The fast pace of development is changing the face of neighborhoods throughout the city of Gaithersburg. Still, there is an unwanted consequence of all this building that many of the residents are not prepared for. This unending construction work, which involves churning up the soil, tearing down buildings, and building temporary accommodations, is pushing hidden pest populations directly into homes and businesses around them.
Pest habitats that have existed undisturbed for years are broken up and moved; the new developments present exciting opportunities for the old pests. Rodents, insects, and other unwanted guests become homeless overnight and immediately search for new housing, often in your house.
The first step toward protecting your Gaithersburg home is understanding how construction activities prompt these pest migrations. While prevention is always the best option, sometimes it is not enough, and that is when it is time to call a pest control company in Gaithersburg to keep your home a safe and comfortable place to live.
Construction-heavy zones in Gaithersburg: How Do They Attract Pests?
Soil Disruption Creates Pest Highways
The large-scale soil disruptions at recent construction sites in Gaithersburg’s growing neighborhoods affect pest populations below ground level. Those displaced pests are not just going to fade away; they are going to move to the nearest proper habitat, which quite often is your home’s foundation, crawl spaces, or landscaping.
Demolition Debris Becomes Pest Magnets
Many pest species take advantage of the demolition phase of construction projects, creating perfect conditions for breeding. Wood, drywall, and other organics piled on construction sites offer ideal nesting sites for rodents and insects. They also hold moisture in Gaithersburg’s humid climate, which is an attractive place for carpenter ants, cockroaches, and many other pests who love moisture.
Temporary Structures Provide Pest Shelter
Construction trailers, porta-potties, and temporary fencing around Gaithersburg work sites provide convenient shelter for pests at construction sites. These structures typically house a dumpster, stagnant water of excess melting snow, and many dark areas where these pests can hide, which can attract rodents and insects. After finding a temporary nest site, the pests then extend their search to nearby properties for more permanent abode options.
What Can I Do To Avoid Them?
Close All Entry Points Around Your Property
The first step is to check the outside of your home for any places that pests could access. Inspect for openings around windows, doors, and utility lines where displaced pests may enter. Take special care at intersections between different building materials, where junctions tend to crack over time. Pests often run to your basement windows and out the foundation when construction irritates them, so be prepared.
Maintain Your Landscaping Buffer Zone
Landscapes created and kept clean with trimmed gardens can build up a pest barrier in and around your home. Remove fallen branches, leaf piles, and other organic debris that may harbor displaced pests. Cut back shrubs and trees away from the outside walls of your home to deny easy access pathways.
Local pest control professionals are helpful for many Gaithersburg homeowners, who have found challenges with construction-related pest displacement. Green Pest Services has worked with hundreds of residents in neighborhoods such as Kentlands and the Rio Road corridor to design long-term pest management plans that factor in the continued construction surrounding their homes. When construction projects displace established pest communities, their understanding of local pest behavior patterns and seasonal migration patterns is invaluable.
Monitor and Maintain Moisture Control
With Gaithersburg’s climate itself breeding moisture concerns, construction activity can agitate this state. Make sure there is no standing water around your place and maintain proper drainage. Pests removed by construction flock to dependable water sources, which means that moisture management becomes an even bigger priority during times of active development.
