Dead Snails Leave No Trails

Loren Nancarrow and Janet Hogan Taylor. Dead Snails Leave No Trails. Ten Speed. 1996.

Natural Pest Control is the focus of this book. What does the term "natural" mean to you? I always think of alternatives to synthetic chemical controls. For others, this means using no chemicals. The authors anticipating this potential issue, spend the first chapter talking about the difference between synthetic, natural and biological pest control. This chapter contains information every homeowner should read before determining how to deal with any pest or plant disease.

Home and garden pest control and pests affecting your pets are the topics of chapters 2, 3 and 4. Within each chapter you will find full explanations of how to identify the pests and some homemade pest control mixes. Most of these mixes are created from products already in your kitchen. As always, use these concoctions wisely.

Chapters 5 and 6 distinguish between the "good insects" and the "bad insects". It is amazing how many beneficial insects are thought to be pests because of lack of knowledge on our part! Reading these chapters carefully may change your attitude towards some "pests".

The next chapter (7) talks about plants that help repel insects and provides some additional recipes for pest repellents. Chapter 8 briefly deals with 4-legged pests such as deer and rabbits.