10 Signs of Pest Infestation & What to Do About Them

Ever noticed tiny droppings around your home or mysterious marks on your wooden furniture? You could be dealing with a pest infestation. Whether it's rodents gnawing at your wires or insects leaving strange odours, these warning signs shouldn't be ignored. It's not just about the unsightly mess they create but the potential harm they can inflict on your property if left unchecked. So, what should you do before the problem escalates?

10 Signs of Pest Infestation

• Droppings or urine stains
• Gnaw marks on wood, wires, or insulation
• Live or dead pests in your home
• Evidence of nesting
• Persistent musty or oily smells in food storage areas
• Evidence of tracks and grease marks
• Scratching, squeaking, clicking, fluttering, and other noises
• Damaged landscaping
• Mysterious insect bites on your skin
• Shed wings, hollow-sounding wood, or wood with visible holes

Droppings and Urine Stains

If you've noticed small, rice-shaped droppings in hidden corners or tiny, peppery pellets under your sink, you're likely sharing your space with unwanted pests. These signs are telltale evidence of rodents like rats and mice, or insects such as cockroaches and termites. Don't ignore them. They're not just unsightly—they indicate a need for immediate action.

Look out for urine stains, especially near food sources. Distinct odours, such as ammonia or mustiness, often accompany these stains. They're significant signs of pest activity and shouldn't be overlooked. Your nose can be a vital tool in identifying and locating these unwanted guests.

Identifying droppings and urine stains can help you pinpoint pest entry points. Knowing where these pests are coming from—and where they're most active—is key to addressing infestations before they snowball. Start by checking hidden, warm spaces, as pests often prefer these areas.

Gnaw Marks

While you're on the lookout for droppings and urine stains, don't forget to check for gnaw marks on wood, wires, and insulation—these are all clear signs of pests such as rats and mice. Rodents constantly chew to control the length of their teeth, leaving behind visible damage.

While they might be small, gnaw marks can cause significant harm to your property. For instance, chewed wires expose your home to potential fire hazards. Likewise, compromised insulation due to gnawing can lead to a decrease in energy efficiency and an increase in your utility bills.

Dead Insects or Pest Remains

Spotting dead insects or pest remains in your home is a clear warning sign of a current or past pest infestation. When surveying your home, you might come across dried-up bodies of cockroaches, discarded termite wings, egg casings, or even rodent carcasses.

When you find multiple dead pests in a single location, it's a red flag that shouldn’t be ignored. While it might not seem that bad at a glance, pests don't typically die in groups unless there's a substantial infestation. You're likely not just dealing with a solitary pest but rather an entire colony or nest.

Dead pests also pose a double threat. Not only do they indicate an existing problem, but they can also lead to secondary infestations. Other pests may be attracted to these remains, ushering in a new wave of unwanted visitors to your home.

It's essential to regularly check for and dispose of any dead pests you come across. Doing so will help prevent future infestations. Remember, the longer you ignore the problem, the worse it can get.

Strange Odours

You might not realize it, but strange odours in your home can be a major clue that pests have moved in. These scents can be subtle or downright overwhelming, but they're typically out of the ordinary. Common pest odours are musty, oily, almost sweet, or similar to the smell of ammonia.

If you're noticing a persistent, unidentifiable smell in your home, particularly in areas where food is stored, this could be a sign of a rodent or insect infestation. Mice and rats, for example, are known to emit an ammonia-like smell from their urine trails. This scent is often most noticeable in small, enclosed spaces such as cupboards, drawers, or rarely used rooms.

Similarly, if you're detecting a musty or oily odour, you could be dealing with a cockroach infestation. Cockroaches are notorious for leaving behind a distinct smell that lingers after they're gone. Alternatively, if you’ve noticed more of a musty or sweet smell, bedbugs may be the culprit.

It's also worth checking vacant homes or lesser-used spaces for strange odours. These can indicate a lingering pest issue that's gone unnoticed.

Tracks & Grease Marks

Another telling sign of a pest infestation is tracks or grease marks in your home. Tracks, especially in carpeting or outdoor areas, are indicative of pest activity. They can lead you to potential entry and exit points, helping you identify where the pests are coming and going when you aren’t around. However, don't rush to clean up these tracks. They can help you pinpoint where pests are hiding and give you a better idea of the extent of their activity.

Grease marks are another red flag. Left by pests like rats, these marks can often be found along walls. They're a clear indication of the presence of pests, and like tracks, they can guide you to the pests' hideouts.

Lastly, look for trails of fragments, grime, or grease. These can help you gauge the level of infestation. The more trails you find, the more severe the infestation likely is. Remember, early detection is key to managing and ultimately eliminating a pest problem.

Visible Pests

During an active infestation, pests such as rodents, raccoons, insects, or birds could be a common sight in or around your property. Their presence, especially during daylight hours when they usually hide out, suggests a potentially heavy infestation. Don't brush off this daytime activity as nothing to worry about or a problem to fix another day; it's an alarm bell you shouldn't ignore.

If you're spotting pests in multiple areas of your home or workplace, you're likely dealing with a widespread issue. Finding them in your living room today, your kitchen tomorrow, and the office the day after isn't a series of isolated incidents—the problem is pervasive and needs attention.

When you see large numbers of pests at once, you've got a severe infestation on your hands that requires immediate action. Similarly, if these critters are popping up in unusual places like your bedroom closet or kitchen cabinets, it's a signal that the infestation has escalated. In these cases, you’ll need to react promptly to regain a pest-free environment.

Sounds

While visual signs like tracks and grease marks are obvious indicators of pests, an often overlooked clue is the sounds these creatures make.

The stealthy activities of pests like rodents, insects, and birds often come with their own soundtrack. Listen closely, and you'll pick up on the scratching, squeaking, or fluttering noises they make while they're nestled within your walls or ceilings.

Rodents, especially nocturnal ones, are notorious for their faint scratching sounds. You'll often hear them gnawing away in the quiet of the night. It's an unsettling soundtrack for sure, but it's also a clear sign of an infestation.

Cockroaches aren't silent invaders, either. When they're on the hunt for food or mates, they can emit a variety of sounds, including clicking or fluttering noises. Similarly, birds seeking shelter in your vents, attic, or chimney can create a ruckus with their loud flapping or chirping sounds.

Identifying these sounds is a crucial step in pest control. By pinpointing what type of pest you're dealing with based on their unique sound, you'll be better equipped to choose the appropriate pest control measures.

Damaged Plants or Landscaping

Out of nowhere, your flourishing home landscaping can turn into a battlefield with pests as evidenced by chewed-up leaves, bite marks, or missing plant sections. These signs are indications of a possible infestation, and while the damage might look trivial, don't be fooled.

Upon closer inspection, you might notice tunnels or burrows in your soil. This could indicate a mole or insect problem. Similarly, any root damage might be due to rodents or insects gnawing away beneath the surface. It's essential to spot these signs early to prevent further harm to your plants.

Keep an eye out for dead patches or wilted plants. Abnormal growth patterns can also be an indicator. These might be due to pests wreaking havoc on your once-vibrant garden. Leaf discoloration, holes, or webbing on plants are other indicators of pest presence.

Lastly, be vigilant for droppings, eggs, or larvae around your plants. These suggest an insect infestation. It's not a pleasant sight, but it's important to identify these signs early. Remember, the sooner you act, the better chance you'll have of saving your garden from a full-blown infestation.

Bite Marks on Skin

Despite your best efforts to keep pests at bay, you might notice mysterious bite marks on your skin. Unfortunately, this could be a disturbing sign that you're dealing with an indoor infestation. It's critical to identify these marks as they can reveal the type of pest you're dealing with.

Bed bugs, for instance, leave red, itchy welts on your skin. These bites often appear in clusters or lines, a telltale sign of their nocturnal feeding habits. If you're waking up to a fresh batch of itchy welts, bed bugs could be your culprits.

On the other hand, flea bites usually result in small, discoloured bumps with a red halo around them. If you've got pets at home and discover bites around your ankles or on your lower legs, fleas might be your unwanted guests.

Spider bites can cause redness, swelling, and pain at the bite site, while tick bites can lead to a red spot or rash, sometimes with a distinct bullseye pattern. It's important to take these signs seriously, as ticks can transmit serious diseases like Lyme, Tularemia, and Ehrlichiosis.

Pest Control Products

Battling a pest infestation requires the right tools, and that's where pest control products come into play. These include traps, baits, repellents, and insecticides. Each product is designed to eliminate or deter particular kinds of pests, helping you regain control of your living space.

Some products are formulated to target specific pests. For instance, you'll find solutions for rodents, ants, cockroaches, or even termites. It's important to identify your pest problem accurately to ensure you're using the most effective product.

If you're conscious about the environment, there's good news. Several companies manufacture organic and eco-friendly pest control products. These alternatives can be just as effective as their chemical-based counterparts but with less environmental impact.

Remember, the key to success lies in proper usage. Even the best pest product can fail to yield the expected results if it’s misused. Follow the instructions closely to ensure effectiveness.

Lastly, don't hesitate to consult a professional pest control service. They can help you determine the most suitable product for your specific infestation. It's a small step that can make a big difference in your fight against pests.

What is the Best Way to Prevent Pest Infestation?

When it comes to pest remediation, one of the best ways to keep unwelcome guests away is to prevent them from getting comfortable by making the home unappealing. This can mean taking out the trash regularly so it doesn’t build up and attract them or keeping a dehumidifier in the basement to prevent pests who like dark, moist places.

It’s important to recognize why pests want to be in your home: they want food, water, comfortable temperatures, and shelter. This means a variety of things can attract them to be in your home, including:

• Garbage, particularly food waste
• Dirty dishes
• Leaky pipes in the walls
• Firewood
• Overgrown landscaping
• Paper and cardboard
• Clogged gutters
• Cracks in the walls
• Pet food
• Houseplants

Being vigilant against every possible thing that can attract pests to your home is a tall order, but regularly taking out the trash and cleaning your home is a good place to start. To prevent pests, remove their sources of food, water, and shelter.

Prevention isn’t always possible or successful, so what do homeowners do when the pests are already in the home? Here are some different strategies homeowners can use to help get rid of the pests that have already settled in:

• Set out traps. There is a wide variety of different pest traps available for homeowners to buy that target different pests. If the home has pets living in it, be sure that the traps are pet-safe.
• Use a cup of apple cider vinegar mixed with a drop of dish soap to trap fruit flies.
• Keep the home clean in order to take as many appealing places to live away from pests as possible.
• Seal entry points to the home by using mesh or chicken wire for larger creatures or caulking for insects.

These DIY pest remediation ideas can be helpful for small outbreaks, but if the insect problem or rodent problem becomes an insect infestation or rodent infestation, it’s time to call a professional exterminator.

Getting Rid of Termites in the Home

Termites can destroy the structural integrity of a home. Termites consume wood and can eat their way through support beams and other wooden structures of a home. Not only can the structure become infested, but antiques, furniture, and other wooden items can also harbor and become a meal for termites. Homeowners may be able to see the shed wings of termites and their excrement that resembles sawdust. Other signs of an infestation include visible holes and sagging floors. In addition, if you tap on wood and it sounds hollow, you may have stumbled upon a termite infestation.

Termites can be difficult to exterminate, but it is necessary as an infestation can reduce home value and cause safety issues in the house's structure. This is tough enough for homeowners, but anyone trying to sell may find it difficult to get offers if these issues aren't fixed.

Getting Rid of Rats and Rodents in the Home

A home with a rodent problem can be an unsafe home. Rats chew and gnaw on things. In addition to creating holes in floors and walls or around the property, rats can chew on electrical wires. This tendency can lead to electrical issues and fire hazards in a home. Finding the point of entry and identifying existing rodent nests is vital.

Getting Rid of Wasps in the Home

As the summer season arrives, the wasp population grows. Wasps can become quite a problem if you're planning a backyard barbecue and have a wasp nest nearby. As the summer progresses, wasps commonly become more and more aggressive.

Bald-faced hornets and yellow jackets like to make a nest under decks, in bushes, in the ground or in trees. The hanging nests can grow to be the size of a basketball or even bigger. Sometimes you may not know that there is a nest until you disturb it. Once disturbed, the wasps become very agitated, and you'll find yourself running for cover very quickly.

Prevent Wasp Nests from Forming

Here are a few things you can do to help prevent the creation of a wasp nest on your property:

• Remove any fruit that has fallen from trees
• Treat any exposed wood
• Look for any hollow entry points along windowsills, decks, and driveways and seal them up
• Make sure that your outdoor garbage cans are closed tightly
• Cover any proteins and sweet drinks that you may be enjoying outside
• Place wasp traps along the edge of your property

If you Discover a Nest

If you plan on handling the nest yourself, look for a spray that can reach a minimum of 4.6 metres. This will reduce the chances of getting stung by the wasps. These products are available at most hardware and home improvement stores. The best time to spray the nest is before sunrise or after sunset. Wasps are more active during the day.

If you are allergic to wasp stings, you should never try to handle a wasp nest on your own. Call a local professional instead.

Getting Rid of Voles in the Home

These are small rodents that can be anywhere from 12 to 20 cm in length with dark brown or gray fur. They make their way through the yards by burrowing tunnels and you can often see the evidence when you're looking at your yard. It looks like there are runways on the lawn, and you may see further damage as well.

Most exterminators will use trapping methods to get rid of these rodents, along with toxic pesticides that are put into the holes. It's a difficult situation to deal with since many homeowners don't want to have mousetraps in their yards or chemical pesticides that can be poisonous to children and pets.

Here are a few other alternatives that you can try if you want to stay away from trapping and pesticide use:

• Put cinder or gravel barriers around your garden. The barriers should be about 7 inches deep and at least a foot wide. The sharp particles in the cinder can deter the voles from rushing into your garden.
• Wrap a piece of mesh or chicken wire around your tree bases to prevent girdling of the trunks. The wire should extend below the soil.

Many gardeners use castor oil to help with this problem. The castor oil method was researched at Michigan State University, and it was discovered that using at least a pint of this oil distributed over 5,000 ft.² would work.

Getting Rid of Bed Bugs in the Home

You have probably heard of bed bugs—those nasty little creepy crawly insects that love to terrorize a home and its inhabitants. If you’ve never had the unfortunate experience of dealing with these bugs in your home before, consider yourself lucky. They are one of the hardest pests to exterminate, and often it takes multiple treatments to get rid of them completely. If you're renting and having a hard time getting your landlord on board, you may need to seek the advice of a bed bug attorney. 

How to Determine if You Have Bed Bugs

If you wake up in the morning and find yourself mysteriously covered in bites, this can definitely be considered a clue. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have bed bugs, since there are other insects that can bite you at night, but bed bugs are a possibility.

Another sign of bed bugs is brown or reddish-coloured skid marks on your sheets. It’s terribly gross to think of and even more disgusting to look at in real life. Apart from these two obvious signs, it’s actually quite difficult to see a real bed bug. These critters hide away during the light of day planning the sneak attack they can make at night. Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean that they’re not there.

Where do the Bed Bugs Hide?

Here are just a few places that bed bugs choose as their hiding spots:

• Underneath a mattress
• In a bedframe
• Inside cracks in the wall
• In cracks in wooden furniture
• In piles of clothes
• In picture frames
• In hardwood floor groves
• Just about anywhere there is a thin crack or crevice

Even replacing your mattress entirely isn’t guaranteed to rid you of bed bugs (though it is an excellent reason to never buy a mattress secondhand!)

Even exterminators have a hard time diagnosing a bed bug problem. In fact, many extermination companies these days have a canine that has been specially trained to sniff out bed bugs.

Take Control of Your Pest Problem Before It’s Too Late

If you've noticed droppings, gnawed wood or wires, dead bugs, strange smells, tracks, or grease marks, you've likely got a pest problem. Visible bites or marks on your skin can be another sign of pests, and don't forget to check your plants for damage, too. It's crucial to act quickly to prevent further infestation, so don't hesitate to reach out to pest control professionals.