Total Critter Control: An Essential Guide to Controlling Any Sort of Critter, from the Merely Pesky to the Outright Dangerous

Critters are everywhere. From the lone homestead at the edge of a remote forest to the multiple split-levels of suburban subdivisions, no property lines are safe from animal invasion. As suburbs continue to spread, millions of homeowners face these invasions every day. Most critter encounters are mere nuisances--a deer nibbles the strawberries from the garden, a squirrel lunches on seed from the bird feeder, or a raccoon knocks over the trash can. Yet even these encounters can be dangerous--that deer munching strawberries may be carrying the tick bearing Lyme disease, that squirrel may be nesting in the attic insulation, that raccoon may be rabid. How does a homeowner cope?
TOTAL CRITTER CONTROL gathers in one comprehensive volume advice from numerous experts who offer the wisdom of their vast and varied experience. Fully illustrated throughout, it provides detailed information on elimination methods that not only are effective, but also safe, legal, and humane. It shows you how to identify many critter species, where they live, and what they eat; why you should never handle wild animals; and how to use territory to your advantage. With helpful lists of deterrent products and where to find them, as well as how to contact helpful organizations, TOTAL CRITTER CONTROL is a must-have handbook for anyone who wants to learn how to coexist peacefully with critters.

DON SEDGWICK has worked in the publishing world since 1977, including several years as the Canadian publisher of Doubleday Ltd. and Scholastic Inc. He currently teaches publishing to postgraduate students and is the president of a literary agency. His writing has appeared in magazines, newspapers, and books. When he is not coping with raccoons, neighbors' noisy dogs, and the occasional skunk around his home in the city, he has to deal with foraging deer and a plague of spiders at his rural farmhouse.