Infestations are terrible wherever in the world that you’re from. In North Carolina, especially, they can really take over your home. There are many kinds of pests that can infest your home in this state, and every year, during winter, you’re more likely to see an infestation. Pests want somewhere warm, dry, and safe to create a home in – the only problem is that they’re trespassing in your home, and you want them out. Know the signs of an infestation and you’ll be better able to act and get them out of your house:
Signs of a Rodent Infestation
Rodents are strange creatures. We can have rats and mice for pets, but the second they enter your home uninvited they post a health risk to you and your entire family. The urine that mice leave spreads over a large surface area and it dries quickly, meaning you might not realize you’re putting your food onto rodent urine, and as a result ingesting potential disease. Rats themselves are more aggressive and can carry serious diseases that they can spread through either biting or scratching and through their droppings. Other rodent pests can include raccoons, who are notoriously vicious to those encroaching their territory. Know the signs of a rodent infestation so you can act as soon as possible to drive them out.
-
Scratching and Other Strange Noises
The larger the rodent, the louder the sounds. Raccoons, for instance, can sound like an entire person is in your walls, scratching up the ceilings and being very loud overall. Rats and mice, however, are much quieter. The best time to catch them through hearing is in the middle of the night, when they’re most active. If you hear scratching, scampering, or even squeaking throughout your home and even in your walls, you can be sure that you have a rodent infestation.
-
Musky Odors
If you have ever had a pet rodent, you know what their cage smells like if you were a bit neglectful when cleaning out their bedding. For those that don’t, it’s a sharp smell of urine and musk – you have likely come across the smell on the street. Coming across this odor is a key sign of a nest, so try to source its location and you’ll be able to get rid of it faster.
-
Droppings
Rodent droppings are the most obvious sign of a pest infestation. Find their droppings in your kitchen and around where you store your food. If you find them, be very diligent in securing your food, throwing out anything that has been tampered with, and always wipe down your counters and other surfaces immediately before you use them.
-
Chewed Furnishings
As rodents like to make nests, they will chew and take soft materials back with them. Take note of tissues and other fabrics in your home. Chewed, frayed, and missing fabric is a key sign that you are infested with a rodent problem.
-
Tampered Food
When your food has been tampered with, you know. Most people’s pantries are filled with boxed foods – and it’s these foods that are at risk. Rodents can chew through boxes and even the plastic inside of them to get into your food. Once you notice this has happened, check all your pantry food items and throw out anything that has been tampered with. Can and metal containers are typically safe. Once you’ve thrown out all the bad food, try to better seal your pantry so that pests can’t re-enter.
Signs of an Insect Infestation
Insect infestations can be much worse than rodent infestations – at least rodents typically try to stay clear of you! Insects like bed bugs, ticks, and fleas actively want to bite and use you as their food source. Bed bugs can be particularly traumatic, as their bites are itchy, and they attack you where you’re most vulnerable – in your bed. What’s the worst about bed bugs is that they can go for days without biting you, as they’ve eaten enough in that one attack, causing physiological effects. Know the signs of an insect infestation, and stop it before it gets too serious:
-
Seeing the Pest
Insects don’t hide like rodents do – they are more brazen about living in your home. Seeing the insect itself is a very good indicator as to what you’re infested with. You’re more likely to see cockroaches and ants, for instance, than you are other potential pests. Most insects, however, are too small for your eye to catch.
-
Droppings
Bug feces can look like finely ground pepper, which means they can easily be overlooked. You’re more likely to spot dead insects and exoskeletons than you are to see feces.
-
Symptoms
Bug bites can be itchy, can leave your skin inflamed, and can even cause an allergic reaction. Keep an eye on your own body and on the bodies of your pets for any signs of an insect infestation. The worst kinds of insect infestations are ones that feast on your blood, rather than those that are scavenging for food.
What to Do When Your Home is Infested
North Carolina can have a wide range of pests that can terrorize you and your home. When you’re sure that you’re infested, search for exterminators near me Gastonia NC immediately and get the professional help you need. Some pests can be very, very hard to get rid of, which is why you want professionals in there and doing all they can to get them out of your home. An infested home is one that you can’t feel safe in. It’s one that you can get sick in. It’s one you can catch disease in. An infested home is the opposite of a home, because you don’t feel safe in it. You’re not the main occupant in an infested home, they are. Take back your home from your pests and you’ll sleep better at night.