Hurricane Helene's Impact on Pest Control
Now that we are a little over a month out from Hurricane Helene, most of South Carolina is on the path to recovery. Even as we continue to clean up, our team has noticed an uptick in new pest problems. With such destructive weather and an unusually warm November, we are seeing some unusual pest problems. There are three parts to all of this that have led to such an uptick in pests. First, the massive increase in moisture. The week leading up to and following the storm left everywhere soaked through. A lot of pests need easy access to moisture to multiply quickly. Wet and damp places are the preferred home of many of the pests that we deal with. Second, the destruction and fallen trees displaced bugs. Even though you may not be able to see them, your bushes, shrubs, and trees are home to so many bugs. The shade and shelter that they provide creates a place for them to live, and when those areas of shelter are destroyed, the pests will start looking for a new home. Third, the warmer weather the Upstate has been experiencing after the storm created the perfect opportunity for a lot of these pests to fully bloom and thrive! With that in mind, let’s dive into a little more about which pests you may see thriving.
1st - Cockroaches
Cockroaches, especially American cockroaches, thrive in damp environments and often live in piles of debris or leaves. With the disruption of bushes and trees in so many yards, cockroaches may be searching for new homes. With moisture spikes and warmer weather, you may be seeing a lot more roaches around and in your homes over the next few months!
2nd - Mosquitoes
While the weather is getting cooler, it has been a very warm November so far. This warmer weather paired with the excessive moisture may lead to abnormal spikes of mosquitoes. The standing water in yards, clogged gutters, and storm debris can create new palaces for mosquito populations to boom. Once the weather is consistently below 50 degrees, they should start to die off, but you may see weird spikes in their population until then.
3rd - Rodents
Much like cockroaches, small rodents often live in sheltered areas around trees, shrubs, and bushes. If their homes have been destroyed their going to be looking for new, warm, and dry places to live. This means that your home will be prime real estate for these pests. If your home suffered any kind of exterior damage that would have opened new access points, it is especially important to ensure that those are sealed up so that these rodents don’t have an easy point of access.
4th - Fleas and Ticks
Speaking of rodents moving around, those pests can often carry fleas and ticks into new areas. In addition to rodents moving in new routes, this time of year is often peak season for pets to pick up fleas. This migration of rodents paired with the season means that it will be especially important to make sure that you keep your pests up to date on their flea medication, and you will need to be mindful to keep your home flea free!
What Can You Do About All of This?
While there isn’t a single one thing you can do to prevent all of these pest issues, there are a few things to look out for. If you haven’t yet, make sure that you move all the debris that you can away from the house. Once the debris has been removed, inspect your yard for new places that could hold standing water. Standing water can serve as a draw for bugs and a breeding area for mosquitoes. After you’ve done all of that, make sure that you inspect your house for any potential new entry points. While you’re doing this, it is a good idea to get in your crawlspace and make sure that there was no additional water that is under your house. Do a quick inspection to make sure that your crawlspace is drying out and secure from rodents. If you end up still seeing pests after all of that, don’t be too worried. If you need help, don’t hesitate to give our team a call. We are always happy to schedule a free inspection to have a team member come out and give your home a through examination to see how we can help!
