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Squirrels hate not having access to secure shelter or food sources. Your best line of defense is to make your property less attractive by removing access to these things. There are chemical squirrel repellents, but these have mixed success. According to Pennsylvania State University, you can apply products containing the bittering agent denatonium saccharide to a squirrel's favorite fence, tree, or roof spots. However, you need to reapply repellents regularly, which aren’t scientifically proven effective.

If you’ve ruled out small cockroaches, some other bugs you might mistake for bed bugs are carpet beetles, bat bugs, and booklice. However, they’re usually found in different parts of the home. Carpet beetles are found in fabrics and carpets, bat bugs live in attics, and booklice dwell around books and damp areas.

Rats are nocturnal creatures, meaning they are most active at night, typically from late evening through the early morning. They use the cover of darkness to explore, forage for food, and find water, as they feel safer and can avoid daytime predators and human activity. Their sharp senses, including keen night vision and hearing, are well-suited for navigating in the dark. Because they prefer to stay hidden during the day in secluded areas like walls or attics, you are more likely to spot signs of their presence—such as droppings or gnaw marks—before you see an actual rat.

Depending on the size of your home and accessibility, expect professional pest inspections to take between 30 and 60 minutes. If you have a large property or limited accessibility, pest inspections may take longer.