The Unwanted Guests in Your Gutters: Common Pests to Watch Out For

While every homeowner is quite aware of the importance of cleaning out their gutters year-round, you might not always know what to expect when you are exploring this vital part of your home. In fact, one of the ways that people discover that they have a pest infestation occurs when they clean out their gutters. If you want to be prepared for the next time you complete this task, check out some of the most common pests that you may discover in your gutters below.

Stinging Insects

Stinging insects range from bees to hornets to wasps. These are the most common pests that will invade gutters and they also tend to be the most annoying as well. The good news is that you shouldn’t have to get too terribly close to them in order to identify whether or not they are present. They are brightly-colored which made them easy to spot, even from the ground.

If you are trying to figure out whether these stinging insects have infested your gutters, you may want to check out the corners of your home first. These pests love a moist environment, which makes your gutters an ideal destination and residence.

Opossums

These creatures are nocturnal and much larger than anything else you will find residing in your gutters. Most commonly, gutters are used by opossums so that they can give birth to their litter. If this is what has occurred at your house, we wouldn’t recommend trying to get the critters out on your own as they may become violent. We would suggest that you call a professional to come remove this pest as soon as possible.

Birds

Another creature you may find has made your gutter into their home is birds. Their nests are often large and heavy, clogging your gutters relatively easily. Additionally, birds can carry a number of diseases, cause an unpleasant smell around your home, or cause a threat to the foundation of your home. If you think there are birds using your gutters to house their nests, you may try to put up a birdhouse in your yard in order to encourage them to relocate. If that doesn’t work, you can always call the professionals to take care of the issue.

Mosquitoes

When you gutters become clogged, the backed up watch is essentially asking for mosquitoes to gather there. Water that is a little as a week old acts as a severe attractant to these blood-sucking bugs. Believe us, we know that the last thing you want to do is make a part of your home into a breeding ground for these pests as mosquitoes are not only annoying but they are known to carry life-threatening diseases. You can avoid this by regularly spraying your gutters clean with a hose.

Rodents

It might seem strange that a mouse or rat could find its way into your gutters but this is in no way out of the question. All it truly takes is a tree branch to act as a bridge from the ground to the gutters of your home. Considering that rodents are also known to carry diseases, the last thing you want is for mice or rats to be roaming the interior or the exterior of your home. Consider pruning the trees in your lawn, putting out mouse traps, or hiring a professional exterminator to keep rodents away from your home.

Termites

The ideal environment for a termite is a wet and rotting one. When your gutters become clogged, termites are beyond attracted to them. While these insects are actually quite difficult to detect, you simply need to know what you are looking for if you want to identify them. One of the best indications that you have termites are small holes in the wood around your home or noticing that the wood itself is becoming spongy. If you want to keep termites at bay, cleaning out your gutters is absolutely necessary.

Hire A Pest Management Solution Company in Sacramento

Regardless of what you find in your gutters, you don’t have to deal with it alone. We would suggest that you contact your local pest management company as soon as you discover that there is some sort of pest accosting your home. We will do everything we can to make your home safe and pest-free in no time at all. Contact Earthwise Pest Management in Sacramento right now!