Last week we discussed Basement Pest Control 101, so it only seems fitting that we would focus this week on attic pest control. It is a common misconception that pest control is pest control and if you can handle pests in the basement you can handle pests in the attic. Unfortunately, this typically is not the case.
Basements and attics are very different animals (pun intended) and understanding how, when, and what you’re treating for is essential. So in an effort to help clear the confusion surrounding attic pest control – here is everything you need to know about pests in the attic.
What types of pests might be in your attic?
When dealing with attic pest control you can see some of the common players in the attic. You will find spiders, possibly roaches, and oftentimes mice. But attics often come with their own unique pests as well including bats, raccoons, and squirrels.
Bats, raccoons, and squirrels?
Yes. Bats, raccoons, squirrels, (and mice) are the most common pests found in attics around our part of the country. All of these animals can carry diseases and whenever you are dealing with pests like these (with the exception of mice) animal control or other wildlife experts should be called for their removal.
Kapture Pest Control can treat for mice and other creepy crawlies but does NOT remove, repair, prevent, or otherwise treat for these much larger critters. Oftentimes contractors are also required to repair the damage these large pests can and often do cause to homes – so keep that in mind as well.
What are the warning signs of attic pests?
One of the most common questions we get concerning attic pest control is how to know if there are pests in the attic in the first place.
Luckily attic pests can be easy to detect, usually given that the pests you find in the attic are typically much larger than the pests you might find in the basement. Here’s how to diagnose your home with attic pests.
Step #1: Listen
As mentioned, most attic pests are significantly larger than an ant or roach so they are often able to be heard with relative ease. To do this wait until the middle of the night – sometime after it’s been dark for several hours and go to the highest floor of your home (the one directly under the attic) and listen.
That’s it. If you hear scurrying, digging, or any other unexpected sounds chances are you have attic pests. In fact, this is how most people discover the unwanted guests. We often get calls from homeowners saying the sounds are keeping them up at night.
Occasionally you can ignore the sounds and chalk them up to wind or tree branches but if it’s persistent it is best not to wait and to move immediately step 2.
Step #2: Inspect.
Once you have a suspicion it’s time to inspect. Don’t worry you do not need to be a pest control expert to nail this inspection, it’s all pretty standard.
Head up into your attic and look around. You want to move any boxes or bags around a bit and look for droppings, torn insulation, or any other obvious signs that something or someone has moved in.
If you encounter any animal or critter in the attic do not attempt to remove it. Many feral animals carry diseases and can be dangerous to both you and your pets so please proceed with caution if you know you are hearing large critters or call in an expert to inspect.
Once you’ve finished inspecting your attic it could be a good idea to inspect the outside of your home as well. Look for broken window screens on the attic level, missing shingles, or anything else that looks out of sorts.
This will typically indicate how they got into the attic in the first place and seeing an obvious entry-point means you have pests. 100% of the time. Either because they created the entry point or because the entry point was created naturally and their survival depends on being able to locate these entry points.
Trust us when we say if you have open exterior entry points and interior signs of pests you have pests.
Step 3: Call in reinforcements
Kapture Pest Control offers free phone consultations and can physically inspect your attic to diagnose the problem. If you are dealing with spiders, mice or any other pest in our area of expertise we can certainly discuss treatment options and next steps. As mentioned, however, if you are dealing with large animals like raccoons you will need to talk to wildlife control and likely a contractor.
The good news is that more often than not the treatment, removal, and repair process is simple and pain-free and you’ll be back to enjoying your whole home again before you know it.
Contact Kapture for a No-Obligation Phone Consultation and Quote:
Call 1-888-811-5813 or schedule online now to start protecting your home and family today!
