Pest Problems After Storms – Rodents in Hiding

DIAL ONE has been getting a lot of similar calls over the past few months. Storm damage, particularly roof damage, has caused a plethora of pest problems for Louisiana homeowners. Rodents and insects alike are all swarming to residential properties and taking advantage of roof, window, and crawl space damage. Rain and wind can cause damage to your home’s exterior that provides pests easy access to sheltered areas, such as your basement, attic, crawlspace, and even walls. Thankfully, DIAL ONE has been in the business long enough to have a few tricks up our sleeve to prevent and eliminate rodent threats. Keep reading to learn more!

Rat Fact! A group of rats is called a “mischief!”

Storm Damage and Rodents

A little rain is enough to lead rats into residential properties. A major storm or hurricane does two major things to incite rodent activity:

1.       Storms create the need for rodents to find shelter

2.       Storms cause home damage that acts as a shelter for rodents

How Pests Infiltrate Your Home During and After a Storm

In short, rodents are excellent at discovering accessways into your home. In fact, a full-grown rat can squeeze into openings as small as a quarter! This means if your home sustains any damage during a storm or flood, rodents will take advantage of the new entryways formed by cracked floors and windows.

And because there is strength in numbers, infestations after a storm or flood are even more difficult to terminate because of the sheer volume of pests.

Signs of a Rodent Infestation after a Storm

While many pests will try to invade during storms, rats and mice are some of the most tenacious and dangerous pests you can invite into your home. There are a few ways to determine if you have an infestation versus one or two rodents.

1.       The Smell. One rat is an unpleasant sight to see. A mischief of rats is horrifying for the nose as well as the eyes. Rodents have no control over their bladders, so their living space quickly becomes saturated with urine and other bodily discharge. An infestation is accompanied by a strong, musty odor. If a rodent dies within your walls or attic, the smell will be much worse.

2.       The Destruction. A rodent infestation is often followed by urine stains and other visible signs of disarray. Mice and rats chew on materials such as books, furniture, wiring, and more.

3.       The Droppings. Rodent droppings are hard to miss. They are shaped like small, dark brown ovals. Rat droppings can be up to ¾ of an inch long, while mice droppings are smaller with pointed ends.

4.       The Sound. With a full-blown infestation, you can often hear signs of scratching, squeaking, and rustling wherever the rodents choose to nest.

Protecting Your Home From Pests During a Storm

The best way to avoid a full blow infestation is to strengthen your defenses in preparation for the upcoming invasion. During and after a storm, pests will look for any possible way to find shelter. The following are ways you can prevent pests from breaking in:

·       Conduct an inspection of your home.

·       Seal or repair any weak points.

·       Eliminate food and other attractants.

·       Regularly take out the trash and seal your outdoor garbage.

·       Immediately address water damage and seal any leaks or holes.

·       Pray. Just kidding. If the pests do manage to get in, don’t panic! Just call DIAL ONE Franklynn Pest Control, and we will take care of your rodent infestation once and for all.

Contact DIAL ONE for Your Free Rodent Control Estimate

DIAL ONE Franklynn Pest Control has been protecting homes in Southern Louisiana against rodent invasions for generations. If you find signs of rodent entry in your home, call DIAL ONE immediately! Register for your next service through text or call 504-885-3101!

Don’t Cozy Up with Bedbugs this Winter

The unthinkable has happened. For the last few days, you’ve woken up to uncomfortable clusters of small red bites. You may suspect bedbugs and have already begun researching how to evict your new houseguests. You may be hoping that the winter weather will scare the bedbugs away, and you simply need to wait out the storm. Unfortunately, bedbugs are a formidable foe, and even the winter chill won’t chase them away. DIAL ONE has the answers for all of your bedbug problems! Read on to learn how to identify bedbugs and get rid of them once and for all.

What are the Signs of Bedbugs?

Bed Bugs are very secretive and often go undetected until the population explodes. Once detected, bed bugs scatter, making them even more difficult to treat! Additionally, they have been known to be misidentified as other insects (and vice versa). They are about the size of small apple seeds, reddish-brown, and oval-shaped. The following are some of the telltale signs you have a bedbug infestation.

·       Blood Stains. If you suddenly find bloodstains on your sheets or pillowcases, something may be feasting upon you during the night!

·       Suspicious Discoloration. Apart from bloodstains, bedbugs can also cause rust-colored discolorations on your sheets and mattress.

·       Musty Odors. Bedbugs stink. Their scent glands release foul, musty odors, especially when thousands of bedbugs are hiding in your bedding and mattress.

·       Egg Shells. Bedbugs leave physical signs, such as eggshells and shed skin. The eggs and skin are very small, but when in bulk, they appear to look like tiny grains of pepper.

To confirm if you have bedbugs, strip your bed of all sheets and comforters and examine the seams of your mattress as well as the bed frame. If you suspect bedbugs but are still uncertain, a DIAL ONE expert will be able to identify your pest problem.

What to do When You Have Bedbugs

So you’ve read the signs, and you definitely have bedbugs. To top things off, you’ve found annoying, irritated clusters of red bites all over your body. You need to get rid of your bedbugs fast. Only a professional team of pest control experts will be able to eliminate your infestation quickly and efficiently. There are steps you can take to mitigate the bedbug problem while you wait for help to arrive.

·       Clean Your Bedding. Completely clean any bedding, clothing, and other items with which your bedbugs may have come into contact. Wash in hot water and dry all items on the highest dryer setting. For items that cannot be washed, place in a dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes.

·       Eliminate Clutter. Bedbugs are adept at finding hiding spots. Make sure your room is absolutely spotless, and all clutter has been eliminated and clean.

·       Encase Your Mattress. If you are not throwing away your mattress, encase it in a covering that the bedbugs cannot escape. These insects can live for at least a year without food, so keep the cover on for an entire year before considering removal.

·       Frequently Vacuum. Vacuuming with bedbugs is a two-step process. Frequently vacuum around your bed and the surrounding areas. Afterward, place the cleaner back in a bedbug-proof plastic bag and throw it away outside.

·       Throwing Away Infested Items. If you’ve decided to throw away infested items, such as furniture and bedding, make sure their properly wrapped and labeled. We suggest hiring professionals to take care of disposal to avoid inadvertently spreading bedbugs to others.

Contact DIAL ONE for Your Free Bedbug Estimate

DIAL ONE Franklynn Pest Control has been protecting homes in Southern Louisiana against bedbugs for generations. If you find signs of bedbugs in your home, call DIAL ONE immediately! Register for your next service through text or call 504-885-3101!