Do you ever get that nagging feeling you’ve got uninvited guests in your house?
A little sign there, something you see in the corner of your eye there.
Pest infestations aren’t always easy to identify. But left untreated, they can turn into a major headache. Not to mention the fact that they’re super creepy and can do a number on your health.
We’ve put together 9 signs to look for that can tell you whether it’s your mind playing tricks on you, or you really have got an infestation on your hands.
1. Poop
Poop, or droppings to be scientific, is a clear sign you’ve got a pest infestation.
Handily, poop styles vary from pest to pest, so they can give us an idea of what we’re dealing with. Here are our top 5:
- Longer, rectangular pellets – mice
- Shorter, fatter pellets with pointed ends – rats
- Short, fat pellets with rounded ends – squirrels
- Small grains like ground pepper – cockroaches
- Six-sided poop – termites
Find any of these lying around, and it’s a sure sign you’ve got a pest in the house. Depending on how much you find and how frequently you find it, it’s probably time to call in pest control services fast.
2. Chewed Up Stuff
If you notice that your food packets are getting chewed up, it’s a pretty sure sign that you’ve got a rodent problem on your hands.
Both rats and mice love nothing more than to munch through your dry good, and will also gladly feast on walls, floors, and baseboards in order to gain access to your home.
3. Weird Smells
This is a delightful one.
If you notice that there’s an ammonia (strong pee) smell emanating from somewhere you wouldn’t expect, sadly that’s a sign that rats are coming and, well, peeing in your house.
Other strange smells could include a punchy odor, described as oily and nutty by one former food safety inspector. That’s a sign of roaches people, although you’d have to have a pretty serious infestation to be able to detect it by smell alone.
The sight of the little critters scurrying into every crevice imaginable at the first sight of you may be more of a tip-off.
If you are suddenly faced with an incredibly pungent smell coming from a concealed space, such as a wall cavity, it’s likely that a pest has died in there. Sorry about that.
4. A Nest in the House Worse Than Two in the Bush
It’s cute to watch birds come and go from their nests feeding their young. Rats and mice? Not so much.
How can you identify a rodent nest? Well, like birds, they like to use what they can get hold of to make a comfortable den. Only, they’re inside, so they turn to paper, plants, and fabric to make themselves a snug home.
Look out for unexpected piles of these materials in shredded form. It’s likely that you have, or had, a rodent nesting in your home.
5. Dirty Marks
Pests, from the small to the great, are not generally clean creatures.
As they move along, they like trails that can be spotted early before a reconnaissance mission becomes a full-blown invasion.
At low levels, rats and mice may brush against walls and furniture, leaving dirty marks that you can identify. Cockroaches tend to leave brown smears on walls and surfaces.
6. Springy Floors
Termites are a real pest.
Hard to spot, silent and yet one of the worst types of infestation you can get – especially in the US with so much timber construction. Every year they result in billions of dollars worth of damage to homes.
If you notice that your floors are feeling a bit springy, or saggy, or you notice bulging in sections of woodwork, it may be that you have an infestation on your hands.
This won’t go away on its own and will do a lot of damage, so make sure you get a pest control service in as soon as possible.
7. Cracking Walls
This one is closely linked to the floor issues. Termites love cellulose, which is in wood. The will happily eat away at the timber fabric of your walls, which weakens the wood and can lead to cracking in the drywall and plaster finish.
This one may indicate other issues though – you might not have pests at all. You may just have structural issues. Either way, it’s a good idea to get an expert in to have a look.
8. Spotting the Critters
They say one swallow doesn’t make a summer, and of course, seeing the occasional pest in your home doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve got an infestation.
But if you start to spot them regularly, then it’s time to take action.
Also, look out for ones that have come in to die. Look in all the nooks and crannies of your home. You might turn up more dead insects than you’d bargained for. If more appear once you’ve cleaned these out, then it’s time to get help.
9. Spontaneously Appearing Ants
Ants are a common pest in many homes. As they come from outside, their like a disease introducing conduit running in and out of your house. Some ants can also give humans a painful bite.
If you turn your back for two minutes and find food on your counter swarming with ants, then you’ve got an infestation. It’s time to get help. An exterminator will be able to identify the variety of ant you’re dealing with and treat them accordingly.
It’s a Pest Infestation – Now What?
If you’ve identified a pest infestation, then it’s time to take action before they’re everywhere.
Pests introduce disease and cause anxiety and stress for all in the family. If left untreated, pests like termites could even threaten the very fabric of your home.
Don’t delay! If you’ve seen any or a combination of the above signs, then your home is under attack. Call in pest control services today to get your home safe and clean again as soon as possible.
Leave a Reply