It’s important to discuss what to look for and what to do about it. When you first notice evidence of pests it may be as obvious as seeing the actual critter or as subtle as just seeing signs that there’s been pest activity. No matter what type of pest it is, it’s very likely they've been there for some time before you even noticed.

Some signs to look for include:

• Pest droppings. Whether it’s insects or rodents, one of the first signs of a pest problem will be droppings. They are constantly on the hunt for food so they are also almost constantly leaving droppings behind. Droppings are more likely to be seen from pests such as rodents or cockroaches.
• Holes in food bags or boxes. Pests are relentless in their pursuit of things to eat and unfortunately, that usually involves the food that is stored in your pantry or cabinets. It will be obvious if they’ve been getting into your food and you should immediately throw away anything that has damaged packaging. Pests will not only eat your food items but they’ll also nest in them.
• Pest activity. Though pests don’t typically make their presence known and will tend to come out when they sense the coast is clear, it’s very likely you will see them eventually if they’ve infested your home. Whether it's insects or rodents, they will scurry around in the darker areas behind furniture or around edges of kitchen appliances including near the sink where they often seek moisture.

Now that you know some basic signs to look for let’s discuss what steps to take if you notice a problem. These are basic steps and depending on the severity of the problem it may take more drastic actions to solve the issue. It’s always advisable to call a professional pest control company to evaluate the problem, and they will provide further advice for a successful extermination.

• Do some cleaning. Throw out the items in your pantry that have been exposed to pests. If an item looks untouched, move it to another area such as a box or table to restock later after you’ve cleaned up. Wipe down any surfaces that you had the items stored on and mop up the floor including around baseboards.
• Keep an eye out. If you’ve seen evidence yet are unsure what type of pests exist in your home you can keep watch over the area once it’s cleared as pests tend to follow the same path if they’re still in your home. Identifying them will help if you need to have some professional exterminating done. Of course, a professional pest control technician is your best bet to identify and combat a problem.
• Call a professional. Although you may be able to spot and identify the pests, actually solving the problem is a bigger challenge. Depending on the type of pests and the extent of the infestation it can take more than one treatment to successfully tackle it. A professional technician will know what treatment works best and where to apply it. Sometimes a combination of traps and a pest poison is needed to control the infestation.

The professionals at Spence’s Pest Control are your trusted local leaders in pest control. Visit us online or call (804) 276-6703 for an estimate.