Pests leave behind signs that alert you about their presence. Familiarizing yourself with these signs is your first line of defense against an out-blown pest infestation. At the first sign of a pest infestation in your new home, you should consult a pest control service. Read on to know more!

1. Grime And Droppings

Pests are known to make a mess wherever they pass through. Rodents, bed bugs, beetles, and spiders like to hide in dark, humid places where they leave grease stains, crumbs, and dirt smudges. Since rodents like to follow certain hidden routes, look for signs of grime. If your floors or window sills are dusty, there may be some pests lurking somewhere in your house.

One of the main signs of a pest infestation is pest droppings. Inspect the areas, corners, and crevices in your new home where pets can hide. This includes the basement, attic, area behind your water heater, and crawl spaces. You should also examine all your furniture, beddings, walls, and floor for pest droppings.

If you find pest droppings in any of these areas, you most likely have a pest problem. To determine the kind of pests that have invaded your home, keep a keen eye on the shape and size of the droppings. For example, rodent droppings take on a conical shape.

2. Foul Smells And Strange Noises

Pests produce unpleasant smells. All pests carry their food to an area where they can enjoy it in secret. When they do not finish their food, it begins to rot. These unpleasant smells are caused by these leftover foods. Pests also nibble through food packages. This exposes the perishable foods, which may be the source of the foul smell.

Sometimes, foul odors are caused by pests dying in the walls or in their hiding places. The foul smell can also be because of their droppings. Whichever the case, the moment you notice a foul smell, it is most probably a pest infestation.

Another often ignored sign of a pest infestation is noise. Pests in your walls or attic make annoying sounds at night. Rodents make gnawing, scratching, and scurrying sounds. If you have a bug problem, listen for scratching or chirping noises. 

3. Bite Marks

Pests like nibbling at things. For example, rodents sharpen their teeth by chewing at things. If you notice food packages that have been nibbled on or damaged wires, you have a pest infestation. Remember, damaged wires expose you to the risk of a fire. In this case, you should call an electrician to replace the wires. If food packages have been contaminated, you should dispose of the food and find new places to store food items.

Pests also like to nibble at clothing. For example, beetles, bed bugs, ants, and rodents, like to chew on fabric. Inspect your fabric for bite marks. You should also check for grease, grime, dirt, and droppings on the fabric. If you notice any of these signs, you should schedule a visit from a local pest removal service.

4. Signs Of Nesting

Another sign of a pest infestation is nesting. Rodents like to build nests in areas where they live. They can build nests out of anything from scraps of fabric to shredded paper.

The best place to look for nests is in hidden places. Inspect the attic, areas between walls, crawl spaces, and under your flooring. You should also check your gutters. Leaves and debris collecting in your gutters make a good hibernation spot for insects and rodents. If these nesting areas are not destroyed, they could damage your gutters.

5. Damage To Plants And Structures

Another tell-tale sign of a pest infestation is physical damage to your new home. This includes gnaw marks and holes. Gnaw marks on furniture and small holes on your walls and floors should not be ignored. Watch out for damaged wood—termites like damaging wooden decks and furniture.

Damaged patches on your lawn should also point to a pest infestation. For example, if you notice uneven grass length or dead patches, it is likely you have a pest infestation. This sort of damage is mainly caused by beetles, voles, moles, and crickets.

In Conclusion

A pest infestation can lead to costly damages if not addressed early. Pests can cause structural damage to your new home, destroy your furniture, and even compromise your food supplies. The best way to prevent a full-blown infestation is to familiarize yourself with the signs of a presence of pests in your new home. A good pest removal service can deal with all kinds of pest infestations, from ant control, bed bug control, fly control, spider control, and rodent control.