- Last Updated on June 22, 2021
Signs You May Have a Pest Problem
In this article, we are going to show you the signs to look out for and how to prevent re-infestation.
Please read on to find out more
Pests will leave behind evidence they are on your property. They can cause terrible damage and an infestation can even be bad for your health. Spotting the signs early can avoid a large infestation and get quicker results.
These are the big signs of pest infestation to look out for:
Pest Droppings
Rats and mice will leave droppings and urine trails. Pest droppings are a warning sign that you have rodents in the house. You might find the droppings behind kitchen appliances or in a closet.
Bird droppings on a window sill are unpleasant and we must remember faeces from any animal is toxic. Catering companies need to be on the lookout for droppings, as do homeowners.
People working in the food industry should be trained to look for warning signs of pest infestation to know what to do.
Commercial pest infestations should be dealt with using a professional service if droppings are spotted on site.
Bad smells
If you notice a bad smell, the chances are you have a pest infestation that needs to be dealt with immediately. They are warning signs not to be ignored.
- Bed bugs have a musty smell to them.
- Mice leave an odor of musty urine.
- Cockroaches give off an oily odor.
- Rats leave a smell of ammonia in the air.
Other signs to look for:
Noises
You may notice a scuttling noise that could be a sign of rodents moving around under floorboards and behind walls.
Gnawing marks
If you find electrical cables have been gnawed and gnaw marks on household items, it could be an infestation of a rat or mouse.
They can cause a lot of damage to the house. A rat can gnaw through plaster and wood and ruin your furniture. Soft furnishings tend to get gnawed to make nests with the filling.
It’s time to lay traps or call in the services of a professional.
Nesting
When the temperatures outside starts to drop, many animals come inside and will nest. Mice can get through really small holes into your house, where they will then nest and reproduce.
Identify points of entry for mice and rats and seal them off.
Rodents will use anything they find to build a nest with. You may find bits of shredded paper near the nesting area that they have chewed up. This is a sign of their presence.
You might find nests in the eaves of your house or in the attic or other evidence of nesting. The nests could belong to bees, wasps, squirrels, or birds. It is worth calling in pest control to find out what you are dealing with.
Grease marks
Rodents run along the edge of walls when moving about. When they do this, they leave grease and dirt marks behind.
Holes and tears
Holes in the packaging of food could be evidence you have a rodent on the loose. Keep food items in metal containers to prevent pests from eating the food.
Shed skin
If you find this on shelves, floors, or work surfaces, these are signs of insects at large.
Outside in the yard
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are attracted to the water where they lay their eggs. To prevent this, remove standing water from your yard, as they tend to fly over and spot it.
Mole holes
Moles will dig up the lawn to search for worms and bugs. You will see mounds they have made on the lawn.
Anthills
Check along fences and cracks in concrete for piles of coarse soil, with a small hole in the top. You may see ants going into the hole; this is their nest.
Pest control
The best thing you can do to start off is to put away these food and drink items:
- Sugar, this will attract ants.
- Cooked food on work surfaces will attract rats.
- Sugary drinks will attract wasps.
- Wine and beer will attract fruit flies.
- Crumbs will attract insects like cockroaches, rats and mice, and ants.
- Keep the home clean.
Depending on the severity of the pest infestation you can either try DIY methods or search and contact a professional pest controller. You can call for a free quote from our team on 1-877-526-0727
There are many products available to buy. The type of product you need depends on the pest infestation you have.
And finally,
We hope you have found this article helpful in spotting pests. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to drop us an email. We do our best to respond as quickly as possible.
Good luck!
Ronald has 25 years of pest control experience under his belt. He scrutinizes each control method, product and process to prevent infestations effectively.
