Pests and critters may be good at hiding, but there are numerous signs that they are lurking on your property. As a homeowner, you’ll have to become a detective, searching your home to find evidence they have set up shelter. Here are eight obvious signs that you may have pest activity from critters or wildlife and how to eliminate an infestation.
If you suspect unwanted wildlife, critters or pests be sure to call a critter control service promptly.
Nests and Webs
One of the most common ways you’ll know you have a pest problem is that you’ll see nests in low traffic places or unused areas such as the attic. Seeing nests could mean that birds have taken shelter in your home. Keep in mind that the nests you discover in the laundry room or cabinets could also indicate that mice or rats are present in your home.
In addition to nests, you may also see cobwebs. Seeing plenty of cobwebs could indicate that you may have an infestation of spiders in your home. Although some spiders only pose a threat to other bugs, it’s a good idea to act quickly to remove them since dangerous spiders, such as brown recluses or black widows, could be lurking.
Droppings and Streaks
If you have pests and critters living on your property, you may notice droppings. Mice and rats will leave behind tiny black specs of dung. They may also leave behind grease marks. Squirrels may leave behind droppings, too, but they may be the size of a jellybean and could be brown, red, or green. Cockroaches may also secrete brown marks from their body, especially if they are crawling around on cardboard boxes.
Strange Odors
Another way to know you have a critter problem is by smelling odors in your home that you didn’t before. If bats are present, you may smell a pungent urine odor and even see stains near where they roost. If you have a strong, musty odor in your home, it could indicate that you have a cockroach infestation.
Dead Carcasses
Another strange odor you may sense in your home is that of something that has died. You’ll most likely discover that these animals have died in your crawl space, attic, or even inside the wall. A pest professional can help find where their carcass is and remove it. In extreme circumstances, raccoons and squirrels can get stuck in chimneys or duct work while they are looking for food or seeking shelter.
Chewed Wood
Have you noticed that the wood in your home looks like it has holes? This damage may indicate that you have wood-chewing or wood-burrowing critters in your home. Termites are one type of critter that eats the wood in your home. Carpenter ants are as destructive as termites but destroy wood by burrowing through them. If you notice wood shavings in an area of your home, this could mean you have a pest infestation.
Gnaw Marks
Termites and carpenter ants aren’t the only ones chomping on things in your home. Other hungry pests include mice, rats, squirrels, raccoons, and possums. They may break into your home and eat the food in your cabinets and pantry, especially if it isn’t tightly sealed. You’ll know you may have a pest infestation if you see bite marks on packaged food they have attempted to eat. They may also chew on wires, wood, and drywall.
Strange Noises
Another critical way to know that you have pests on the loose in your home is if you hear scratching sounds. These noises usually come from mice, rats, squirrels, or other rodents scurrying across your home’s attic floor, inside the walls, or other spaces. You’ll typically hear these noises more frequently at night when they’re much more active looking for food or breeding.
Tiny feet running around aren’t the only strange sounds you may hear. If birds are in your home, you may listen for chirping. Also, you may hear fluttering and call sounds if bats are in your home. To eliminate these noises and keep these critters from spreading disease, it’s a good idea to get professional help such as a wildlife removal service immediately.
Sightings
One of the most significant telltale signs that you may have a pest infestation problem is you see the pests. Whether you open your cabinet and see plenty of ants or termites or see a mouse scurry past you on the floor, this is a definite sign that you have a pest issue that must be resolved.
Pest and Critter Management
In some cases, you can get traps or commercial extermination sprays to help you eliminate the pests that have invaded your home. However, since it’s illegal to kill some pests, such as bats, it’s a good idea to get the help of a critter and wildlife removal service to eliminate your pest problem. These professionals are trained to identify the type of pest, the extent of the infestation, and the most effective removal methods.
Also, since the infestation may be more extensive than you think, it’s better to leave it to an experienced professional for help.
As part of a critter management plan, a wildlife removal company such as Critter Evictors in Scottsdale, will inspect your house and property, look for how these animals enter, and seal off cracks and holes in exterior walls. They will also share preventive measures to keep pests out of your home, such as eliminating food sources that attract pests.
Maintaining cleanliness, such as regular cleaning and proper waste disposal, will also keep critters at bay. Keeping food in airtight containers can also help minimize infestations by removing potential food sources for pests.
Do you need wildlife removal and critter control services?
If you live in Maricopa County, call Critter Evictors today to have one of our professionals come out right away and provide a Free Inspection with a plan to responsibly and safely remove unwanted wildlife from your property.