Brats, Baseball and Bugs

With the Brewers season in full swing and summer just around the corner, BBQ’s and tailgates are two things that are top of mind for Wisconsinites. But before you crack open a nice cold one and start tailgating at Miller Park or hosting your own backyard BBQ, remember that there may be a few uninvited guests.

The warm weather, combined with sweet smelling soda and tasty burgers, brings stinging insects buzzing to your BBQ and ants crawling for a taste. When the sun begins to go down, mosquitoes will join the party as they think you’re tastier than the perfectly grilled brat you just made.

Before you light that grill, brush up on some BBQ tips for a home-run, pest-free tailgate.

• Keep your brats, hamburgers and any other food in covered and sealed containers to not attract ants, flies and stinging insects
• Be sure to clean up any dropped food as this is a target for BBQ pests
• Drink out of clear plastic cups because aluminum cans and plastic bottles can conceal stinging insects
• If you’re tailgating before a 7:00 PM game, use repellents containing an EPA-registered active ingredient like DEET or Picaridin to protect against mosquito bites as this pest is most active around dusk

With these tips in mind, you’ll avoid bug bites and have fun-filled, pest-free BBQ’s and tailgates all summer long.

About Shane McCoy:

Shane McCoy is the Quality and Technical Training Director for Wil-Kil Pest Control, a regional pest management company providing quality pest management for residential and commercial properties throughout the Upper Midwest. As an Associate Certified Entomologist with over 20 years of experience in pest management, Shane’s blog provides expert tips and tricks, timely information and solutions for coexisting with the insect life and critters around us. To learn more about Wil-Kil Pest Control, please visit www.wil-kil.com. You can also follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@WilKilPest).