Rochelle Park’s Slow and Steady Pace

Tricky Ticks, Rascally Rats, and Chirping Houseguests

Pests flourish in Rochelle Park, drawn to the area’s lush grounds and diverse weather cycles. Seasonal infestations are common in residential and commercial properties. 

Ticks are parasitic New Jersey pests that thrive in the state’s woodlands. They can go for years without feeding, patiently waiting for their hosts to walk by. When they bite, they do so subtly, allowing them to feed in peace and upping the risk of spreading disease (particularly Lyme disease). Removing them from the skin is tricky because their mouthparts can break off and remain embedded. Proper removal requires the use of tweezers; the idea that ticks will fall off when exposed to fire is an old wives’ tale. A match or lighter can actually increase the risk of infection; when the heat is on, ticks become irritated and regurgitate their contents, re-exposing you to their pathogens. 

Rats expose people to disease as well, commonly transmitting rat-bite fever, salmonella, leptospirosis, and hantavirus (although rare in New Jersey, hantavirus is more widespread in New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona). Rats can also transmit the bubonic plague, a serious bacterial infection, usually from the fleas they carry. While this plague devastated parts of Europe, North Africa, Asia, and the Middle East in the 1300s, it’s exceedingly rare in modern day with only a handful of cases each year in the US. This infection can be deadly if left untreated, but antibiotics make it highly curable.

Crickets are noisy creatures that are more often heard than seen. They’re frequently found in Rochelle Park basements, garages, crawlspaces, and wall voids. They’re attracted to moisture and seek out damp, moldy haunts. Because of their omnivorous tendencies, they can find food almost anywhere. They’ll eat crumbs, paper, cardboard, and fabrics . . . the dirtier or sweatier, the better. They’ll also eat each other; dead crickets attract live crickets (and infestations beget infestations) since they provide a food source.