Efforts under way in New England to stonewall stone-wall thieves

Good fences can make for good neighbors, and in New England they're also a favorite of thieves seeking a free supply of stone for building and landscaping projects, according to this Boston Globe report.

Given their significance as a quintessential New England landmark, New Hampshire's Governor John Lynch recently signed a bill to assess triple damages plus attorney's fees against thieves who pick apart walls.

The stone fence at my Connecticut home (right) hasn't been victimized but has started to tumble down in spots, and raised ridges that characterize mole-feeding burrows have also started to appear around it. Taking the advice from a contractor friend, I'll apply some adhesive to the stones before setting them back into place. This work should make them less prone to falling or disappearing in the future.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: "Yard Makeovers for $500 or Less" is full of low-cost ways to use materials like stain and lattice to spruce up your outdoor spaces.

Bedbugs: Learn how to deal with this growing problem

Interesting article about bedbugs in today's New York Times. "After virtually disappearing for decades, bed bugs have made a comeback throughout the nation," starts "Sleeping With the Enemy (Bed Bugs)," adding that there are "particularly bad infestations in densely populated apartment buildings." As we noted last February, bedbug complaints have soared in New York City.

The Times' story notes some households spend big bucks to deal with these small creatures—$5,000 or more on the various aspects of dealing with bedbugs, including inspections, extermination, cleaning, and more. If you're traveling this summer, be sure you don't bring bedbugs home with you. And if you think you've got an infestation, try these steps to get rid of them. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

As bedbug problems mount nationwide, EPA to hold national bedbug summit

In terms of global impact, it might not rank up there with the recent Group of 20 meeting in London, but loads of people are itching to attend the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Bedbug Summit, taking place April 14-15 in Arlington, Virginia.

As we've reported, New York City seems to have become the epicenter of the bedbug boom—a recent BBC story talked how this tiny pest has become a scourge in New York—but the problem is a nationwide one.

There's been a 71 percent increase in bedbug infestations in this country since 2001, according to the National Pest Management Association. "Bedbugs have become a significant issue nationwide. We fully support the EPA in its effort to further public awareness of these resurgent pests and further, we hope that this summit marks the beginning of an open and ongoing public conversation about bed bugs and how to best prevent and treat these pests," said Bob Rosenberg, the NPMA's senior vice president, in a release.

In a recently released study, The Journal of the American Medical Association found that the bedbug problem has worsened as the insects have become resistant to insecticides and pest-control practices have changed. The JAMA story also noted that bedbugs don't spread disease.

Read "How to Deal With Bedbugs" to avoid problems at home and when you travel.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter

By the Numbers: Skunk-odor cleanup bill reaches $500,000

$500,000

Cost of the of the skunk-odor cleanup at a house in Highland Park, Illinois.

Some might smell an April Fools’ joke here, but this story has definitely been no laughing matter to the affected homeowner. Two years ago, a skunk took up residence in a $940,000, five-bedroom home under construction in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois. According to this Chicago Tribune report, it took days to corner and remove the skunk, whose stench had thoroughly permeated the home.

Efforts to remediate the problem included taking the walls down to the studs and digging up a large section of a concrete porch. The insurance company paid for the work, but as the odor problem persisted and the cost grew to $500,000, the insurer insisted on cheaper options. The homeowner and insurer have since filed lawsuits against each other. Although the house is still not completed, the owner and her son are moving in this week.

Experts stress that you should try to remove an intruding skunk as soon as possible. As for odor removal, “One remedy that our members have found works on a pretty regular basis consists of one quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and one teaspoon of liquid soap,” says Pat Harman, director of communications for the Restoration Industry Association, a nationwide association of cleaning specialists.

“Because hydrogen has a tendency to bleach textiles, we wouldn’t advise spraying this solution on them, but if you do put them on a hard surface nearby, the solution will space and have some effect by neutralizing the sulfur in the skunk odor,” Harman added.

Consumer Reports’ How to Clean Practically Anything notes that you can try this solution to remove skunk odor from pets. Be sure to keep it away from your pet’s eyes—the mixture is nontoxic bit it can sting.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Find out how air purifiers fared in removing household odors. Visit our cleaning-supplies hub for details on a range of cleaning products and try these recipes for low-cost homemade cleaning products.

By the Numbers: Bedbug complaints soar in New York City

9,213

Number of bedbug-related complaints to New York City's 311 line during fiscal year 2008 (July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008) , according to the New York vs Bed Bugs advocacy group. The complaints represent an almost 34 percent jump over the previous fiscal year; and for fiscal year 2004, the city had only 534 bedbug complaints. We've reported on New York City's bedbug boom before. 

For more information on eradicating bedbugs, read "How to Deal With Bedbugs."

Pest Patrol: How to control moles in your yard

Moles, common in backyards throughout most of the United States, are a frequently cited problem in our Pest Patrol forum. The two most common mole varieties—star-nosed and eastern—measure about 7 inches long from nose to tail. They have broad, outward-facing pads on their front feet, small and narrow hind feet, and tiny pinholes for eyes; their ears are not visible.

Moles are voracious, high-metabolism feeders who use their large front paws to tunnel through the ground searching for ants, earthworms, and grubs; some species consume more than their weight in food daily. "They are pretty well adapted to life underground," says Craig Riekena, a compliance manager for Bell Laboratories, which makes the mole poison Talpirid. "Their fur lies and flexes against their skin in a way that lets them tunnel as if they're swimming."

You'll know you have a mole problem if you spot visible trenches and dug-up soil in your lawn and garden. Look for the raised ridges that characterize mole feeding burrows, along with molehills, which look like miniature volcanoes with plugged holes in the center. These are often located close to the deep permanent burrows where moles nest and reproduce.

Some molehills can be substantial enough to damage mower blades and housings. Flower beds are also at risk. "Since grubs gather around the roots of shrubs and flowers, moles scrape that dirt away and remove the plant's foundation and depriving the flowers of nourishment," says Stephanie VanSyckle, a spokeswoman for mole-trap manufacturer Victor.

Whether you take action against moles will depend on the extent of the damage they cause and your personal threshold for how it looks. Consumers Union Senior Scientist Michael Hansen notes that the ridges and molehills are mainly an aesthetic problem; you can tamp down the ridges and water them to repair damage. Hansen points out that moles' preferred foods include several soil pests, especially grubs, so getting rid of moles could exacerbate other problems.

To prevent moles from burrowing under or climbing into specific sections of your garden, experts recommend burying metal mesh hardware cloth 2 feet vertically below ground with another 6 inches showing above ground. Moles tend to tunnel closer to the surface in spring when soil is moist and go deeper in the summer. "Since moles have trouble burrowing through dense soil, arranging stones or dense claylike soil around a garden to a depth of 2 feet can also help," says Hansen.

Another natural defense—using a castor-oil mixture—has been touted by a poster in the Pest Patrol forum who says he hit on the idea after hearing that moles sometimes avoid fields where castor beans are planted. There's more than a bean of truth to that idea—a series of studies by three Michigan State University researchers revealed that one castor-oil-based spray repellent did keep moles at bay for periods ranging from 30 to 60 days.

However, researchers from Ohio State University and the University of Arkansas disagree with the MSU  findings, citing the short duration and effect of weather on the tests. Marne Titchenell, a professor of wildlife ecology at OSU, also warns that castor oil can harm insects, earthworms and other creatures that populate the soil.

Peter Sawchuk, a program leader in our Technical Department, reports good results using Spectracide's Mole Stop and Bonide's Mole & Gopher Repellent. "Both of these have worked well for me," Sawchuk says, "but keep in mind that you'll be driving the moles into the adjoining property, which might not endear you to your neighbor." Other posters are recommending cats as another natural way to control moles.

Of wasps and gutter guards

As evidenced by the comments to this September 2007 Q&A on fall cleanup, we receive lots of requests from readers to review gutter-guard systems. You'll be happy to know that we've added gutter guards to our list of products to test.

I've lusted after gutter guards, too, no time more strongly than when I recently hauled out my ladder to clean some debris from my gutters and the area under my elevated deck.

I had a willing helper in my 4-year-old daughter, Thea, who loves to work with me on household chores. But as soon as I propped the ladder onto my deck and rested it against the gutter, Thea let out a sharp cry; she'd been stung by a wasp. I carefully removed the stinger ASAP (some good advice I remembered from our summer-safety quiz) and dashed into the kitchen to mix a paste of baking soda and distilled vinegar to apply to the sting.

As I was searching for the wasp's lair, three of his cohorts dive-bombed me from above. I swatted away one, but two stung me on the chest. Fortunately, some of the baking soda-vinegar mixture was left over. Having had enough of these stinging pests, I ushered Thea inside and donned my sailing anorak, drew the hood and the face mask tight, slipped on some work gloves, and got back to cleaning the gutters—very carefully.

You see, several years ago while cleaning a friend's gutters, I put my hand directly into a wasp nest and got stung on four fingers; it felt as if a lit cigarette was being applied to each one.

So like you, I'm awaiting our tests of gutter guards. I know I'm not the only weekend warrior to suffer injuries—read more in this blog entry—but as they say, once bitten, er, stung, twice shy.—Gian Trotta

Essential information: It's not too late to check out our Guide to Summer Health & Safety, including a review of the best insect repellents.

JANUARY 2009 UPDATE: We will be testing gutter systems for a report that we expect to publish in the October 2009 issue of Consumer Reports.

Pest Patrol: How to get rid of grubs in your yard

If irregularly shaped sections of your lawn are withering away, the problem could be grubs. These small beetle larvae live in the soil and feed on lawn roots.

To determine whether you have a grub problem, cut into your lawn near the edge of a brown area and lift the grass. If it comes up easily, as if you’re rolling up carpet, your yard has grubs. Odds are, you’ll see some of these milky-white, wormlike creatures with brown heads and three pairs of legs curled into a C shape (shown).

The remedy: Apply chemical insecticides with imidacloprid or halofenozide in July or August when grubs are immature. After a couple of days, reseed or replant any damaged areas. (Learn how to plant the perfect grass.)

To kill mature grubs this fall or next spring, combine Heterorhabditis nematodes—sold in pastelike form—with water and apply to the soil according to the package instructions.

Next week’s pest: There’s one other reason to target grubs—they’re a favorite food of moles, whose extensive tunneling can exacerbate the damage grubs do to your lawn. We’ll target ways to control the five species of mole common to the U.S. in an upcoming installment of Pest Patrol.

Essential information: Our updated Complete Lawn & Yard Guide offers how-to advice for planting and pruning and Ratings (available to subscribers) of a wide array of lawn and garden equipment. You’ll also find the best ways to deal with weeds, lawn diseases, and common insects as well as an interactive tour of  major lawn problems.

Get rid of bedbugs

“Bedbug Epidemic Attacks New York City” is the headline the Daily News slapped on a December 30, 2007, special investigation. The article, by Douglas Feiden, reported that “In the fiscal year that ended in June, [in New York City] 6,889 infestation complaints were logged and 2,008 building owners were hit with summonses,” a substantial jump from 537 complaints and 82 landlords citations in 2004.

“The scourge has left no section of the city untouched,” the story continued. “Complaints and enforcement actions soared in 57 of the 59 community boards.” Even designer Ralph Lauren’s offices had an outbreak of bedbugs, according to the piece.

As we reported last summer, infestations of Cimex lectularius are on the rise in the United States and elsewhere in North America, Western Europe, and Australia.

Read “How to Deal With Bedbugs” to learn more about these annoying pests, including advice on avoiding them at home and on the road.—Steven H. Saltzman

The return of the bedbug

Here’s a scary statistic, courtesy of PestWorld.org, the Web site of the National Pest Management Association: When asked “Have you, or someone you know, ever encountered bedbugs?” 68 percent of almost 19,500 poll respondents answered “yes.”

If you’re like me, you probably think the lowly bedbug is a thing of the past. You know, flophouses and crowded tenements teeming with these quarter-inch six-legged pests. But Cimex lectularius is definitely still around. The NPMA says its member pest-control companies nationwide report receiving one to two bedbug-related calls each week, up from one to two per year.

That huge jump surprised us enough that we’re working on a story on how to control bedbugs in the home. Look for our expert advice in the coming weeks on ConsumerReports.org.

In the meantime, if you’re planning a summer trip and will be staying in a hotel, store your suitcases in a large plastic trash bag at the hotel, then vacuum them out when you return home. These simple steps could help to keep any freeloading bedbugs from invading your home.—Steven H. Saltzman