Over the course of Hurricane Irene and the storms that followed, the big story across the Eastern Seaboard has been flooding. From North Carolina to New England, we watched rivers rise, and homeowners are among those estimated to reflect multiple billions of dollars in damage. Unfortunately, some of the issues that will arise as a result include unseasonable encounters with pests – including rats, carpenter ants, flies, and mosquitoes.
Homeowners must be vigilant as we head into fall and the effects of these storms continue. While a boost in the pest population can be annoying, it can also be dangerous, as these particular pests are known carriers of disease.
"Earlier in the summer, a dry spell put pressure on many pests," Marc Buck, Branch Manager of Western's Randolph, NJ branch says. "With the flooding associated with Irene and the storms that followed, there is an overabundance of water, and pests and animals have moved to escape the flood zone."
Protect Your Home from Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are no stranger to wooden structures, and cause damage to homes under normal conditions. However, many more homes than normal have damp or rotting wood as a result of flooding, which attracts these pests as they cut galleries to make nests. Startling fact: mature carpenter ant colonies can include up to 100,000 members.
Keep your eye out for these damaging invaders – especially during foraging hours in the late morning and early afternoon.
Watch Out for Rats
Overwintering activity spurs increased rodent sightings in fall, but we expect to see rats in places they don't appear normally this season.
"Rats are very mobile, and we've been seeing them in areas that are not typical," Buck notes. "If a facility is in a flood region, it's important to look for rat activity and for structural issues that could ease their entry."
Rat infestations are the stuff of nightmares, but should be taken seriously. The CDC notes that they can carry upwards of 35 diseases. Moreover, rodents can also cause significant structural damage in their quest for food and harborage sites. Fall rodent levels are already elevated, and professional help should be solicited at the first sighting of rats or rodents. It's also wise to assess the structure of your home – cracks, gaps, or missing door sweeps can provide an easy rodent entry point.
Additional Winged Invaders: Flies and Mosquitoes
Alongside rats and carpenter ants, invaders will also make their way via air – specifically, cluster flies and mosquitoes must be watched. From favorable breeding conditions for mosquitoes to cluster flies pushed up from the ground by floodwaters, your home may be more abuzz than normal this fall.
Flies will emerge from the soil in areas that were completely flooded," Buck says, "and will be drawn to odors from decomposing organic matter."
In a recent release on the post-storm mosquito surge, the National Pest Management Association offers tips to help control mosquito infestations. "Mosquito season typically lasts through October and Hurricane Irene has upped the ante. We're reminding people not to let their guard down and to continue their summer mosquito prevention in the wake of the flooding produced by Hurricane Irene," says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for NPMA.
The release goes on to note that mosquitoes need only a half inch of water to breed, with a reproduction cycle of about two weeks.
Make Pest Prevention a Priority this Season
After the effects of the late summer storms, added pest pressures can be frustrating, but it's important to get ahead of the game to protect your home. "When combating pest issues, the priority must be structural fixes," Buck says. "There are many things we can do to help customers combat pest issues, but they all go hand in hand with structural repair."
- Request a free home inspection online or call 1-866-712-6573
- Learn more about Western's Mosquito Control Plan
- Get carpenter ant detection tips
