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Moisture issues caused by leaky pipes, improper drainage, and poor airflow create environments that are ideal for termites to thrive in. Dampwood termites prefer water-damaged wood while subterranean termites require moist environments to survive. Climate can have an impact as well, with termites preferring to live in warm and humid climates with mild temperatures year-round. However, termites are present in every state in the United States, with the exception of Alaska.

Moles make mounds that look like tiny volcanoes, and they are sometimes obscure. They're stealthy creatures that feast on insects. Gophers, on the other hand, create half-moon mounds while digging deeper tunnels. These critters chew on roots and plants, so it is often easier to spot the damage created. Also, moles are usually smaller, with velvety fur, tiny eyes, and shovel-like hands for digging. Gophers are larger rodents with prominent front teeth and external cheek pouches for carrying food. That'll give you the scoop on whether moles or gophers hang out in your yard.

While possums don’t typically carry rabies, they can have lice, fleas, ticks, and mites. According to the University of California’s Pest Management Program, possums can also carry diseases like leptospirosis, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, and fevers. Possums are also the carriers of a parasite that can pass to horses and cats called Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM).

By sheer dollar amount, nothing equals a bad termite infestation that can ruin walls, floors, roofs and wooden support materials, requiring massive reconstruction after the pest problem has been taken care of. However, a bad rodent infestation can also cause a lot of damage, as can carpenter ants and bees that made hives within walls.