Some pests such as rodents are a year-round problem in our city, as are bedbugs, fleas, and silverfish, but there are certain critters and creepy crawlers that become even more problematic as the weather gets warmer.
Rats and mice
The rodent problem in Vancouver has been getting worse over the last few years and it is not showing signs of slowing down. If you spot a mouse or a rat in your home it is imperative that you seek assistance from a trained specialist as soon as possible as DIY solutions are not recommended.
Keeping the property safe and closing any gaps and openings that could be used by rodents is one approach to addressing a rodent infestation. This process can be made easier with the assistance of an experienced rodent control technician, who can also inspect your property to look for potential access ways.
Examining the yard and getting rid of anything that could serve as a magnet for rodents is yet another method for preventing an infestation. This entails mowing the grass on a regular basis and cutting back any bushes or foliage. Designated places for trash, recycling, and composting must be kept clean and secure as well, and it is important to ensure that pet spaces do not have any open containers of food or other objects that could attract rats.
Squirrels
Attics, crawl spaces, and other unfinished areas of homes provide shelter from critters and the weather, which is why rodents like squirrels are drawn to them. Once inside your house, will utilize your attic and crawl space as a safe spot for their babies throughout the breeding season, while the parents are away for food. Midsummer and early spring are the squirrels’ respective mating seasons. Typically, the first litter is born around March or April, and the second in July or August.
Nesting materials are plentiful and varied in attics and unfinished basements, making them attractive to squirrels. Squirrels may make a nest out of almost anything they find in your attic, including insulation and personal belongings. This is just one way in which squirrels may wreck your day. Attic squirrels may cause significant damage to the house’s insulation and any belongings that may have been placed there. Squirrels are known to chew through wire and drywall in unfinished attics and basements.
Raccoons
As raccoons love to be active even during the colder months of the year, they may break into your attic in search of a comfortable place to spend the night instead of hibernating. Raccoons start playing courtship games as soon as winter ends, and they can become highly violent and hostile as they go about their business of finding mates and fighting over them.
Like squirrels, raccoons tend to cause more trouble in people’s homes in the spring. Because of their dexterity and surprising strength, raccoons can easily get into cedar shingle roofs, especially a roof at the end of its lifespan.
Carpenter ants
Carpenter ants’ peak season of activity is spring. They cause a lot of trouble for homeowners because of the harm they do to wooden structures (weakening and destroying them). Carpenter ants present the greatest springtime headache for property owners, as their presence can be observed for weeks at a time before mysteriously disappearing.
Pavement ants
These ants are notoriously omnivorous. They are known to feed on greasy and sweet foods. Besides other insects, seeds, honeydew, honey, bread, meats, nuts, and cheese have all been found in the stomachs of pavement ants.
Pavement ants are often found along garages, houses, concrete slabs, and even flower and ceramic pots. They enter homes through basement windows, doors, or cracks in basement walls or floors. These ants are mostly found in the masonry walls at ground level, but they can also be found in other areas of a building, such as an attic, the insulation, or even under the floor. These ants often establish their nests outside, in crevices in the pavement, or adjacent to structures.
Although they do not constitute a threat to public health, pavement ants should be avoided because of the risk of food contamination. If you spot these types of ants, get in contact with one of our pest control professionals to find out more about these insects, or preventative measures to keep them away.
Protection against Pavement Ants
These tips can help you avoid inviting pavement ants into your home.
• Trim back any bushes or trees that are too close to the home.
• Check the exterior of your home for any openings or cracks and seal them up.
• Avoid storing firewood and construction materials near your house.
• Ensuring that the kitchen is clean and clear of crumbs
Bees, Yellowjackets and hornets
Bees are beneficial to the ecosystem; therefore, Vancouverites should be happy to see them in their backyard gardens. Bees and their more aggressive relatives, yellow jackets and hornets, constitute a nuisance when they establish nests indoors. The nest will continue to expand if you do not take immediate action to eradicate it, therefore it’s imperative that you do so.
You can avoid pests entering your home this spring by adhering to a few simple rules around the house. Before anything else, you should rake up any old leaves or other yard waste and dump away any pools of water to reduce the likelihood of an insect infestation. After that, go inside to inspect the rest of your home, including the attic, basement, and any other out-of-the-way spots like the crawlspace. Now is the moment to act if you have seen pest evidence, such as mouse droppings, chewed wood, or bug nests, rather than waiting for the problem to worsen. The easiest way to deal with a pest infestation is to first identify the kind of pest accurately you’re up against. If the usual traps and deterrents are ineffective, you may need to bring in a specialist.
If you need pest control professionals to get rif of some pesky pests at your home or business, please contact us here, or call 1.844.737.8226
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