Signs Of Pest Damage – What To Look For

It is said that if you see just one silverfish in your home, it means you already have an infestation, silverfish being shy by nature. Signs of damage from mice, rats, cockroaches and spiders can be pretty obvious, but don’t wait until the signs of pest damage build up.

Act sooner rather than later

Get onto any signs of pest damage as soon as you see them, the earlier the better. Sometimes something as relatively simple as an infestation of mice can take time to get on top of properly (i.e. eradication and prevention measures to make sure they don’t come back).

Cooler months attract wild things inside

As we move into the cooler months remember mice will be making more of an effort to enter your home seeking warmth and protection. Possums likewise will be attracted to your home for shelter and, as they are nocturnal, somewhere dark – the reason they love setting up home inside your roofing cavity! Adopting a general cleanliness stance – not leaving food out, keeping benches empty of food scraps etc. will help to discourage rodents from entering your home.

Please don’t feed the birds

Depending on where you live in Victoria you may have noticed more birds in your area of late. The drought conditions in New South Wales have driven large numbers of birds south in search of food. While it’s pleasant to have an abundance of bird life in your neighbourhood, beware of encouraging them to your property as things can quickly escalate out of control. Birds such as cockatoos can cause a lot of damage.

The most destructive of pests you can’t see

Termites are the only pests that will eat your house from the inside out to the point where your house may need to be pulled down. While that’s an extreme example, any termite infestation can be avoided with regular, expert pest inspection and detection methods.

How to discourage termites

While detection and regular treatment are the only sure-fire way to prevent termites entering your home and damaging it, there are a few things builders, landscapers and homeowners should avoid.

Building wood to ground level. With the popularity of decking this can be difficult to achieve, making regular termite treatments even more important.
Landscaping. If ground spray is the only termite treatment used, planting too close to the home allows termites to go over the top of the treatment.
Raising soil beds. Building soil levels up in garden beds can also build a freeway for termites to cross into your home.
Barrier sheets. If your home has a physical pest barrier sheet in place, make sure it hasn’t been breeched. Any damaged sections can allow termites to penetrate the walls.

Don’t wait for signs of pest damage

There are many types of pest and termite treatments available. Choosing the right treatment and prevention requires a thorough inspection first. BMC Pest Inspections uses thermal imaging technology and Termidor treatments.

The best way to avoid the signs of pest damage is with regular pest inspections.

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