Crawling and flying insects as well as parasitic mammals are the last thing you want to see in your home because more often than not, these creatures move in large groups and reproduce at an alarming rate. There are sometimes just a few days between the first time you notice a pest in your home and the moment you realize you have a real infestation on your hands. It’s therefore essential to be able to detect the signs of the presence of pests in your home in order to take appropriate measures, especially during the summer. If you are moving in the next few weeks or are considering buying a home, here are a few things you should keep in mind to protect yourself against vermin.
Indoor Signs that Should Alert you
The first thing to do if you move to a new location is to do some research on the most common vermin species in your new environment. When visiting an apartment in a building or a neighborhood you’re not familiar with, pay close attention to the presence of insect droppings and other pest excrements, as well as warning signs of the presence of vermin such as nests around the building. Once inside your new place, more subtle signs can alert you to the possible proximity of pests, including the presence of an unusual amount of pesticide products in the cupboard under the sinks in the kitchen and / or the bathroom. Certain smells can also tell you whether or not vermin have been there. For example, mice imbue the places they infest with a strong and persistent urine odor, while rats’ natural scent is closer to ammonia. Also be aware of possible movements and scratching noises in the walls, which are fairly reliable indicators of the proximity of unwanted species.
Outdoor Signs to Pay Attention to
Whether you already live in a property with an interior courtyard or are preparing to move into one, be vigilant of the surrounding environment to identify items that may attract pests, such as a driveway littered with trash cans or garbage bins. Hanging electrical wires are often overlooked or deemed harmless, but they are attractive to mice and rats who love to chew on them to sharpen their teeth.
Inside the limits of your property, know how to recognize the signs of the presence of pests or things that may attract them. It almost goes without saying, but you should maintain your land so that you don’t have standing puddles on your property as they are strong magnets for flies in the summer. Plants with bite marks at the base and on the edges of the leaves are indicators of the presence of insects that feed on plants. Plus, a lawn that is uneven in length or has unexplainable circular brown spots is also a sign of the presence of pests on your property.
Other more intuitive clues include holes dug by moles and earthen structures built by ants, among other things.
If you are about to move into a new home, keeping an eye out for signs like the ones mentioned in this post could save you from making a big mistake. If you already live in a place where you expect to spend the next few years, know how to recognize and prevent the signs of a potential infestation so that you can take action. If the situation has grown to such an extent that you need professional help, contact Gestion parasitaire du Québec without delay and we will be happy to help you get rid of the vermin!