Is Your House Attracting Pests?

We wish we could say no, but unfortunately any home can be a pest magnet. Our homes are perfect shelters designed to provide the necessities of life, including a plentiful supply of food and water and superior protection from the elements. It should be no surprise that the creature comforts people value are the same ones creatures desire most. It doesn't matter if you have two legs, four, six, or eight. Sometimes, we need shelter, and our homes are just too alluring for pests to ignore.

The Scientific Truth

You might view your home as more-or-less pest free most of the time, except for the ever-present spider or two. But that is not the reality of the situation. Scientific studies have shown that not just some but most homes contain at least hundreds and likely thousands of unseen insects and other pests. The fact of the matter is that most pests go to great lengths to avoid your presence when you are active inside the house. You don't see them because they don't want you to!

While You Were Sleeping

When darkness falls, and you go to sleep at night, your home becomes a different place, no longer the realm of giants (you) but a quiet, shadowy, miniature wonderland. Tiny creatures emerge to explore and forage for the essentials they need to survive. They congregate around water fixtures to partake of their needed hydration. Some investigate your kitchen, trash, and pet dishes. Some pests snack on your belongings, like books and clothes, or your home's building materials, like wood. And some are there to hunt other pests as a food source because many of them are predators.

Other activities can go on as well. Pests socialize, breed, build nests, and perhaps even bravely check out those scary giants to see if their slumbering bodies offer sustenance. And as dawn breaks, or when one of the giants stirs, or an alarm clock goes off, these tiny residents retreat to the safety of their hiding spots, the attic, basement, inside walls, under furniture, and into the other countless nooks and crannies that homes have an abundance of.

The Tiny, Uninvited Residents Of Ventura And Los Angeles Counties

So, what are these tiny, unwanted creatures roaming around your home while you sleep? If you live in Ventura or Los Angeles County, it's a long list. Some arthropods typically found in area homes include flies, beetles, spiders, ants, and book lice. Silverfish are common, along with earwigs, millipedes and centipedes, bed bugs, cockroaches, and more. Plus, we have many rodent issues. Pests also bring in parasites like fleas, ticks, and worms.

A Pervasive Threat

Pests are a pervasive threat that you shouldn't accept in your home. Some of these creatures are relatively harmless, but many are destructive. Either way, they spread diseases and create unsanitary conditions. And perhaps worst of all, pests attract more pests. So, you might not be aware of them at first, but as pest infestations grow, tell-tale clues of their presence inevitably show up in the form of problems like property damage, waste and debris, stains, foul odors, and food contamination. You'll eventually start seeing and hearing them, too.

What You Can Do

Be alert to signs of an infestation and inspect your home regularly. There are steps you can take to lessen the attraction. Keep your home clean. Be mindful of the way you store your food supplies. Don't leave pet dishes out or dirty dishes in the sink. Keep trash covered and declutter.

Those things can help, but we should also warn you that pest problems can still occur even when you are most diligent. Even spotless homes experience them, and interestingly, scientific studies also show that wealthier homes often have even more pests inside than homes in poorer neighborhoods.

101: The Best Solution To Pest Problems

When you do experience pest problems, how you deal with them can make a significant difference, too. DIY products might seem like an easy go-to, but they rarely work well, and they typically fail to penetrate the nest, so the pests are not completely gone. The best choice is to obtain the help of professional pest control.

So, are most homes a magnet for pests? Yes, but yours doesn't have to be. 101 Gopher & Pest Control can assist you with an existing problem, and we can do wonders in terms of prevention. Exclusion, for example, is a highly effective professional service that closes off vulnerable access points where pests usually gain entry. We are the area's most-trusted specialists, and we would love to be your pest control company. Contact us today, and let us give you the pest-free home you deserve.