CRAWL SPACE CRAZINESS.

Byline: RICHARD FAGERLUND

I have people ask me all the time how I can go into crawl spaces with all the bugs. I imagine I have been under thousands of houses across the country in the last

35 years, and some of the things you encounter can be a bit disconcerting.

One time I was under a house in Florida when I heard a low growl. I aimed my flashlight at the source and saw a very angry alligator. I got out of that crawl space very quickly. The owner of the house forgot to tell me there was an alligator living under there. She thought it would be out in the canal during the day. Actually, it was taking a nap when I disturbed it. Needless to say I never finished that termite inspection.

On another occasion in Farmington, I was under the house doing an inspection and I crawled over a black widow spider. I was stupidly only wearing a T-shirt, so when I pressed on her she bit me. The T-shirt prevented me from getting a serious bite, but I was off for a couple of days. Having been bitten by rattlesnakes nine times, I didn't take the spider bite too seriously. I always tell people now that if you get bitten by a black widow, you should consider it a major medical emergency and get medical help.

Why do I continue to go into crawl spaces? That's where the bugs (and occasionally other animals) are. I have encountered feral cats that use the crawl space for a litter box and I have encountered many rats, particularly in Texas. In New Mexico I went under a house and encountered a prairie rattlesnake, but I knew it was there. I was hired to retrieve and relocate it, which I did.

Termites are commonly found under homes in loose wood on the ground even if they aren't in the structure itself. Occasionally you will have an infestation of anobiid beetles in the substructure of the home or powder post beetles if you have a hardwood floor. It is possible to prevent the beetles and termites from doing any damage to your home if you use the right products. Pesticides aren't at all necessary. The wood under the home can be treated with a sodium borate to prevent anything from eating it, and I always recommend dusting the entire crawl space with food-grade diatomaceous earth. Both sodium borates and diatomaceous earth are natural products and won't break down. They will remain effective for many years. The diatomaceous earth will also keep the roaches, silverfish, ants and spiders under control as well as preventing any termites from coming out of the ground and into the structure.

If you want to get your crawl space dusted, don't let anyone use any pesticides such as Sevin or Dri-Die. Workers may have to go under the house for plumbing or furnace problems, and they shouldn't have to crawl through pesticides. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is absolutely safe and won't hurt people or pets who encounter it. I wouldn't let anyone use any liquid pesticides in a crawl space either as the fumes can easily enter your home and endanger your family. Contrary to what some pest-control companies will tell you, there isn't any such thing as a safe pesticide. They are all dangerous. In fact, I believe it is true that pesticides do more damage to humans than any pests.

If you want your crawl space inspected for wood-destroying insects or other pests, I can recommend someone and I won't recommend anyone who uses pesticides in this area to prevent pests. If you have an active infestation of termites in the structure, then a termiticide will be necessary as you are past the point of prevention. I can also recommend honest and competent termite companies.

Occasionally mice are a problem and are entering the home from the crawl space. In this case it is necessary to go under the house and close off or seal any access they may have to the house. It is possible you will be sealing some rodents in the house, so you will want to set some snap traps baited with a piece of Slim Jim beef jerky to catch any in the house. Never use rodenticides in the house or under it as you could create a health hazard if a dead mouse is diseased and cannot be retrieved. Also, any fleas or mites on the rodent will leave the carcass and can bite the occupants of the home. I never recommend using rodenticides in any situation. If your pest-control company is putting out mouse poison, ask them to pick it up and set out some traps.

If you need a recommendation for an inspection, treatment or mouse exclusion, feel free to contact me. You can reach me at [e-mail] or by phone at 385-2820.

Visit The Bugman & Holly's Animal Sanctuary and Reptile Rescue at www.askthe

bugman.com. The site is frequently updated.