Get matched with top pest control specialists in Salem, SD

Make it easier for your inspector to do a thorough assessment by preparing your home ahead of time. That includes:

• Noting any signs of pests around the home

• Removing obstacles in the way of the attic, basement, plumbing, garbage, and other key areas that inspectors will need to access

• Keeping children and pets away from inspection areas

Squirrels are pretty skittish creatures, and they dread the presence of rodent-chasing dogs and cats. Sudden noises and bursts of activity can send them scampering away. Anything with an element of surprise, like motion-detecting lighting, strobe lights, and noisy wind chimes, can unsettle them. Even loud radios and voices can be perceived as threatening and terrifying to these furry critters.

Seeing a rat or two isn’t uncommon, especially in mild climates. That doesn’t mean they are actively a danger to your home. The problem is when you start seeing rats regularly in your yard, there’s a good chance they are also looking for ways to get into your house or other buildings. All they need is a small hole or gap, and they have a new place to nest -- which is bad news for you. Stay cautious if you start seeing rats in your yard all the time. 

There is no exact science here, due to the nature of nests and how mice raise their young, but a good place to start is to inspect the droppings. A single mouse poops a lot, leaving around 50 droppings in a single day, likely near a primary food source. If you find only sporadic droppings, you likely have a small infestation. If you spot large mounds of droppings, you are dealing with a big problem.