Pests are often hard to notice until they’ve already invaded your home, which can be frustrating. Insects can be shockingly tiny and will utilize small cracks and holes to gain entry to your home without you noticing. Bigger pests, such as mice or rats, tend to be nocturnal so their movements will often go unnoticed by sleeping residents. Partnering with Smithereen helps safeguard your home or business from future pest and insect problems before they start.
Some of the more common pest infestations include:
- Rats
- Mice
- Cockroaches
- Ants
- Termites
Without proper attention, pests and insects can overrun your home quickly. Not only do they endanger the structure of your house but also the health of those inside. Pay close attention to these infestation warning signs to protect yourself, your family, and your home.
Droppings and Odors
If you spot any droppings that you can’t identify, be wary of the possibility of a pest infestation in your home. Take a look around the area for other signs of pests or insects to figure out where they may be nesting or how they might be getting into your house. Once dropping start to pile up, they’ll also start to smell stronger. In some cases, you may smell them before you see them.
Holes, Crevices and Tracks
Pests are always looking for new ways to get into your home, and any gaps in the foundation or access points make it easy for them. Even a tiny hole could be the perfect invitation for a pest to burrow deeper into your home. This might result in mounds of dirt or other matter, so be on the lookout for these telltale signs both inside and outside your living space. In addition, as critters search high and low for water, food and a potential mate, they might leave tracks that signal their travels. These tracks can help you pinpoint how pests might have gotten into—or out of—your house.
Sounds and Activity
Larger pests, such as rats, mice and raccoons tend to be most active during the night. This means that you’re more likely to notice sounds such as whining, squeaking, scratching or scurrying as you prepare for bed or if you are awake in the middle of the night. Typically, these types of sounds come from areas like walls or within an attic – these spaces are not as frequented by humans and can occasionally provide an easy entrance to your home. To check for a presence of pests, make sure to look in:
- Crawlspaces
- Attics
- Any places where you heard sounds coming from
Out of Place Materials
Pests and insects tend to build nests in places that are sheltered. Often, this is within walls or behind appliances, but generally pests will make a home anywhere they won’t be disturbed. Insects, such as termites and ants, will build their homes with natural materials such as mud or sand. Larger pests, like mice and rats, however, may ‘borrow’ your things to make their nest. For example, mice may shred furniture or other fabrics to build their nest, tear out insulation or use any other materials they can find.
Pests try very hard to remain inconspicuous when moving into our homes. But, if you can keep a look out for these common warning signs, you’ll be in a better position to take immediate action against any threats and keep your home pest and insect free.
Nests
One of the more challenging pest infestation signs is the presence of nests. Pests of all sorts like to make homes for themselves, but they aren’t all as readily identifiable as a wasp nest or beehive. Some of this owes to the fact that many different kinds of pests prefer to sequester themselves away, making detection difficult.
The best place to start to look for nests is in dark, hidden places such as behind appliances, in crawl spaces, around exterior structures (e.g., barns, sheds), or within drawers. Nests will naturally look different from pest to pest, and if one seems abandoned, don’t drop your guard. Make sure that the conditions which made the initial infestation possible have been addressed.
Complaints from Former Tenants/Owners or Neighbors
Pests often don’t remain confined to a single locale. They tend to spread to other habitations or businesses, particularly if the problem isn’t addressed quickly. Such a spread not only makes the infestation worse, but it also irritates the additional parties who find themselves dealing with it. So, if you’re talking with other residents or business managers and hear them complaining about bugs or rodents, know that it might be a more widespread issue.
Damaged Plants
Pests may not announce their presence, but they also don’t try to cover up the fact that they’re around. One of the common infestation signs is plant damage. When insects (in particular) descend on your property, they’ll typically take a toll on your landscaping. Examine perennials, ornamentals, and even grass for gnawing, which is a sign of a possible insect infestation.
You Wake up With Bites or Stings
Rising in the morning with the occasional mosquito bite probably doesn’t herald a serious infestation, especially if it’s during the warm summer months. However, regularly waking up with bites, stings, welts, or lesions may very well indicate that you’re dealing with bed bugs or fleas.
Blood Spots on Bed
Much like unexplained bites, a blood spot or two on a bed may not indicate much of an issue. When they start happening regularly, though, they’re one of the pest control warning signs. While one cannot diagnose what kind of pest you’re dealing with simply due to the presence of blood, know that bed bugs or fleas are the most likely culprits.
Changes in Your Pet’s Behavior
Pets like routine, and when their day-to-day schedule gets disrupted, they react. An astute pet owner can trace changes in the way a dog or cat is acting and infer what’s causing the issue. Is your pet scratching a lot? It may have a flea problem. Is it avoiding a particular area of the house? Perhaps that’s where you have biting insects.
What Should I Do When I See Warning Signs of Pests?
First time occurrences for smaller pests like ants, roaches, rodents, and small wasp nests can often be removed with store-bought pesticides or traps. It is not recommended that you attempt to remove larger wasp nests and bee colonies in order to prevent personal injury.
Depending on the number of warning signs you notice and the time frame, you may need a pest control service for your home or business. We also recommend you seek a professional service for signs of larger pests, like raccoons and skunks, since these animals present greater potential harm. These larger creatures often have families to contend with as well.