Identify your pest: This is the first step of pest control. Proper identification will help you develop appropriate control measures. Decide how much activity you can tolerate: You may be able to tolerate an insect that will only be in your garden for a few weeks, or an occasional ant in the kitchen, but most people have zero tolerance for fleas and ticks. Learn about your pest: By learning about the pest, you can identify the most vulnerable stage in the pest's life cycle, identify needs and dislikes, and use your knowledge to zero-in on your target. Learn about how the pest is gaining access. A pet could bring fleas into the house, a gap in your window could invite spiders into your office, or a humid bathroom could provide enough moisture for mold to grow. Consider an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach: Many pest problems can be controlled without pesticides. IPM emphasizes non-chemical and low-toxicity pest controls whenever possible. If using a ...