Yet another issue concerning the drought—an increase of household pests. The lack of rainfall is causing bugs such as ants, spiders, and cockroaches to come indoors in search of water. In addition, the past winter, which had fewer days than normal of freezing temperatures, didn’t do its typical seasonal job of killing pests’ eggs.
According to the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Structural Pest Control Board (Board), many household pests are easily controlled: “Good housekeeping and thorough sanitation are important as aids to control or prevent infestations of many pests.”
However, if your home’s pest infestation gets out of control, you may want to seek help from a professional pest control operator. Prior to hiring a company, make sure you’ve done your homework. Be aware that any company that controls mice, rats, pigeons, spiders, ants, roaches, and other household pests must be registered with the Board. Also, the operator who applies the pesticide must be licensed, so ask to see proof of licensure. You can also confirm a company’s registration or a license by contacting the Board’s Licensing Unit at (916) 561-8704 or doing a license search on the Board’s website, www.pestboard.ca.gov.
For more information about pest control and finding a qualified and licensed pest control operator, visit the Board’s website at www.pestboard.ca.gov.
