Mosquito Control for Kids & Pets

Best Mosquito Control Solutions for Kids and Pets in NE Minnesota

When you have kids and pets in NE Minnesota, summer is when they're outside the most. It’s also when mosquitoes are at their worst.

The lakes and forests that make this area a great place to raise a family also produce mosquitoes at an industrial scale. It can make yard time miserable for everyone, including your dog! (What did they ever do to anyone?)

The question most families have isn't just how to control mosquitoes. It's how to do it in a way that's appropriate for a household with small children and pets. Here's what to know.

Professional Treatments Dry Quickly (Usually 30 Minutes)

One of the most common concerns is whether yard treatments are compatible with kids and pets. The answer is that our EPA-registered products are designed for residential use. And they dry within about 30 minutes of application. 

The treated area is ready to be used once the product has completely dried. Kids can play and dogs can run.

Our barrier treatment targets the vegetation where mosquitoes rest, not the open lawn where kids and pets spend most of their time. The product reduces mosquito populations by up to 90% for up to 21 days.

If you prefer a plant-based approach, we also offer a natural treatment made with essential oils. It doesn't last quite as long as the traditional treatment, but it's another option for families who want it.

Teach Kids to Help With Source Reduction

Standing water is where mosquitoes breed. Getting kids involved in dumping and flipping water sources is a practical way to teach them about mosquito prevention while reducing the breeding habitat on your property. You can even make a game out of it. Toddlers will jump at any parent-sanctioned excuse to knock stuff over if you give it to them.

Walk the yard with them and show them what to look for: plant saucers, buckets, their own toys that hold water, tarps, and low spots. If you want more practical advice you can follow, check out this video on the 7 T's of mosquito control.

Use Age-Appropriate Repellents

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends DEET at 10 to 30 percent for children over two months old. Picaridin is another effective option. Oil of lemon eucalyptus works well but isn't recommended for children under three.

Apply repellent to exposed skin before kids go outdoors, especially around dusk. For young kids, apply it to your own hands first and then to their skin. It’s best not to put it on their hands if they’re still at the age where hands go right into their mouths. Reapply according to product directions after swimming or sweating a lot.

Don't Forget Tick Checks

Unfortunately, deer ticks are becoming more common in Northeast Minnesota. That means Lyme disease risk is growing too. If your kids and pets spend time near wooded edges, tall grass, and leaf litter, there’s a risk it could make them sick.

Do a thorough tick check after every outdoor session. For kids, check skin folds, the hairline, behind ears, and anywhere clothing fits tightly. For pets, check around the collar, ears, between toes, and under the tail. If you’re looking for practical ways you can reduce the presence of ticks on your property, check out this video on the 6 C's of tick control.

Keep pets on a veterinarian-recommended tick prevention product through the season. Combined with professional yard treatment, that's two layers of defense working together.

Need Mosquito Control Near You in Northeast Minnesota?

Professional yard treatment reduces the population. Personal repellent provides individual defense. Source reduction removes breeding habitat. Tick checks catch what gets through. No individual step is 100% effective, but if you do all of them, it’ll likely make your summers a lot more comfortable for the whole family, whether they have two legs or four.

Want to help keep your kids and pets more comfortable outdoors in NE Minnesota? Call Mosquito Squad of NE Minnesota at (218) 325-9495 or contact us online for a free quote.