Having pests in your home is never pleasant. Some infestations are a little more obvious than others. While some pests make their presence known, others fly under the radar. If you suspect a pest infestation in your home, there are a few important steps you need to take. Here’s a breakdown:
Look for Telltale Signs
Before you can deal with a pest problem, you need to know whether it’s actually there. Keep an eye out for telltale signs of a pest infestation, like droppings, gnaw marks, and damaged food packaging and personal belongings. Unusual smells and strange noises coming from inside walls or ceilings are also worth paying attention to. Of course, spotting live pests usually signals a larger problem.
Try to Identify the Pest
Once you’ve confirmed that a problem is definitely present, try to narrow down exactly what you’re dealing with. Take the season into consideration. Is it spring or summer when the warmer weather is causing pests like wasps, mosquitoes and ants to be more active? Or is it fall or winter with the colder weather drawing in overwintering pests like rodents, Asian lady beetles and boxelder bugs? Then consider the signs you’re seeing and which pests are likely to have left them. Even if you can’t identify the pest, taking note of what you’re seeing can help when it comes time to treat the infestation.
Don’t Try to DIY Pest Control
When you suspect a pest infestation in your home, it can be tempting to grab a can of spray, set a few traps or place a couple of bait stations and call it a day. The problem is that DIY methods usually only treat the surface-level problem without getting to the root cause. DIY products don’t help you identify entry points, hidden nests and colonies, or attractants. Without knowing the full scope of the issue, you can waste time and money on ineffective solutions and even make the problem worse. It’s best to leave it to the professionals.
Get Professional Pest Treatment
To put it simply, if you have a pest problem in your home or you suspect one, getting professional pest control treatment is the most effective option. A trained technician can identify the exact pest species, locate entry points and nesting areas, identify attractants and create a treatment plan based on their findings. The treatment plan will target the cause of the problem, not just what’s visible. Professional pest treatment also comes with the added benefit of prevention, helping you avoid future pest problems.
Take Proactive Steps Until the Pros Arrive
While you’re waiting for the pros to arrive, there are a few simple steps you can take to prevent the infestation from worsening. Start by sealing food in airtight containers, cleaning up crumbs and spills, securing trash, and reducing excess moisture. Avoid sealing entry points or using repellents for now, as this can trap pests in and push them to other areas of the home, making it more difficult for the technician to locate them. Plus, once the team has eliminated the infestation, they will seal entry points for you and use exclusion techniques to keep pests away in the future.
Think you may be facing a pest infestation? Call the Pro-Staff team at (402) 819-7378 or contact us online today for professional Omaha pest treatment!
