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When woodpeckers start banging on your walls or roof, they are probably looking for insects to eat, storing nuts for winter, drilling a hole to make a nest, or communicating with other birds to establish territory or find a mate.

The size of the hole can help determine the reason for the pecking. Small irregular holes are a result of insect hunts. Acorn holes are more consistently sized and often fitted with a nut in the middle. Nest holes are large and have rounded edges. If the bird is pecking to mark its territory or attract a mate, it may leave dents rather than holes, and the noise will stop when the mating season starts in spring.

They’re a nuisance, but silverfish aren’t nearly as dangerous as other pests like cockroaches, mice, termites or bed bugs. They don’t carry diseases that humans or pets can catch, and they don’t cause widespread destruction like termites or rats. Silverfish are small and find it very easy to get inside any exposed foodstuffs. Like weevils, you may find them in unprotected flour, cereal, grains, bread boxes, chip packages and more. They will happily nibble fabric and paper as well, so they can cause damage to furniture, clothing, books, bedding, curtains and other materials.

Scented mouse deterrents, like peppermint oil, can be effective in the short term. The pungent smells may temporarily repel mice, but they lose effectiveness as the scent fades or mice get used to it. The main drawbacks are frequent reapplication and the fact that these deterrents don't address the root cause of the infestation, such as entry points or food sources. While they can be part of a broader strategy, scented deterrents alone are rarely enough to eliminate a mouse problem.

A raccoon may be hanging around your house for convenient access to food, water, or shelter. They may drink water out of puddles, pools, ponds, fountains, or your pet’s water bowls. Raccoons are also known to eat just about anything, including food from gardens and waste from unsecured trash cans.