When we think about pest control and wildlife management today, we picture professional exterminators, chemical sprays, humane traps, and integrated pest management strategies. But a century ago, things looked very different.
In the early 1900s, people faced many of the same pest and wildlife challenges we do now—rodents in food stores, insects in crops and homes, wildlife raiding gardens and livestock. Without the modern tools and chemicals we take for granted, they relied on methods that were often homemade, labor-intensive, and surprisingly creative.
Understanding these old-school approaches offers a fascinating glimpse into daily life in the past—and reminds us just how far pest management has come.
Rodent Control: Traps, Cats, and Vigilance
Rodents were a constant threat in the early 20th century, especially in rural areas where stored grains and root cellars attracted mice and rats.
Traps were common, but far less standardized than today’s mass-produced snap traps. Many people fashioned homemade wooden traps, simple boxes with weighted lids, or bucket traps baited with grain.
Cats were among the most effective and popular rodent control methods. A good mouser was a prized asset on farms and in city homes alike. Families often kept multiple cats specifically for pest control.
Beyond direct killing, early 1900s households focused on prevention. They stored grains in heavy wooden bins or metal containers, swept thoroughly to remove crumbs, and maintained a constant watch for gnawed holes that needed repair.
Insect Management: Early Pesticides and Manual Labor
Without synthetic insecticides, controlling bugs was labor-intensive and highly local. Farmers dusted crops with elemental sulfur or lime to deter pests. Paris Green, an arsenic-based compound, was widely used (and dangerous by modern standards) to kill insects like potato beetles.
Home gardeners often picked pests by hand—squashing caterpillars and beetles or dropping them into soapy water. Chickens were also encouraged to roam gardens and fields, eating insects while they foraged.
Screens for windows and doors were increasingly common by the early 1900s, though they were sometimes handmade from fine mesh or even repurposed fabric. These simple barriers were among the most effective defenses against flies and mosquitoes entering homes.
Mosquito Control: Draining Water and Burning Repellents
Mosquitoes were a significant problem long before modern repellents and citywide abatement programs. Communities and households practiced what we’d now call source reduction: draining standing water where mosquitoes bred.
Ditches were dug to improve drainage around homes and farms. Water barrels were covered or emptied regularly. In some places, kerosene was poured onto ponds and cisterns to create a thin film that suffocated mosquito larvae—a method effective but environmentally harmful.
To repel adult mosquitoes, people burned various materials that produced smoke, such as dried herbs, cow dung, or old rags soaked in carbolic acid. While crude, these smoke methods helped make porches and sleeping quarters more bearable on warm evenings.
Wildlife Conflicts: Fencing, Scare Tactics, and Hunting
Farmers and homesteaders faced constant challenges from wildlife raiding crops or livestock.
Fences were the first line of defense. Split-rail, barbed wire, and woven wire fencing were used to keep deer, rabbits, and predators at bay, though maintenance was ongoing and labor-intensive.
Scarecrows were more than quaint decorations—they were serious tools for deterring birds from grain fields and gardens. Farmers also hung shiny objects, rattles, and even dead birds as grim but effective warnings.
Larger predators, such as wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions, were often hunted aggressively. Bounties were paid by local governments for their pelts or ears. While this reduced some conflicts, it also led to overhunting and long-term ecological changes.
Bed Bugs and Other Household Pests
Bed bugs were already notorious in the early 1900s. Without modern insecticides, people fought infestations through vigilance and physical cleaning.
Beds were often taken apart and scrubbed with kerosene, turpentine, or boiling water. Mattresses might be placed in the sun for days at a time to kill bugs and eggs. Some families even designed iron bed frames specifically to make it harder for bugs to climb.
Similarly, cockroach infestations were battled with borax powders, traps baited with sugar, and thorough cleaning.
Community Efforts and Public Health Campaigns
By the early 20th century, cities began recognizing that pest control was a public health issue, not just a private one.
Campaigns encouraged draining standing water to combat mosquitoes spreading malaria and yellow fever. Health departments distributed educational materials about sealing up rat holes and improving sanitation to fight rodent-borne diseases like plague.
These early public health efforts laid the foundation for modern pest management programs that combine education, prevention, and professional intervention.
Final Thoughts
Pest and wildlife management in the early 1900s was a constant, hands-on battle. People relied on physical barriers, careful cleaning, manual labor, and homemade remedies—alongside help from cats, chickens, and the community itself.
While many of these methods were crude by today’s standards, they were often effective and tailored to local conditions. They remind us of the ingenuity and resilience of earlier generations—and how modern pest control, with its science-based strategies and professional support, is a major advance in keeping our homes safe, healthy, and comfortable.
Got Wildlife or Pests?
If you think that you have a wildlife or pest infestation problem, don't hesitate to reach out to Wildlife x Team International by calling us at 855-WILDLIFE or by visiting www.wildlifexteam.com for more information.