Don’t judge a book by its cover. Typically this idiom is used positively to halt judgment on a person or situation before learning the facts. But, unfortunately, pest infestations can often be more serious than we think.
From holes in your home’s frame caused by termites to rodents that hide in crawl spaces, it can be difficult to gauge how serious a pest infestation is.
For this reason, we’ve compiled this list of seven essential signs that you may be dealing with a pest infestation and need to act quickly.
1. You Actively Spot Pests
The most obvious sign you may be dealing with an infestation is spotting a rodent or pest in plain sight. While it’s common to spot a rodent now and then, especially during the winter, spotting multiple rodents at different points should trigger alarm bells.
Furthermore, spotting different pests like termites, cockroaches, gypsy moths, and bed bugs should trigger immediate action. Pests like these often are not isolated like rodents and typically travel in groups, warning you that you may have an infestation.
2. Dead Bugs
If you don’t spot active pests in your home but keep finding dead ones, you probably have a small infestation hiding behind your walls. Bed bug shells and cockroach shells from molting could also be a major sign of an infestation. If you spot frequent dead bugs or foreign pests in your home, contact an exterminator quickly.
3. Droppings
Cockroach and rodent droppings are very commonly found in dark places, such as basements, cabinets, and out-of-the-way places. In addition, droppings could be an early warning sign of termites. If you spot any droppings from a pest, call a pest control expert immediately. Pest droppings are often toxic so don’t clean any droppings without proper gloves and cleaning products.
4. Nests
Rodents and other pests can make nests out of brown material found inside and outside your home. For example, rodents often make nests in basements and small spaces using chewed-up newspaper and cardboard rippings.
Similarly, clogged gutters with leaves and other foliage could be a hotspot for rodent nests, so get your gutters cleaned and inspected annually.
5. Chewed Wires and Objects
Pennsylvania rodents especially love to chew on wires and garbage to keep their teeth sharpened. So inspect areas around your home for any holes in your walls, drop ceilings, chewed-up garbage, or damaged electrical wiring.
6. Awful Smells
Insect and rat droppings could carry an awful smell and alert you to any possible infestations. In addition, foul smells from wet areas in your home could indicate the presence of mold and other hazardous materials that attract pests like cockroaches that feed on the organic matter, which turns to mold.
7. Infestations Next Door
Unfortunately, while infestations may develop in homes or apartments, they can quickly spread to nearby areas. For this reason, you often hear of apartments and commercial buildings in cities that constantly deal with cockroaches.
Even if you eliminate the problem in one area of the property, it’s nearly impossible to eliminate a pest infestation across an entire building without properly quarantining and treating the entire property.
In addition, many pests like rodents will take shelter in warm areas wherever an opening is found, so they could quickly spread to many homes on your block or apartments in your building.
So the next time you think you’ve spotted an infestation, ask your neighbors or other tenants if they’ve spotted any signs. This will confirm whether or not you are dealing with an infestation.
What to Do if You Have a Pest Infestation
If you spot a pest infestation in your home, contact a qualified pest control specialist immediately.
A liquid spray solution like Raid and other traps may be effective in small infestations but often don’t address the root problem.
Furthermore, by implementing proper prevention methods, you could combat a current infestation and prevent new ones from occurring. For example, you can prevent pests through the following methods:
- Sealing off any holes or areas where pests can enter with spray foam insulation and weatherstripping.
- Cleaning up any garbage outside, including leaf piles that attract beetles that rodents snack on.
- Routinely clean your home, including hard-to-reach areas behind furniture and tight enclosures.
- Running a dehumidifier to prevent centipedes, snails, and other creatures that thrive in moist environments.
- Storing all food and edible material in airtight containers to prevent bugs.
- Repair any leaking equipment, such as faucets and pipes.
If you’re dealing with a pest infestation, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone. At Pest Rangers, we offer pest removal services with quick results and monthly maintenance plans to keep your home pest-free.
If you have spotted any of the signs above and fear you have an infestation, call us at 570-826-1114 or fill out the form in the upper right corner to schedule an appointment.