Once in a while, we need to take out our magnifying glass and play detective to understand whether our home is going through an impending pest infestation.
While it is easy to get paranoid about sighting pests, you need to learn the different ways in which you can identify the signs for the same. If you feel that there are pests in your home, it will be better that you start taking measures to treat the same by investing in specialized formulas like a roach killer or an ant killer, or basically anything similar according to the situation you have to tackle. If the situation is severe, don’t waste any time to call in pest control services.
The Signs to Know You Have Pets in Your Home
Read on as we discuss the different signs that will help you recognize whether or not there is a pest infestation in your home.
Nesting
The reason why you should prevent the entry of pests in your home is that once they do enter it, they will stay there for a long, long time—something which you don’t want at all.
From the point of view of pests, they have found a comfortable home that will not only keep them safe from predators but also has a ready supply of food and water. This is precisely why they would want to live there throughout their lives which also means another dreaded thing—reproduction.
Pests like to make nests to start their families and for this purpose, they will choose areas of your home that are mostly dark and secluded. Think areas behind appliances, within loft installations, and in-wall cavities. Try to keep your nose out as the smell will help you find the correct location of the nest.
Smell
Speaking of noses, it’s important for you to take measures if you find any kind of suspicious smell in your house. Kitchen and basements are your usual high-risk areas and if you smell a distinct musky odor, get your detective hat on.
The nest of pests has a really nasty smell that is musky with ammonia notes. You can compare this smell with an unclean pet rabbit hutch as well.
We would also like to point out that this warning sign can be a sure shot way to find out the existence of pests in your home.
Leavings
If you find foreign animal droppings in different parts of your home, you do not really need more convincing that the pesky pests have arrived in such cases. But then again, you also need to handle the situation with extreme care.
You see, the waste droppings of a pest may contain dangerous pathogens such as viruses and bacteria that can have a negative impact on your health. It’s really important for you to clean the contaminated area as thoroughly as you can.
To understand how to proceed, the trick lies in identifying the pest by taking the help of its leaving. For example, larger pests such as raccoons, mice, and rats will have obvious droppings. But, it is in the case of smaller pests such as cockroaches that it can be a bit more difficult to figure out. In the case of cockroaches, their droppings have the same look as coffee granules so if you find something similar at really odd places, the red flags in your mind should start waving.
Noise
Now, we all know how being quiet is not the same as being silent. This is exactly what pests can be defined as.
During the night, pay careful attention to any suspicious noise as it is the best way to hear them since they are the most active then. You can place your ear against the walls of your home. This will help you to hear any movement in the wall cavities which is the place where pests often tend to hide.
It is equally important to not forget the ceiling, especially if you have an attic or any similar location that has a crawl space. The sound of any pitter-patter is the pest exploring your home.
Damaged furniture and wiring
If you have dealt with pest infestation before, you may be aware of how gnawed sofa legs or chair legs are the work of mice or any other rodent in particular.
Rodents have a tendency to chew at anything because it helps to slow down their constantly growing teeth. This also means that nothing in your home will be safe from their constant chewing—wood, wires, pipes, plastic, insulation, and so on. You name it, and they will chew on it.
For finding out such signs, check around the base of cupboards, different pieces of furniture, and around the skirting boards as these are the most common areas where rodents and various pests like to attack first.
And, of course, don’t forget to keep an eye out on food items. You most certainly won’t have a hungry burglar attack your home so that’s another tell-tale as well.
Takeaway thoughts
If after looking over your entire abode, you do not find signs of an infestation, you can breathe a sigh of relief as you don’t have anything to worry about—for now. Make a point to develop a routine for checking these simple signs periodically to help you catch pests early.
If you find out that there are indeed pests in your home, you can either eradicate them yourself by using poisons and pesticides such as specialized killer formulas, or you can contact your local pest expert to help control a further infestation. The former option isn’t feasible in serious cases as there is really no guarantee that you will be able to get them all. The good news is that there are many reputable pest professionals or pest control agencies that can offer you a free service as well as an estimate. So, there really isn’t any harm in contacting them.
Resources— Official Pest Prevention, Mother Earth Living
