According to a survey by the Pest Control Operators of California, the state of California is seeing an increase in rodent and bed bug infestations.

Rodent and Bed Bug Infestations Are on the Rise in California

The survey, called “What’s Bugging California Survey, 2018, was issued to licensed pest control operators in California. The results showed that 51.25% of respondents cited rats or other rodents as a growing reason for both residential and commercial customer calls, making it the fastest-growing pest issue according to the survey. The second-fastest growing issue was bed bugs, at 25.62%.

You can find more information from the survey here.

Tips for Rodent Control

Rodent behavior varies based on species. Some, like roof rats, are more prone to access your home through openings in the attic. Others, like Norway rats, will often come through on the ground floor. When in your home, rodents can destroy insulation and chew through electrical wires, which can be a potential fire hazard. They also leave urine and droppings where they go, which can carry pathogens that may cause disease.

If you have a rodent issue in your home, effective control requires multiple steps. You have to first remove the active rodents. Then, you have to exclude them from getting back in by sealing up potential pest entry points into your home. That task isn’t an easy one, as rats can get through a hole the size of a quarter and mice can get through a hole the size of a dime. Because of this and more, DIY rodent control isn’t your best solution. Learn how Terminix can help. 

Tips for Bed Bug Control

Bed bugs are feared among homeowners due to their ability to cause itchy red bites on some people, as well as their ability to quickly reproduce, causing large infestations in a short amount of time.

Generally, these bugs rest in hidden cracks and crevices during the day, coming out at night to feed.  Because of that, an infestation can be hard to detect. But there are some signs of bed bugs that homeowners can be on the lookout for, like:

  • Shed skin (exoskeleton)
  • Fecal spots on bedding
  • Blood stains on bedding or pajamas

If bed bugs are suspected, it’s important to contact a bed bug control professional immediately, rather than trying to DIY the issue. Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to control. Often times, it takes more than one treatment method to be used in a strategic way to control them. A professional not only knows where to look for bed bug activity, but is trained to properly treat the problem.

Contact Terminix today for a FREE bed bug inspection.

 

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