce the likelihood of attracting pests.
• Protect yourself with bug repellent containing at least 20% DEET.

Planning ahead to prevent pests will ensure everyone gets the most out of the outdoors this holiday.