20 Tips For a Pest-free Backyard BBQ Party in Red Deer This Summer

Summer in Red Deer is the perfect time for outdoor BBQs, bringing friends and family together under the sun for good food and fun.

However, your guests aren’t the only ones looking forward to the BBQ party. Pests like mosquitoes flies, and ants all have their knives and forks out, ready to join in on the fun.

Before you break out the burgers and buns, let's chat about how to keep those pesky critters from crashing your party. We've got the ultimate guide to ensure your BBQ bash stays bug-free and full of flavour. Let's dive in

Why Summer Pests Are Attracted to Your Food

Summer pests are naturally drawn to food for reasons rooted in their biological and behavioural instincts. The tantalizing smells of grilling meats and sweet beverages emit powerful olfactory cues that attract insects from afar.

Heat and light from the BBQ grill and outdoor lighting further enhance their attraction, as many pests use these cues for navigation and locating food sources. Common attractants include sugary drinks, which pests like wasps and ants find irresistible (they have a bit of a sweet tooth!). Meats provide a protein-rich feast for flies, while sticky residues from spilled sodas or sauces can lure a variety of insects. And before you know it, you have a plague (of insects) on your hand.

Additionally, the abundance of human activity and discarded food items provides ample feeding opportunities, making your BBQ the perfect target for these opportunistic feeders.

The combined effect of these factors turns your backyard gathering into an attractive buffet for an array of pesky invaders.

Common Pests That Could Crash Your BBQ Party in Red Deer

• Mosquitoes are perhaps the most notorious; their irritating bites can itch for days and potentially transmit diseases such as West Nile Virus.
• Wasps and hornets are other common nuisances with painful stings that can cause allergic reactions in some individuals.
• Then there are ants that can quickly take over your BBQ. They’re especially attracted to sweet foods and protein-based items like BBQ meats, and once they establish a trail to a food source, it can be challenging to deter them.
• Flies are equally bothersome, often swarming around food and guests, and are capable of spreading bacteria from one surface to another. The presence of these pests at your BBQ not only affects the comfort of your party but can also pose health concerns by contaminating food or biting guests.

Tips and Tricks for Hosting a Pest-free BBQ Party

Ensuring your backyard BBQ is pest-free not only enhances comfort but also safeguards your food and health. Here are detailed strategies to keep pests at bay during your next outdoor gathering:

1. Conduct a Pre-Party Inspection: A day before your BBQ, inspect your yard for any signs of pest activity or new breeding grounds. Look under tables, chairs, and other furniture for spider webs, wasp nests, or ant colonies.
2. Trim the Grass: Regularly mow your lawn to reduce shelter for pests like ticks and mosquitoes. Shorter grass exposes these pests to predators and reduces their hiding spots, significantly lowering their presence.
3. Eliminate Standing Water: Inspect your yard for any containers, gutters, or garden features that accumulate water. Empty these regularly to disrupt mosquito breeding grounds. Even small quantities of water can be a breeding site.
4. Seal Trash Bins: Use bins with secure lids to prevent wasps and flies from accessing food waste. This not only keeps pests away but also reduces odours that attract them.
5. Declutter the Yard: Clear out yard debris, such as leaf piles and unused equipment, where pests might nest or hide. A tidy yard is less inviting to pests.
6. Use Covered Dishes: Protect your food with lids or covers whenever outside. This simple action keeps flies, ants, and other pests from contaminating your food.
7. Store Food Immediately: Quickly store leftovers in sealed containers to prevent attracting pests with lingering aromas. This practice is particularly effective against ants and flies.
8. Minimize Sweet Scents: Refrain from using floral or sweet-scented candles and perfumes during your BBQ, as these can attract bees and wasps. Opt for unscented or naturally repellent scents instead.
9. Plant Pest-repellent Flora: Enhance your garden with plants that naturally repel pests. Lavender, marigold, and citronella are not only effective but also add beauty to your space.
10. Use Natural Repellents: Create a mixture of water and essential oils like peppermint, lemongrass, or eucalyptus and spray around the yard and dining area to deter pests.
11. Offer Guests Personal Repellents: Provide guests with personal repellent sprays or wipes, especially during dusk when mosquitoes are most active. This small gesture can improve your guest’s comfort significantly.
12. Install Physical Barriers: For gatherings in the evening or at night, consider installing mosquito nets around your dining and seating areas to keep mosquitoes out.
13. Deploy Fans: Position standing or ceiling fans over your dining area. The airflow disrupts flying insects and makes it difficult for them to land.
14. Light Citronella Candles: Strategically place citronella candles around your entertainment area. Their scent is a natural mosquito deterrent.
15. Regularly Clean Pet Areas: Ensure areas, where pets eat, sleep, or play, are clean and free from food debris and feces, which can attract flies and other pests.
16. Use Food Nets: Cover all containers with fine mesh food nets to protect them from pests. This is especially useful for sweet or sticky foods that attract insects.
17. Incorporate Bug Zappers: Strategically place bug zappers around your yard, especially near the dining and cooking areas. These devices attract and kill flying insects like mosquitoes and flies, reducing their numbers during your event.
18. Apply Mulch Carefully: While mulch can beautify your garden beds, it also provides an ideal environment for pests like ants and slugs. Use cedar mulch, which has natural oils that act as insect repellents, and keep mulch dry and at least a few inches away from the foundations and plant stems to discourage pests.
19. Set Up Trap Stations: Before your BBQ, set up non-toxic trap stations around your yard to catch and reduce the population of pests like wasps, ants, and flies. This pre-emptive measure can lessen the number of pests that might disturb your guests during the event.
20. Opt for BuzzShield® Complete: If you’re looking for a sure-shot way to get rid of pests from your backyard? Book BuzzShield® Complete for comprehensive, year-round pest protection. This service ensures that every corner of your backyard is safeguarded against a wide range of pests, making your outdoor living spaces more enjoyable and your gatherings a hit without the nuisance of uninvited pests.

Enjoy a Buzz-Free Backyard with BuzzShield® Complete

As you plan your summer BBQs, remember, that proactive pest control works best. Buzz Boss has three pest control packages (BuzzShield® Insect, BuzzShield® Rodent, and BuzzShield® Complete) that help create a defensive barrier around your property to keep insects and rodents from entering your yard.

For those immediate, one-time needs, consider our Special Event Treatment service, perfect for ensuring your special gatherings go off without a hitch.

Don't let pests spoil your fun—contact Buzz Boss today and schedule your service for a truly enjoyable, pest-free BBQ party.

In addition to Red Deer, we also provide pest control services in Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Okanagan.