How Do I Know If I Have a Pest Infestation? Signs to Watch For
You’d think you’d know if you have a whole colony of pests living under your roof, right? Well, think again! An estimated 75-85% of all homeowners have a pest problem and many of them don’t even know it’s there. Many pest species are small and stealthy, allowing them to multiply in your home undetected for weeks, months or even years.
Do you want to make sure you’re not currently sharing your home with bugs or rodents? Keep reading to learn more about the signs of a pest infestation in your North Carolina home.
5 Signs of a Pest Problem
Visible Damage – Some pests can be quite destructive, and this is how many homeowners in North Carolina discover they have an infestation. If you find any new damage in your home, inspect it closely to see if it appears to have been caused by chewing or scratching. Rodents will gnaw at many different household items, including furniture, fabric, insulation, and wiring. Wood that appears to have been damaged from the inside out has most likely been attacked by termites or carpenter ants.
Unusual Odors – Many pests produce an unpleasant stench which you can smell even when you can’t see them. Rodents are often accompanied by an ammonia-like smell. Cockroach infestations tend to create a pungent, oily smell that grows stronger as the roaches multiply. Bed bugs are known to produce an odd musty smell that has been compared to both raspberries and cilantro. If you begin to smell these types of odors or anything else peculiar that you can’t find a source for, it’s likely that there are hidden pests living in your home in North Carolina.
Nest Discovery – A sure sign that you have a pest infestation in your home in North Carolina is finding a nest. Different pests make different nests and some are more obvious than others. Finding webs is a certain identifier of a spider presence, while wasps build papery nests either hanging from eaves or inside of walls. Rodents make nests out of various materials such as grass, paper and insulation. These nests are usually found in dark places, commonly underneath cabinets or in forgotten corners of a garage or basement.
Pest Droppings – After raiding your kitchen, pests will often leave telltale droppings behind. Mice and rats both leave oblong droppings, with rats’ being much larger – sometimes close to an inch. Cockroach droppings resemble tiny pellets. Termite droppings – known as “frass” – appear as piles of tiny pellets that tend to be the same color as the wood they’ve been eating. Bed bug droppings are usually visible as tiny brown spots on your mattress. Finding any unusually fecal matter in your home is always a call for alarm; be sure to contact a pest control company in North Carolina immediately.
Strange Noises – While insects don’t tend to be very loud, rodents and larger wildlife make a number of noises when they’re living under your roof. If you listen closely, you’ll be able to hear the squeaking and scratching of mice or rats moving through your walls or attic. Larger wildlife like squirrels and raccoons tend to be even noisier. When you already suspect you may have a wild intruder, try to listen around dusk and dawn since animals are usually most active at these times. If you have a bat infestation, for example, you’re most likely to hear bats fluttering in and out of your attic at these times.
Schedule a Pest Inspection for Your Home
If you’ve seen, heard or smelled signs of a pest presence in your home, your safest option is to schedule an inspection with a licensed pest control company. Contact Sustainable Pest Systems today if you’re in need of pest control solutions in North Carolina!