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You can use commercial repellents to help deter rodents, but they often have mixed results. A better solution is preventing rodents from getting under your home in the first place. Using steel wool or foam sealer, plug all potential entry points like gaps and cracks in the foundation. 

Also, consider installing hardware cloth or wire mesh over vents, utility openings, and any openings under the porch or foundation. Regular inspections and maintenance will aid in early detection and prevention, ensuring a rodent-free environment beneath your house.

Spotting a single scorpion in the home doesn’t mean you have a full-blown infestation, but it does mean there’s a way for them to get inside. Other scorpions could easily use the same method, like entering through an air vent, as these arachnids are social creatures that tend to live in groups. If you see a baby scorpion, however, that likely indicates a nest somewhere in the home. This is also true if you spot a scorpion with an infant on its back.

It can be difficult to know what type of animal is in your attic until you see it. But several clues can help you narrow down the suspects:

• Sounds: Smaller animals like rats and mice make scurrying and tapping/gnawing sounds. Larger animals like raccoons and opossums make louder clambering noises. Also, note when animals are noisy: Squirrels are active during the day, while rats are busiest at night.

• Droppings: Rats and mice leave small, rice-shaped droppings (the rat’s version is significantly larger). Bigger droppings belong to larger critters like raccoons. As long as you’re not squeamish, an image search can help you identify what you’re seeing in your attic.

When in doubt, take photos of damage or other evidence and show them to an experienced pest control pro.

Carpet beetles do not bite humans, but their larvae can cause skin irritation that’s often mistaken for bites. These tiny, bristly larvae have barbed hairs that can lead to allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, resulting in red, itchy welts or rashes. While the irritation may resemble bug bites, it’s actually a response to contact with the hairs or shed skins, not an actual bite. Adult carpet beetles are harmless and primarily feed on pollen, but their larvae can damage natural fibers like wool, fur, or leather in carpets, clothing, and upholstery.