Home Care Archives • EcoCare Pest Control

What to Know About Rats, Mice, Wildlife and Electrical Problems

by Ken VahnDijk | Mar 2, 2023 | Home Care, Pest Control, Rodents

Updated: March 2nd, 2023

Rodents might look cute, but you DEFINITELY don’t want them in your home. Not only can they carry disease, but their constant need to chew can wreak havoc on your electrical system, opening up your home to unforeseen fire danger.

But how do they cause electrical problems, and what can you do to stop them? Let’s take a look!

Why do Mice and Rats chew on wires?

Contrary to how it might seem, Rats and Mice aren’t always on the lookout for wires to chew. Really, they’re looking for just about anything to chew, because their teeth never stop growing! While our own teeth are rooted into our jawbone, a rodent’s incisors don’t have any roots. So they aren’t constantly chewing things to be a pain — they are constantly chewing to grind down their teeth and prevent them from growing into their brains. They often go for wires simply because they’re there, and they’re hidden where the rodent is also hidden (like between walls). Unfortunately, when rodents chew on wires, it opens up your home to a greater chance of an electrical fire. This can be caused by frayed wires or a short circuit.

Dangers of electrical fires

Electrical failures or malfunctions cause 13% of home fires in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association. They are the second leading cause of home fires. Unfortunately, the risk of an electrical fire increases when rodents come into contact with loose wiring, electrical panels, and more. That’s why it’s important to prevent rodents from entering the home as much as possible, and to recognize the common signs of electrical problems.

Signs of electrical problems when Mice Chew On Wires

Rats and Mice are nocturnal creatures, meaning that the majority of the time, you probably won’t notice them in your home right away. Because Rats or Mice usually choose to chew on wires that are hidden away, it’s likely you won’t even know they are chewing on the wiring until your home starts showing signs of electrical problems.

If you notice signs of any of these electrical problems, look around your home for signs of rodents.

Flickering lights
Bite marks on wiring you can see, or frayed wires
“Blinking” appliances or computers
Acrid burning odor
Droppings near outlets or wiring runs
Power failures

Regardless of these signs, it’s a good idea to regularly check the electrical wiring in your home to ensure it’s functioning properly and safely. Many electricians recommend scheduling an inspection every 3-5 years or so.

Tips to keep Mice and Rats out of your home

Tip #1 – Seal holes, cracks, and gaps in your house

Did you know Rats and Mice can fit through openings less than ½” in diameter? This creates a lot of opportunity for them to make a home in your home. Common places to check for holes include:

Near doors
Inside closets (near the corners)
In, around, or under kitchen cabinets
Around pipes under the sink
Inside the attic, basement, or crawl space
Adjacent to windows

Tip #2 – Clean up and properly store food

We all love food, but so do rodents. Make sure you properly store food both inside and outside of the home. You can do this by:

Store your food in containers with tight lids
Wipe up any spills and keeping kitchen surfaces clear of food debris (including dirty dishes)
Keep all cooking areas — including outside patios and grills — clean at all times
Cover garbage cans with a tight lid
Don’t leave pet food outside overnight and keep bird feeders away from your house
Store pet food in a sealed container
Pick produce from your garden or backyard before it goes bad
Keep compost at least 100 feet away from your house

Tip #3 – Don’t give them a place to call home

We know you won’t always be able to control this, but here are a few simple things you can do to eliminate living spaces for rodents in or around your home:

Move wood piles at least 100 feet away from the house
Keep your grass and shrubbery cut short
Trim tree branches at least 4 feet away from your home
Remove old cars, trucks, or tires that you aren’t using — these make great homes for rodents

Tip #4 – Call the professionals at EcoCare

One of the best ways to prevent rodents from infesting your home and causing electrical problems is to work with professionals, like the skilled team at EcoCare. We’ll help you set up regular inspections and recommend a maintenance plan.

Inspection

First, our exterminators will visit your home and conduct a detailed inspection of the property. They’ll inspect the inside of your property, including the attic or crawlspace, and search for signs of nests, infestations, or electrical damage. Additionally, they’ll scour the foundation and outside of your home for holes or small cracks that might allow a rodent in. Depending on what our exterminators find, they’ll recommend a customized treatment plan to best suit you and your home.

Exclusion

With so many opportunities for rodents to invite themselves in, “Rat proofing” your home can be a daunting task. But not for us! Our exterminators will thoroughly examine holes and cracks in your home. Then, they’ll seal off any questionable openings, like those found around pipes, vents, wires, and more. This is an important step in preventing future infestations.

Eco-friendly extermination

We are dedicated not only to ridding your home of pests, but to doing it in a safe and non-toxic way. With that in mind, our exterminators will only use rat poison inside of your home as a last resort. The use of poison inside your home might lead the rodent to die inside your walls, causing even more problems. Instead, we’ll use rat traps to humanely capture the rodents inside your home without posing any risk to your children or pets.

Rodent maintenance program

Keeping rodents out of your home takes a lot of work and effort. This is especially true for homes in areas with: compost piles, feeding stations for chickens, birds, or squirrels, homes on a greenbelt, and homes in a neighborhood with a Rat problem. Luckily, there’s a rodent maintenance program for that! Rodent maintenance with EcoCare looks like:

Setting up bait traps outside your home at common entry points to capture rodents before they enter your home
Regularly coming to inspect your home and remove any rodents based on a schedule that’s convenient to you

Schedule an appointment with EcoCare today!

Preventing rodents from infesting your home and damaging your electrical system is both an important and never-ending task. We can help! Learn more about our eco-friendly rodent control options and how we can help by contacting us today.

How to deal with Raccoon Problems and Damage

by Ken VahnDijk | Sep 8, 2022 | Home Care, Pest Control, Wildlife

Large pest cause serious issues here in Portland, OR. Whether it’s a raccoon, squirrel, or other large pest, your safety and your wallet could be affected in substantial ways if wildlife have decided to take up residence in your home. In this post, we’ll go over what types of large pests you need to be on the lookout for, as well as the issues caused by these critters. Is your home overrun with wildlife? EcoCare Pest Solutions can help get rid of them today. Contact us today or visit our wildlife page to learn more.

What type of wildlife causes home damage?

Just because an animal is cute doesn’t mean it can’t cause serious damage to your home. Wild animals will do what they please in order to survive – even if that means inflicting damage to your property.

Many homeowners don’t even know that some of these animals can do damage to their home. Since most large pests only do damage when they’re out of sight, some issues are a mystery until the pest is caught in the act.

Before we get into the issues that large pests can cause, here are the large pests you need to worry about coming onto your property and wreaking havoc:

Raccoons: One of the most damaging pests,Raccoons have adapted to living with humans and are drawn in by the convenience of trash cans and human shelter
Squirrels: Despite their size, Squirrels cause a lot of issues around Portland homes, including spreading disease and destroying property
Opossums: Opossums are known for entering a space and nesting, stealing food, and leaving waste, causing serious damage and creating unpleasant odors
Bats: Generally making a home in your attic or chimney, Bats can cause real problems in your home. In addition to carrying rabies and other diseases, Bats will leave droppings and cause unpleasant odors around your home.

Think your home or property has been infiltrated by a large pest? Get the help you need to safely and effectively remove them from your property. Remember, just because they haven’t caused issues yet does not mean they won’t in the future.

Learn More About Wildlife Pest Control

6 problems caused by raccoons and other large pests

Electrical damage

Large pests love burrowing into walls and ceilings. The shelter and warmth are particularly great for them in the wet and cold weather of Vancouver winters. Unfortunately, this can damage your electrical wiring. If pests have indeed gotten into your walls, then your electrical system may be compromised. Critters chew through electrical wires, leaving exposed wire and unsafe conditions in your walls. This can mean big trouble. Did you know that 9% of fires are started by electrical issues? And since you can’t even see if it’s happening, the risk is particularly potent.

Insulation damage

While the large pests are in your walls, electrical wires aren’t the only thing they’ll be chewing on. Another common target of large critters is insulation. Chewing through the insulation in your walls and ceiling will lead to less effective insulation in your home and a weakened structure. They may even leave a nest in your insulation! Even critters just walking around will lead to a bad situation, as compressed insulation is not as effective and will need to be replaced. Thousands of dollars in replacements could be in your future.

Damage to your lawn and garden

Even if these animals don’t reach the inside of your home, plenty of damage can be inflicted on the outside of your home as well. Raccoons and Squirrels love to dig holes in lawns to hide their treasures, leading to destroyed lawns and plenty of lawn care costs you otherwise would never have to worry about. They’ll also dig up garden plants and other vegetation and chew on young tree bark. Worst yet, Raccoons are known to dig into and rip trash bags, spewing trash about your property. Once they’ve done this once, they’ll keep at it as they now know it’s a source for food.

Spread of disease

Simply put, one of the top ways for disease to spread into your home is through large wildlife entering your home and wreaking havoc. If wildlife have found their way in and made a home, they’ll be leaving droppings and urine. This waste will be left mere feet from where you live and breathe daily, causing respiratory issues and potential spread of disease. One possible disease is baylisascaris, a type of roundworm that can damage your nervous system or cause serious injury. Many large pests also carry rabies, meaning even their presence on your property can cause serious injury or death. Signs that a Raccoon or other large pest has rabies includes:

Disorientation and unsteady walking
Uncommon voices, such as screeching or chattering
Drooly and frothy mouths
Paralyzed hind legs and difficulty moving

Pests exhibiting these symptoms are incredibly dangerous, especially to pets! If you see any wildlife exhibiting these symptoms it’s imperative you seek an experienced pest extermination team as soon as possible.

Lowered air quality

In addition to potentially giving you a disease, the feces and other waste deposited in your wall will leave the air quality in your home putrid. At first you will notice just a stink, which will only get worse and worse as time goes on. Even once you identify the issue, solving the problem completely will be hard since it will be difficult to identify the exact location it’s coming from. Other sources of rotting smell is food they’re storing decaying and going bad, and eventually the critters themselves dying in the walls and decomposing. The last thing you want you and your family to be doing is breathing in this air and having to smell the unpleasant odor day and night.

Exterior damage to your home

Lastly, large pests and wildlife can do a number on the structure of your home. Particularly troublesome areas include:

Roofs
Siding
Crawlspace
Deck

In order to get into your walls and attic space they’ll be coming in through your walls and siding. This means destroyed roof shingles, holes in your siding, and and damage to your roofline. This damage can lead to serious water and moisture damage around your home as the holes allow the environment access to your home. Plus, even more pests will have easier access. Fortunately, you’ll see these issues easier than others, and can address the problem once you see signs such as chew marks on your siding or loose shingles on your roof.

Call EcoCare Pest Solutions at the first sign of trouble

Pests do not just go away. A proactive response to large pests infiltrating your property is the only long-term solution to keeping your home safe and free from dangerous wildlife. EcoCare Pest Solutions can help with your wildlife infestation with our proven and eco-friendly approach to wildlife pest control. We’ll remove the infestation and prevent future issues as well. Contact us to get started or to have any questions answer on our pest and wildlife control services.

Tips for Controlling Pests

by Ken VahnDijk | 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:

Take a picture and then check out our pest library to help you compare
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
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:

Identify the source
Seal off entry points
Contact your tenants to alert them of the problem and what you’re doing about it
Call an exterminator
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!

Home Pest Control in Portland: Clearing up the Confusion

by Ken VahnDijk | Apr 8, 2020 | Home Care, Pest Control

We get it. Pest control isn’t something you want to think about very often. When you see a bug or think you see signs of a pest infestation, you might find yourself doing some quick internet research looking for the answers. But this can lead to confusion and even costly mistakes.

Today our pest control experts are going to answer some of the most common questions they hear and clear up the confusion so many people have about pest control.

Do green pest control treatments really work?

It’s unfortunate that many eco-friendly products have a reputation for not being as effective as other options. Studies have confirmed this misconception so when it comes to our pest control treatments, it’s something we try to educate our customers about.

In the past (think decades ago), many pest control treatments were very toxic and had bad consequences for the environment. Today, modern pest control treatments are not only environmentally friendly, but more effective, too.

How is this even possible?

Over the years, advancements in scientific research have created powerful pest control treatments that are targeted to specific types of insects. They’re also designed to be safe for people and most pets. Because of their potency, less treatment is needed to kill the same amount of bugs! Overall, the impact on the environment is greatly reduced.

Keep reading to learn more about our approach to eco-friendly pest control.

Are all bugs bad?

Moths eat holes in our sweaters and Ants march along our countertops to get at the sticky little bits of food we leave behind. Sure it’s frustrating, but are bugs really “bad”? It’s important to remember that they’re just doing what bugs do — looking for places to nest and food to eat.

Believe it or not, there are plenty of insects that are actually beneficial! Take Bees, for instance. They pollinate flowers and the food we grow in our backyard gardens. They’re not aggressive like Wasps or Hornets and really pose little risk. During certain times of the year, you might see a swarm of bees clinging to a tree or maybe your home’s roof. Don’t worry! You can contact an apiarist (beekeeper) to remove them safely.

Another great example of a friendly bug is the Ladybug. These little Beetles eat Aphids and other insects that feast on the leaves of veggies growing in our gardens. You can thank the Ladybugs when you’re harvesting your tomatoes this summer!

So remember, just because you see a bug, it doesn’t mean that trouble’s just around the corner. We’re happy to answer any questions and provide a free quote. Just contact us online to get started.

How much pest control is enough?

What most people don’t realize about insects is that they’re seasonal. Different insects are active at different points throughout the year. For example, here in the Portland area, here’s what you can expect:

Spring & Early Summer: Wasps, Box Elders, Ants, Spiders, Rodents
Mid-Summer: Fleas, Yellow Jackets, Hornets, Bees, Rodents, Ants
Late Summer & Fall: Fleas, Yellow Jackets, Hornets, Bees, Rodents, Ants
Winter: Rats, Mice, Ants

You can’t expect the treatment that worked to get rid of Wasps in the summer to do anything for the Ants you find in the winter. The best way to keep your home pest-free is to invest in regular preventive treatments designed to target the most active bugs and pests.

We call this our Pest Insurance program. It’s a proactive approach to pest control that helps homeowners avoid the hassle of dealing with bug infestations as they pop up. Instead, we can visit your home for 4 seasonal inspections and treatments to protect against nearly 40 species of common pests. Plus, we’ll treat any infestations of covered pests for free!

Do I need to do more than just kill the bugs?

If all you do is kill the bugs you see, pests will keep coming back time and again. The pests you see make up just a fraction of the pests present in your home or on your property. Insects like Ants make hidden nests and only venture out to find food. Many insects are also nocturnal, meaning that you might never see the pests themselves, just the damage that they do to your home and possessions.

Here at EcoCare, we go beyond just killing bugs with our 3-step process:

Inspect – We want to see the scope of the infestation and exactly what pests are around. This allows us to tailor our approach to produce superior results.
Exclude – This is key. Our technicians seal off access points and create preventive barriers that prevent new infestations from taking root in your home or on your property.
Exterminate – Then we target all the insects, even those you might not have noticed yet. They won’t be bugging you anymore!

It’s only with this methodology that goes beyond just killing bugs that we can eliminate and prevent pest infestations in your home.

Have more questions? We’re here for you.

We hope today’s blog post cleared up the most common misconceptions you might have about pest control. But if there are still questions buzzing around in your mind, let’s talk!

How Bugs & Rodents Cause Structural Damage To Your Portland Home

by Ken VahnDijk | Feb 9, 2018 | Home Care, Pest Control, Safety

Imagine hundreds of termites slowly eating away at your home’s foundation. An ant colony infestation weakening your walls. Rats and mice chewing away at your roof and support beams. Sounds like something out of a horror movie, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, it’s also a scary reality for many homeowners in the Pacific Northwest.

Thanks to the rainy and wooded environment of Portland, bugs and rodents are very prevalent in the area. Regular pest inspections and extermination treatments around your property keep bugs and critters from secretly making their home in the hidden areas of your home.

In this month’s blog post, we’ll help you understand a little bit more about the serious (and expensive) structural damage bugs and rodents can inflict on your home. Plus, you’ll learn why most homeowners don’t know this is happening until it’s too late.

If you have any questions or feedback on this post, feel free to send us an email. We love hearing from our community.

Roof Damage

Let’s start at the top of your home!

Pests and rodents can cause all sorts of damage to your roof– from broken shingles, cracks and holes, to damaged wiring and pipes running through your attic. While this type of damage is problematic all on its own, the biggest issue is that it makes your home susceptible to water leaks and flooding.

The structural damage caused by water leaking through your roof into your home can be devastating. Mold, mildew, rot, and fried electrical wiring (fire risk!) are all caused by moisture buildup. Water leaks can also cause damage to your rafters, ceiling joists, and wall framing.

Repairing or replacing your roof is a significant investment, so take special care to keep bugs and rodents as far away as possible.

Common Bugs & Rodents That Damage Your Roof

Rats & Mice
Rats and Mice are a risk to your roof all year long. However, you’ll want to keep an extra close eye on things during the fall and winter. During these months, these critters will be trying to escape the cold and make a warm nest for the winter.

Termites
Termites love to eat wood and will often target roof decking, rafters, and trusses. Thankfully, as long as you catch the issue early-on, termite damage in the roof can usually be easily repaired.

Birds
Though you may not pay attention to birds sitting on your roof, be aware that a buildup of acidic bird droppings can eat away at the shingles and sheathing of your roof.

Insulation Damage

Insects and rodents living in your insulation mean trouble.

The purpose of insulation is to keep your house warm or cool, depending on the time of year. Bugs that chew holes through this material allow air and energy to easily pass through your insulation, completely undermining the effects of the material.

Creatures living in your insulation can also lead to food accumulation in your walls. This exposes your home to mold growth and rot. Left unchecked, you may be faced with having to open up your walls and completely replace your insulation.

Common Bugs and Wildlife that Live in Your Insulation

Raccoons
These little bandits love the quiet and cozy insulation of your home and are known for being very destructive. They also carry diseases and ticks into your home and so should always be handled by a professional.

Carpenter Ants
Carpenter Ants are known for clearing spaces for nesting purposes. These little insects can inhabit all types of insulation, including plant-based and fiberglass materials.

Bees
Bees – especially bumblebees – love making their nests out of dry materials. This makes insulation the perfect candidate. Bees of any variety can be very aggressive if disturbed, so never attempt to remove a nest on your own.

Hardwood Flooring Damage

Hardwood flooring is a popular (and beautiful) home feature, but it’s also the prime target for a number of wood-boring creatures. Insects that feed on, chew through, and live in your wood flooring can create small to large holes and can even cause your floor to disintegrate and crumble.

Insect damage is a top reason Pacific Northwest homeowners end up replacing their hardwood floors. Hardwood floor installations are expensive, so make sure you watch for signs of bugs and take care of any issues right away.

Common Pests That Damage Hardwood Floors

Carpenter Ants
Carpenter Ants are particularly attracted to older hardwood flooring, or a floor that has previous damage from water or other pests. These big ants are experts at hollowing out wood.

Termites
When it comes to wood damage, Termites are often the main culprit. Termites eat wood and their bodies convert the fiber of the wood into sugar. Because they munch on your floor from the inside out, Termite damage often isn’t noticeable right away.

Beetles
Wood Boring Beetles can cause damage to both hard and softwoods, so these insects are ones to watch out for. Beetles damage your flooring when their larvae bore into the wood through surface cracks. Wood Boring Beetles also cause a lot of damage within your flooring, not just on the surface level.

Foundation Issues

Your home’s structural integrity relies on the strength of its foundation. Your foundation supports your walls, windows, floors, and roof, so when it’s damaged, it can set off a domino effect for the rest of your home’s structure.

Foundations made out of wood are prone to insect damage. Additionally, moisture and water leaks around your foundation can attract and fuel the infestation of a variety of bugs that will continue to weaken your home’s structure.

Pests That Cause Foundation Issues

Carpenter Ants
As we mentioned above, Carpenter Ants love wood surfaces. Even if your foundation is primarily made of concrete, these insects will still be attracted to any wooden support features. This is especially true if you have any moisture in your foundation.

Termites
Just like Carpenter Ants, Termites cannot damage concrete foundations. However, they will be attracted to structural supports made of wood. This is especially true when there is direct wood to ground contact.

Prevent Structural Damage to Your Home

If you’re concerned about a bug infestation or rodent damage in your Portland home, contact us immediately. It’s important to get professional pest control help as soon as you notice an issue. Even if you don’t notice any structural damage, it’s best to get an annual pest inspection to ensure there aren’t problems hidden below the surface.

Learn more about our eco-friendly and effective pest control methods here. Or give us a call at (503) 222-5566 to learn more.

More From Our Blog…

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How to Insect-Proof Your Clothes, Food & Valuables

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