Forest Lab

As I've alluded to before, my cabin is fairly porous. And all manner of spiders, beetles, mosquitos, flies, moths, and caterpillars regularly make their way through as a result. Many of them move on when they find their way out, or I usher them out if I can, and others like the spiders simply stay. The better solution would be to have everything firmly sealed up, but I have what I have, so the next best solution is to simply keep out as much as I can, let out what I can, and for the rest, let them do what they will. The spiders take up residence in the various corners, windows, and overhangs, and they get a steady diet of straggler flies, mosquitos, and moths in return for keeping things tidy. 

It is a crude permaculture solution, but I think it beats razing the place and killing off all of the poor buggers that make their way in, none of whom are at fault for doing so, especially given the porousness of the place. It is their forest too. 

I get the occasional mouse too, which unfortunately gets the snap trap. I hate it, but until I find a better solution, that's what happens. I used to try leaving them alone, but usually they'd just keep coming back, eventually setting up nests in bedding and soiling and ruining everything. You'll also end up with them crawling across your head as you sleep. This is without any trace of food source or any other reason to come in; all you need is shelter. 

Stumbled upon a permaculture solution for that one too. The dead mice ended up on a sacrificial log just up the trail, which I discovered was helping feed the owl family that took up residence in the trees above me. Now that their clan got going, I haven't had a mouse problem.