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8 Uncommon Signs You Have a Pest Problem

8 Uncommon Signs You Have a Pest Problem

by | Aug 10, 2022 | Bugs, Pest Control

In some cases, there are obvious signs of a pest problem. For example, if you see a mouse scurrying across the floor or termites crawling all over the wooden beams in your basement, it’s pretty clear there’s an issue that needs to be addressed. But sometimes it isn’t so obvious.

You may hear odd noises in the middle of the night or notice unexplained damage to your baseboards. Or maybe there’s an odd smell in your pantry that you can’t identify. If you have a pest problem in your home, it’s important to find out what’s going on before the issue gets worse.

Here are 8 uncommon signs which could indicate a pest problem that you shouldn’t ignore.

1. Droppings

Small droppings are one of the telltale signs you’re dealing with unwanted pests in your home. But sometimes these droppings aren’t as obvious as you might think. Depending on the type of infestation and the age of the droppings, you might mistake them for clumps of dirt. They can also break apart over time and turn into smaller granules, making them much harder to identify.

2. Grease and dirt buildup

Many pests, including mice, rats, and certain insects tend to follow familiar routes when traveling through an enclosed area. This will often leave behind a sticky or greasy residue. For example, rats often scurry along walls, which can leave behind dark grease marks.

Cockroaches also have been observed to leave behind brown marks on walls and other surfaces, especially in bathrooms and kitchens. When you’re dealing with an infestation, you’ll often see excess dirt or grime building up, especially in smaller corners or narrow spaces that are easy for the pests to hide in.

3. Unusual smells or noises

Pests may give off certain detectable smells, which experts can often identify. But if you’ve never dealt with a pest problem before, you may not know what to sniff for. Mice tend to leave behind a musty smell reminiscent of urine, while rats are known to smell like ammonia. Cockroaches often give off an oily scent, and experts say bed bugs sometimes smell sweet or musty. If you smell something strange in your basement, crawl space, kitchen, or other area of your home, don’t ignore it.

Small, strange noises can also indicate the presence of pests, especially in the middle of the night when the house is quiet. Sounds of scratching, gnawing, squeaking, or scurrying all indicate you may have a problem with mice or rats. Large bugs can also sometimes be audible if other noises are eliminated, and generally sound like a faint buzz or white noise.

4. Damaged fabrics and furniture

If you notice fabrics developing unexplained holes or tears, it could very well be pests wreaking havoc. Many small pests are attracted to soft surfaces and will leave noticeable damage in rugs, couches, clothing, and more. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye out for damaged wood on your walls, floors, and furniture. They may have marks or loose shavings that can be explained by termites, carpenter ants, and other pests.

5. Signs of nesting

Mice, rats, and other rodents are known to make nests out of whatever is available to them, and if you look carefully, you may be able to find evidence of these nests. Search the small, hidden nooks and crannies in your home with a flashlight. Common nesting areas for rats and mice include:

  • Behind kitchen or laundry appliances
  • Inside drawers and cabinets
  • In sheds and barns
  • Behind sofas and other large furniture items
  • Other dark, small, and hidden areas

6. Woodpeckers on your property

While it’s usually nice to see birds flying around your yard, if you start to see an increase in the number of woodpeckers hanging around, it could be a sign of an infestation. Woodpeckers prey on insects, meaning that if your home is a hotspot for six-legged creatures, hungry birds will start to hang around for easy access.

7. Gnaw marks

While holes in the wall are a more well-known sign of pests, many homeowners don’t look for evidence of pests chewing or gnawing. Rats will gnaw on just about anything available to them, so keep an eye out for chewed-up baseboards, electrical wires, upholstery, window sills, old newspapers or magazines, cardboard boxes, or even drywall. Raccoons, squirrels, and other larger pests are also known to chew through wood and other materials.

8. Tracks in carpeting or outdoor areas

Although some pests are light enough that they leave very little evidence, others may leave behind grease marks, foot tracks, a trail of droppings, or small pieces of food. If you notice tracks or a trail of fragments or grease, it’s important not to clean it up until you’ve followed the trail to see where pests may be entering and exiting the area.

Do you have a pest problem? EcoCare is here to help!

Dealing with a pest infestation can be frustrating, especially if you’re not sure exactly what type of pest you’re dealing with, or how extensive the problem might be. At EcoCare, we identify and eliminate pest infestations with an effective, eco-friendly approach that doesn’t require traditional toxic materials, keeping the people and pets in your home safe.

Our team of licensed professionals can help you rid your home of pests and prevent future infestations. Contact us to ask any questions you have and set up a free inspection today!

The Most Common Pests in the Pacific Northwest

The Most Common Pests in the Pacific Northwest

by | Jun 15, 2022 | Pest Control

The Pacific Northwest, with its lush forests and wet climate, is a breeding ground for life of all sorts — including creatures you want nowhere near your home! Whether it’s Spiders, Rodents, or even larger wildlife, Washington and Oregon are filled with pests that can do real damage to a home. 

Keep reading to learn about the most common pests in the Pacific Northwest.

Rodents

Rodents are the most common pests in the Pacific Northwest and can be found throughout North America. They are also extremely destructive to your home or business, as they chew through wires and wood, which can cause fires or electrocution. Rodents have been known to eat food from pantries and cabinets, creating a mess and a health hazard for you and your family.

The most common rodent in the Pacific Northwest is the Mouse. Mice are about 1-2 inches long when fully grown, with grayish-brown fur on their back and lighter fur around their stomachs that’s easy to spot. Mice have large ears that point forward instead of towards their cheeks like Rats do. This helps them hear better than most other Rodents.

Another commonly seen Rodent in the Pacific Northwest are Norway Rats, also sometimes referred to as “Brown Rats.” These rodents are bigger than mice (upwards of 10 inches long). 

Spiders

Spiders in the Pacific Northwest are common, but fortunately most are not dangerous. Still, Spiders can draw other insects and a select few can be dangerous to humans and pests, including the famed Black Widow.

The most common species of Spiders in the Pacific Northwest include:

  • Wolf Spiders
  • Northern House Spider 
  • Giant House Spider 
  • Yellow Sac Spider 

If you see these spiders in your home, it’s likely that they came from the outdoors and are searching for a place to stay for the winter. They can be found on windows, walls, and ceilings of homes, as well as outbuildings such as garages and sheds. Most of these Spiders are not dangerous to people, but may bite if handled roughly or stepped on. If you notice one crawling around inside your home, try to capture it with a jar before it finds its way into an area where other family members can get stung.

Ants

A major nuisance for homeowners throughout the Pacific Northwest, Ants can get into your home and contaminate food, damage furniture, and other items, and cause structural damage to your property.

Ants love moisture and food — especially sweet things. They’ll also go out of their way to find ways into your house through holes in window sills, or other openings around doors and windows. Once inside, they’ll look around for anything tasty they can find (even pet food!) while looking for places to build their nests — including behind baseboards or around pipes under sinks where leaks might have caused moisture damage in the walls.

Ants come in many different types: Fire Ants, Pavement Ants, Pharaoh Ants, and Carpenter Ants are all common in the region. If you think you have an ant infestation at home or on your property (or even if you just want confirmation), contact us today!

Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs are small, brown, flat, and oval. They feed on the blood of humans while they’re asleep. Bed Bugs can be found in homes, hotels and motels, shelters, or other places where people sleep. They are attracted to the warmth and carbon dioxide that humans exhale while they sleep.

Bed Bugs do not transmit disease to humans, but can cause skin irritation if they bite you. They also cause psychological distress because it may be difficult for people to get rid of them once they’ve established a home in your bedding or furniture.

The only way to truly rid yourself of Bed Bugs is to work with a professional exterminator such as EcoCare Pest Control.

Wildlife

The Pacific Northwest is home to a variety of wildlife, which may occasionally find their way into your attic or crawlspace. Most are harmless and will leave once they realize you’re not an easy target, but some can cause damage to your home if left unchecked. 

Common wildlife pests that are known to get into homes include:

Similar to Rodents and other pests, these animals generally get into your home around winter as they try to find somewhere to protect themselves from the cold and damp weather (who can blame them?). Once inside, they can create even bigger holes in your home, leave droppings, and create an unsanitary environment.

Believe you have a pest problem? Contact EcoCare Pest Control ASAP to keep your home safe

Pests are a fact of life, particularly in a place as wild and scenic as Oregon and Washington. If you find droppings or other signs of a pest in your home, get in touch with our team ASAP. We’ll come out, inspect your home and property, and recommend a solution that will not only rid your home of pests, but keep them out for good. 

Storing Your Prized Possessions: How to Prevent Pest and Wildlife Damage

Storing Your Prized Possessions: How to Prevent Pest and Wildlife Damage

by | Dec 4, 2020 | Pest Control, Wildlife

Everyone has those items that are special or essential to them — the family photograph, the favorite sweater, the chocolate truffles you’ve been saving for a bad day. So it’s understandable you’d want to keep these things protected and pest-free, but maybe don’t know where to start.

In this blog post, we’ll review some tips for how to prevent pests and wildlife from damaging your stuff, and how to safely store items in common household areas.

Clothing

When it comes to protecting your clothing, the two biggest pests you need to worry about here in the Pacific Northwest are Clothes Moths and Silverfish. They are attracted to dark, warm corners of your home and love chewing up your clothes, especially natural fibers like wool, silk, or cotton. Contrary to popular belief, adult moths actually don’t eat your clothes — but the larvae from the eggs they lay do.

Let’s look at a few tips for storing your clothes to protect them from pests. 

Tip #1: Don’t forget to deep clean your closet a few times each year

A key part of pest control in any home is prevention. When it comes to the dark corners of your closets, that means taking time every 2-3 months to perform a deep clean. Our short checklist includes: 

  • Vacuuming your closet’s corners, baseboards, and floors
  • Wiping down your closet walls
  • Picking up any clothes off the floor
  • Taking a quick look over your clothes (especially less worn ones) for signs of pest damage

Regular cleaning and maintenance of your closet will help deter pests from the area and can help you spot signs of potential entry points later on.

Tip #2: Only store clean clothes

Silverfish are attracted to human food, and therefore clothes with food on them. Clothes Moths have also been known to choose clothing — even synthetic fabrics — with organic food matter on them. That’s why it’s important to make sure your clothes are clean and clear of stains before you shove them back into your closet. 

Be extra careful with any clothing you purchase from a vintage or second-hand store too. Always make sure to wash and dry any secondhand or hand-me-down items before introducing them into your closet, especially if they are made of wool.

Tip #3: Use natural cedar to repel pests

You might be tempted to try mothballs to keep pests away from your clothes, but did you know that they release chemicals into the air that are toxic to both humans and pets over long periods of time? 

Instead, consider storing cedar blocks or cedar chips with your clothes, or investing in a cedar-lined closet or wardrobe. Cedar smells great to most humans, but Clothes Moths and Silverfish simply don’t like it and will avoid it. 

Two important things to note about using cedar as a pest repellant: 

  • Cedar loses its scent over time, so if you use it, set a reminder to lightly sand down the cedar every 2-3 months or so
  • Cedar releases an essential oil that repels pests but also effectively stains your clothing. Keep cedar from directly touching your clothing to prevent staining. 

Tip #4: Try hanging lavender with your clothes

Like cedar, lavender also releases a scent that Clothes Moths and Silverfish can’t stand. And it can make your clothes smell good, too! One easy way to protect your clothes from pests using lavender is to hang or store lavender sachets with your clothing. Alternatively, you can dab lavender essential oil onto cotton balls and hang them near your clothes.

 

Tip #5: Store precious or susceptible clothing in airtight bags

For clothing items you absolutely adore but don’t wear very often, consider storing them in an airtight bag, a garment bag, or a dry, airtight container. Look for something without holes or gaps in it — the idea is to block adult moths from getting into the container and laying eggs on your prized clothing. If there is a hole or a crack, simply tape it closed for extra security.

Food

Have you ever experienced the disappointment of going to eat some cereal and finding it covered in ants? Or discovered gnaw marks through the wrapper on that chocolate bar you were stashing for later? Mice, Ants, Fruit Flies, and Spiders are all common pests that infest kitchens around the Portland metro area. 

Here are some tips for how to keep them away from your food: 

  • Store your bulk food in airtight containers
  • Keep kitchen surfaces clean — wipe up any spills and crumbs right away 
  • Don’t leave food sitting out or dirty dishes piled up 
  • Use a trash can with a sealed lid in your kitchen, and make sure to empty it regularly 
  • Store pet food in a sealed container 
  • Clean out your pantry every few months, and wipe down the shelves to keep them clean 
  • Don’t leave fruit sitting out for too long

Attic and basement storage

Whether you’re wanting to protect your coveted Christmas decoration hand-me-downs from your great grandmother or simply trying to free up some extra space in your house, when you decide to store items in your attic or basement, it’s important to plan how you will keep them safe.

To do this, consider what exactly you’ll be storing in the basement/attic.

 

Do store Don’t store
Seasonal decorations Food
Unused pots and pans or other kitchen items (as long as they’re clean) Clothing
Suitcases and other infrequently used travel items Important documents or photographs

Especially here in the Pacific Northwest, know that your basement runs the risk of flooding or developing moisture that can damage stored items. The same is true for the attic if the roof leaks or the temperature changes. Not only that, but due to their dark, moist, and unfrequented nature, basements and attics are often ideal places for pests and rodents to hide. 

Keep your items safe by: 

  • Stowing items in plastic containers with lids rather than cardboard boxes. Cardboard can attract some pests, like Cockroaches, Silverfish, and Termites, especially if it gets wet. 
  • Store items in the basement off of the ground. If the basement does flood, this can help keep your items dry, and elevating your bins will eliminate easy access for rodents.
  • Check for signs of pests or rodents before you bring storage there, and for every few months afterward. If you notice signs of an infestation, work with your local pest control company to eliminate the problem and further prevent them in the future.

Outdoor items

To keep pests from infesting stored items in your garage, your garden shed, or generally around your home, it’s important to: 

  • Keep clutter, garbage, standing water, and compost away from your house or shed. The idea is to eliminate things that will attract pests and rodents and encourage them to come closer inside. Make sure your garbage, recycling, and yard waste bins are securely closed at all times, and that compost is situated at least 10 feet away from your house. 
  • Don’t store food in the garage — it should be stored inside in airtight containers inside your home 
  • Keep items off of the floor. Store items in plastic bins on shelves, and hang tools, bikes, and lawn equipment up on sturdy hooks to help keep things clean and harder to reach. 
  • Seal up any noticeable openings. Walk around the interior and exterior of these spaces to look for any place a pest or rodent might enter. Keep in mind mice can fit through holes the size of a dime!

Need help? Contact EcoCare today

There are many things you can do at home to prevent pest infestation and help keep your treasured items safe. But if you’re really worried about them, a licensed, experienced pest control company can be a lifesaver! 

Here at EcoCare, we’ve been helping Portland and Vancouver-area clients prevent and eliminate infestations for more than 15 years. We’d love to help you too! 

Contact us today to set up an appointment, or to learn more about our eco-friendly, non-toxic approach to pest control.

Are All Ants the Same?

Are All Ants the Same?

by | Oct 22, 2020 | Bugs

Ants can be a frustrating nuisance in your home, costing you money, causing damage, or just plain being annoying while you’re trying to eat, watch TV, or get your work done.

And while it can be easy to lump all ants under the “annoying” and “pest” category, it’s also important to remember that all Ants are not the same — they have different needs, behaviors, and attributes, and should be controlled in their own specific way.

In today’s blog post, we’ll review the three most common types of Ants found in the Portland metro area, some of their common characteristics, and what you can do to keep them out of your home. Let’s get started!

Soil Ants

When we say Soil Ants, we are referring generally to a number of different species of ground nesting Ants. Although the name “Soil” implies they would be found outside, if you spot an ant cruising around your kitchen, it’s most likely a soil ant. Soil Ants come from large colonies, sometimes up to 200,000 ants or more!

Characteristics

Soil Ants are no more than ¼ of an inch long and are dark brown or black in color. 

They are good for an outdoor ecosystem, as they help to aerate soil when they dig their tunnels, and enrich soil by breaking down organic matter as they move through it. That being said, Soil Ants will go where the food is, and unfortunately, they will eat just about anything that provides nutritional value, including: 

  • Any sugars or carbohydrates
  • Syrups 
  • Dry pet food 
  • Dried meat or other proteins
  • Fruit 
  • Fats and oils during the spring and summer season
  • Other insects

Soil Ants are food scavengers, which is usually why they end up in your kitchen. They don’t cause structural damage to a home, but they will likely cost you money when you have to throw out your ant-infested food. 

Warning signs

A few signs you may have a soil ant infestation include: 

  • Visibly seeing Ants exploring your counters, cabinets, pantries, etc. — unlike Moisture Ants and Carpenter Ants, Soil Ants don’t work as much behind the scenes
  • Noticing pathways around your house or kitchen — Soil Ants leave a scent trail to communicate to other worker ants where to find food 
  • Nests outside your home — these look like piles of dirt  

Prevention

Since Soil Ants enter your home on a quest for food, the easiest way to prevent them is to keep all food in storage containers and to regularly clean your kitchen to keep surfaces clear of any spills, crumbs, or scraps that a Soil Ant would find appetizing. 

How to get rid of them

If you can identify where they are coming in, seal off their entry points so Soil Ants have a harder time getting in. From there, take steps to identify the source of the problem: the colony. This, or simply calling EcoCare Pest Control, is your best option for treating bad Soil Ant infestations.

Moisture Ants

Unsurprisingly, Moisture Ants get their name because of their penchant for high moisture areas. They tend to build their nests in moist, rotting wood, but unlike Carpenter Ants, they do not usually cause much structural damage. You can look for them in high moisture areas of the home, like in crawl spaces, near leaking pipes, or behind tub wall tiles. Outside, you’ll find Moisture Ants inhabiting damp soil or rotting wood. 

Characteristics

Unlike soil ants, Moisture Ants are a yellowish, yellowish-brown, or a dark brown color. They are found all over the country, but are especially common here in the Pacific Northwest. Moisture Ants measure no more than ⅛ of an inch long, and can also be identified by a notch on their back, best seen from a side view. 

Moisture Ants feed on insect honeydew and unlike Carpenter Ants, they actually digest wood when they tunnel into it. 

Warning signs

Due to their proximity to moist environments both inside and outside, you can sometimes spot a Moisture Ant infestation when there are colonies built around the foundation of the house.  

Prevention

To keep moisture ants away from your home, simply eliminate the environments they like best: moist wood or humid soil. Keep woodpiles and tree branches away from your house. Also make sure to regularly inspect your bathroom, under your sinks, and your crawlspace for moisture issues. 

How to get rid of them

To get rid of Moisture Ants, you need to eliminate the environment they are being drawn to. This usually means identifying the moisture source, and then fixing any leaks or replacing rotting wood inside your home. Once those steps are complete, it’s a good idea to call in a pest control professional to ensure the infestation is properly treated.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter Ants are considered pests in our homes, but did you know they are actually very important to the ecosystem of our local forests? It’s a common misconception that Carpenter Ants eat wood — in fact, they actually chew tunnels into wood to form a nest. This is great for forest decomposition, but very bad when it concerns your home. 

Let’s review more about how to recognize Carpenter Ants and signs of an infestation.  

Characteristics

Carpenter Ants are the biggest ants you’re likely to see in the Portland/Vancouver area. They range in size from about 1/8 of an inch to nearly a full inch long! They have black bodies, black or reddish legs, and a small bump between their thorax and their abdomen. 

During mating season, Carpenter Ants also have two pairs of wings, one large and one small. This is a sign of a mature colony and indicates that the colony is about to reproduce and start more colonies. 

Carpenter Ants aren’t really interested in eating human food. Instead, they feed on other insects, plant and fruit juices, and insect honeydew. 

Warning signs

The tricky thing about recognizing a Carpenter Ant infestation is that they hardly leave any signs. Unfortunately, this usually means a costly repair by the time you identify you have a problem. 

An infestation is typically an indication of some kind of moisture problem in your home. Carpenter Ants prefer tunneling through moist wood, which means they typically target windowsills, roof eaves, and decks. 

A few signs of a Carpenter Ant infestation include: 

  • Unexplained sawdust – especially near window sills, baseboards or door frames. This sawdust, also called “frass”, is what the ants spit out while they are tunneling and indicates there is a nest nearby. 
  • Wings – if you notice winged ants in your house, or observe discarded insect wings, you probably have Carpenter Ants. 
  • Structural damage – typically recognized through bending, warping or buckling. 

Prevention

Carpenter Ants love chewing into rotten or very soft wood. With that in mind, one of the best ways to prevent a Carpenter Ant infestation is to regularly inspect your home for signs of cracks or rotten wood and to keep things like wood piles and tree branches away from your home.

How to get rid of them

Due to the nature of the damage caused by Carpenter Ants — that is, structural damage — it’s important to call a pest control professional as soon as you suspect an infestation. This is the only way to ensure the infestation is completely taken care of.

Spot the differences

Here’s a quick breakdown of the similarities and differences outlined above:

 

Type Appearance Warning signs Prevention Control
Soil Ants
 Black or brown, no more than ¼ inch Visibly seeing them in your kitchen or around food Keep food stored in airtight containers and your kitchen clean Keep your kitchen clean, seal off entry points, locate their colony
Moisture Ants
 Yellowish brown or light brown, no more than ⅛ inch Colonies built near the foundation of your home Keep commonly moist areas like bathrooms and crawl spaces dry. Remove wood piles and tree branches close to your house. Manage moist environments and replace rotting wood as soon as you find it in your home.
Carpenter Ants
 Black bodies, from ⅛ inch to nearly 1 inch long Sawdust near windowsill, baseboards, or winged ants in your home Watch for signs of rotting or moisture in your home, and keep woodpiles and tree branches trimmed away from your house Call a pest control professional

Need help? Contact EcoCare today

There are many things you can do to prevent and try to control pests, but the best and easiest way to handle them is to work with the professionals! EcoCare can help. 

We take an eco-friendly approach, using non-toxic treatments that are 100% safe for humans and pets. You don’t even have to leave your home! Not only does our team of licensed and insured professionals target and eliminate pest infestations, they also help to prevent future infestation too.

If you are seeing signs of an ant infestation in your home, or would like to take steps to prevent one from happening, contact us today to schedule your inspection! 

Tips for Controlling Pests

Tips for Controlling Pests

by | Oct 2, 2020 | Home Care, Pest Control

As a landlord, the last thing you want is trouble renting out your property, or for your phone to ring alerting you of damage to your property. However, if you notice signs of a pest infestation and leave it untreated, it’s probable both of these things will happen. That’s why it’s important to take pest control seriously and handle it quickly to help keep your property in tip-top shape.

In this post, we’ll review some of the common problems rodents and insects can cause, plus some tips for controlling pests on your property.

Problems pests can cause

It can be tempting to just ignore a pest problem and hope it will go away. But it won’t. Once a pest has found a safe, comfortable home for itself, it isn’t likely to leave. As a landlord in the Portland or Vancouver area, it’s your responsibility to control naturally occurring pest infestations and keep them away from the property.

As pests settle into your property, they are more likely to cause property damage, safety issues, or spread illness. Let’s take a closer look below.

 

Property damage

It’s not hard to find examples of pests causing property damage. Rats can cause electrical problems. Bees can burrow around your property to hatch larvae or start their hives around the exterior of your property. Ants or Beetles can chew through wood until they cause structural damage. Even the best tenants can leave Bedbugs behind — infestations following travel are particularly common.

It’s important to be both diligent and proactive in your pest control approach. 

Tenant turnover

No one wants to live in a home with a pest problem. Consistent problems in a home or apartment complex due to improper pest solutions will likely cause your tenants to look for somewhere else to live and make it harder for you to fill the space once it is empty again.

 

Health and safety concerns

Many pests can be harmful to people and other animals. Did you know that Rats and Mice can be carriers to over 35 different diseases? Not only that, but Fleas and Ticks carried into your home from rodents can spread illnesses like Lyme disease and even the plague.

Signs your property has a pest infestation

If you’re worried about your property developing a pest problem, there are a few signs you can look for: 

  • Electrical problems 
  • Structural damage to the roof, gutters, or siding 
  • Holes or cracks around the exterior of the house
  • Rodent footprints or droppings 
  • Scratching sounds inside the walls
  • Grease marks or buildup along walls or on the floor
  • Bad smells
  • Damage to fabric on clothes, drapes, or furniture

The attic, basement, and crawlspace are all very common places for a pest infestation, so make sure to check these regularly. 

Most common pests in the Portland metro area

If you’ve noticed signs of an infestation on your property, or your tenants have reported signs to you, it’s important to first identify what kind of pest you are dealing with. A few of the pests common to the Portland/Southwest Washington area include: 

  • Ants
  • Spiders
  • Rats
  • Mice
  • Bees
  • Ticks
  • Fleas 
  • Boxelder bugs 
  • Mosquitos 

If you’re not able to identify the pest on your own, you can: 

  1. Take a picture and then check out our pest library to help you compare
  2. Make a note of the time and location when you see the pest(s), as well as any additional notes or conditions that might help you quickly identify the species
  3. Contact us! Our team has seen it all and can help identify what you’re dealing with

Tips to prevent pests

The best piece of advice you will ever receive for controlling pests is to do everything you can to prevent them in the first place. A few ways you can do this for your property include:  

Keep common areas clean

If you’re the landlord or property manager of an apartment complex, ensure that all common areas like lobbies, hallways, utility rooms, community kitchens, game rooms, etc., remain clean and clutter-free. Pests are really just seeking food and shelter — not trying to be pests — so the more you can limit the option for them to choose your property, the better. 

Ensure you have sturdy and sealable trash and recycling bins 

It’s true — pests love trash. It might be gross to us, but there is a ton of food and other waste that is still appetizing to pests even after we discard it. That’s why it’s important to invest in rodent-proof garbage, recycling, and yard waste containers. Additionally, it’s good practice to keep these containers clean and set away from the property. 

Remove clutter from around the property 

In an effort to eliminate more opportunities for pests to take shelter, eliminate as many possible nesting sites on the exterior of your property as possible. This includes: 

  • Wood piles (or keep them at least 100 feet from the structure) 
  • Old cars or tires 
  • Hay piles
  • Shrubbery 

Keep grass cut short to remove hiding places for pests, and make sure all garbage, compost, and recycling is secured. 

Eliminate standing water around the property 

Especially in our rainy climate, this one can be a challenge. But, when left unattended, standing water attracts all sorts of pests — especially insects, who thrive in moisture-rich environments. 

Educate your tenants

You aren’t going to be able to monitor the property for pests all the time, especially when you’ve rented it out. That’s why it’s a good idea to send your tenants seasonal reminders about common pest infestations so they themselves can take preventive measures and watch out for warning signs. Additionally, you could include a pest history for the property upon move-in, so the tenant knows what to look out for.

Tips to control pests

Once they’re there, they can be difficult to get rid of. If you do find signs of a pest infestation, make sure to: 

  1. Identify the source 
  2. Seal off entry points 
  3. Contact your tenants to alert them of the problem and what you’re doing about it
  4. Call an exterminator 
  5. Consider setting up regular pest inspections or trying a maintenance program 

Here at EcoCare Pest Control, we offer a Pest Insurance Program with 4 seasonal inspections and treatments a year, providing protection from nearly 40 different common pests. Learn more about the program here.

Need help controlling pests at your property? Contact us today!

The continuous inspection and maintenance required to keep pests out of your home or from damaging your property gets overwhelming quickly. Save yourself time and stress by working with a local exterminator! 

Here at EcoCare Pest Control, we’ve been helping Portland and Vancouver-area landlords and property managers safely remove pests for years. Our clients love our eco-friendly, non-toxic pest control, preventative treatments, and friendly service.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment!

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