How to Control Roundworms in Soil

Overview

Roundworms, parasitic organisms most frequently found in the intestines of dogs, can exist in animals such as cats and raccoons. Controlling roundworms in soil is important; human ingestion of larvae can cause an array of health problems. Take precautions to get rid of roundworms in soil, but it is fairly simple to keep them from taking root in the first place.

Step 1

Treat your pets with preventative worming each month. The pills, available through veterinarians, make animal bodies resistant to roundworms, and roundworms in stool are rare. The pets also should visit the vet once a year to make sure they are free of these organisms.

Step 2

Clean up pet droppings in the yard daily. If the feces do contain roundworms or roundworm larvae, those organisms can easily transfer to the soil. Make sure to discard the feces immediately in a tightly knotted trash bag.

Step 3

Keep your eyes peeled for droppings from wild or feral animals in the yard. Clean up these droppings immediately using a shovel or other scooping device. Pour boiling water on the area where they were found and on the tool used to remove them. Only scalding liquids can kill roundworms.

Step 4

Make sure the fencing around your yard is secure enough to keep feral animals out. Patch holes and loose boards immediately.