Sadly, household pests are a common problem many Americans live with daily. From a small ant infestation or flies around your property to rodents, spiders, termites, and more, an infestation can be extremely damaging to your home and your health.
Depending on where you are in the country, you might find you continually see a specific type of pest; for example, Texans will more commonly encounter cockroaches than other pests, while termites plaque the residents of West Virginia and those living in Washington might find they see more spiders than other states, or you might find you get multiple different species trying to invade your home and take over.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a limit of one household pest per state, and while some are more common in certain parts of the country, many more can live and even thrive across the entire country.
But with so many different pests to look out for, what exactly are the telltale signs of some type of infestation? While some are more visual or audible, others are more discreet in their takeover of your home.
So, let’s examine some signs that you might have a problem you need to address in your home.
Bad Odors
If you’ve noticed some new and rather unpleasant odors around your home but can’t quite figure out what is causing them, it might be that you have an infestation. The source of the odor can vary, and different pests will have a different pungent scent accompanying their presence. but something that’s not quite right hitting your nostril can be a telltale sign that there could potentially be some unwanted guests in your home.
If you have a musty or oily smell in your kitchen or pantry, for example, you could have cockroaches, as this smell is often associated with this type of pest.
However, an ammonia or urine smell will be courtesy of rodents in your home or even squirrels. But a sweet, musty smell in your bedroom could be thanks to a bedbug problem. If you have eliminated all sources of odor in your home and have cleaned and checked for rotting food, damp issues, etc., and are at a loss as to the source of the smell, it’s time to call in Pest Control services to check for an infestation. Remember, these pests not only cause damage to your property but can also pose serious health risks, making it crucial to address the issue promptly.
Random Sounds
Is something going bump in the night? While it might not be something supernatural causing those late-night sounds or noise during the day, it could be some unwanted pests joining you under your roof.
Scurrying sounds could be rodents making their way across your floors, as can slight thumping due to tails hitting furniture or walls.
Buzzing or humming can indicate flies or mosquitos, while humming or buzzing is a sound bee and wasps might make around your property.
A rustling in your walls, however, might signal the presence of carpenter ants. Multiple sounds are associated with a wide array of common household pests, and if you notice new noises or anything untoward, call in the pros to help you ascertain the variety of pests you’re dealing with and eradicate the problem quickly.
Damage
A major sign that you have a pest problem is the visible damage that some pests can cause. From rifling through trash to munching through food wrappers or fresh food left out or in pantries to gnawing in wood, holes in walls, damage to wooden features for termites, etc.
The exact damage will be dependent on the type of problem you’re looking at. For instance, you might find you sustain damage to your roof from raccoons, your plumbing from rodents, your internal walls from termites, and your electrical circuit from ants. As the infestation grows and the pests cause more damage, it becomes crucial to identify the type of pests and take appropriate measures to eradicate them.
Visual Indicators
Of course, you will have visual signs that you have pests. It’s not uncommon to see them around your property, both alive and deceased. Mice can be scuffling across floors alongside walls and on countertops, for example. You might see a wasp nest hanging from a porch, bedbugs on your bed, or spiders as you set foot in the tub for a shower.
Externally, you might see trash everywhere from raccoons, holes in the ground from ant activity, trials from slugs and snails, for example, or an increase in flies swarming for carcasses of dead pests on your property.
Once you notice one sign, you might have a problem; it’s highly likely you will see more and become aware of the extent of the issues. Ignoring these signs can lead to further damage to your property and potential health risks. Therefore, it’s crucial to put measures in place to take back your home and rid yourself of these unwanted guests as soon as possible.
Droppings
While droppings are a visual indicator of a pest infestation, it’s highly likely that any droppings you do actually see you might mistake for something else initially or not realize they’re there.
Typically, mouse or rat droppings are small dark pellets that can often be confused with dirt. However, it’s more the location that you will identify first prior to realigning you have droppings around your home. Along countertops, inside cupboards behind the frontier, and as long walls are common places to find mouse or rat droppings, you might even see them under your stove, refrigerator, or dryer, even as these are warmer spots and keep their presence hidden.
Cockroaches can also leave droppings as a telltale sign they’re in your home, and pests like termites leave wood shavings as their calling card to let you know they’re around.
Pests aren’t a nice issue to have, and for many people, it can be an uncomfortable and intimidating time until you resolve the infestation. You can use commonly tried and tested methods of pest removal, or you can work with professionals to help you eradicate the problem. Regardless of your choice, it’s not something you should delay addressing.
