7 Signs of Cockroaches in Your Home

by Sos Wildlife Control | Jan 26, 2022 | Cockroaches, Pest Control Tips

Cockroaches are certainly unwelcome houseguests. They can quickly invade your home and infest your space. If they make their way into your home and get comfortable, they may reproduce quickly, increasing the problem. It is important to catch cockroaches early in order to prevent a large infestation from occurring. With our years of experience at SOS Wildlife Control, our experts have seen many tell-tale signs of cockroach infestations. We have created this list in order to help you identify your problem and seek professional help.

• You See A Cockroach

Although not all signs may be obvious, this one definitely is. If you see a cockroach (or two) in your home, this may be a sign that you have cockroaches. Cockroaches are nocturnal, which means they typically come out at night. This means the best time to catch a cockroach is at night. If you are finding cockroaches during the day, this can be a sign of large infestation occurring in your home.

• Skin Shedding

Cockroaches shed their skin around 5-8 times in their life cycle. If you often find what appears to be the shedding of insect casing, particularly in similar areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, or around the garbage, this may be a sign of cockroach infestation.

• Cockroach eggs

Cockroaches reproduce quickly, meaning that it is likely that you may find their eggs, or the casing of the eggs called oothecae. The eggs and their casings are oblong in shape and brown in colour. It may be more difficult to find eggs with the unhatched cockroaches inside as often, they are hidden in areas that may be difficult to find. However, the casings that are left behind after a cockroach has hatched and left, are much easier to spot and are a good sign that there are cockroaches in your home, and they have made themselves comfortable. Places you may find oothecae are around pantries, in cracks, behind furniture, in books as well as other protected and sheltered areas.

• Cockroach droppings

Cockroaches have a large appetite and a fast metabolism; this means that you are likely to find their droppings as they digest food quickly. These pests basically eat what they can find, such as human food, plant matter, feces and dead skin. Likely if it is accessible to them, they will eat it. These pests and their large appetites often lead to them leaving a lot of droppings behind.  Cockroach feces range in appearance such as appearing similar to coffee grounds, oval pellets, specks that resemble pepper and sometimes brown stains. If you are noticing there is a large amount of feces left behind, this is a good indicator of a large infestation. You may find these droppings in high traffic cockroach areas such as around sinks, in pantries and cupboards, behind the stove or refrigerator, as well as other areas where you may store food. Check these areas and remove any dirt, waste or food to prevent cockroaches from having access to food.

• You Smell Them

As cockroaches defecate, they leave behind a musty order which sends signals to other cockroaches to congregate. Although one cockroach alone can leave an odour, the more cockroaches there are, the worse the smell. This apparent smell can indicate a large infestation. Also, as cockroaches die and their bodies decompose, this will also create a scent, indicating to you that you may have a cockroach infestation.

• Smearing

Cockroaches that are attracted to water may leave behind smear marks. As they crawl through water, they may leave behind smear marks that appear brownish in colour. Check for smear marks around sinks, bathrooms, showers and tubs.

• Signs of Damage

As cockroaches are not very polite houseguests and make themselves very comfortable in your home, they may leave behind signs of damage. Check areas where you keep food, food packaging, as well as books or leather. If you notice damage to these goods, this may be a sign of cockroaches.

Call the Professionals

Cockroaches are not pleasant houseguests and are likely causing damage or distress to your household, as well as pose risks to you and your families health. Although there are signs in order to determine if you have a cockroach infestation, it may not always be apparent. If you suspect that you may have an infestation, it is always wise to call the professionals in order to assess and deal with the pests. Here at SOS Wildlife Control we care about our customers and their satisfaction with our work. Our experts have the skill and experience to provide effective and efficient solutions for your pest problem. We pride ourselves on our work and the positive feedback we receive from our clients. If you suspect that you may have a cockroach infestation or require professional assistance in effectively removing an infestation call us at (647) 994-9453 or 1-800-981-0330 for all of your pest removal needs and we guarantee your satisfaction.

Are Cockroaches Dangerous for Your Health?

by Sos Wildlife Control | Jul 4, 2021 | Cockroaches, Pest Control Tips

Finding a cockroach in your living space is certainly an unpleasant feeling. Cockroaches are considered pests that are particularly dirty, as they will feast on anything including feces, waste as well as dead skin. These pests are known to be dangerous for your health due to their unhygienic habits that can be passed along to humans. We at SOS Wildlife Control understand that a cockroach infestation can be a scary situation due to the health risks associated with them. If you suspect an infestation, call the professionals  to asses and solve your cockroach problem.  

Diseases

Cockroaches are known to carry diseases and spread bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, as well as parasitic worms. They are can also be carriers of diseases that impact the intestines such as typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery and diarrhea. These diseases can be passed along if you and a cockroach have shared the same food or in some cases if you come into contact with them.

Allergens

Cockroaches have an impact on individuals with allergies as well as asthma. They can trigger allergies and asthma as they are among common sources of indoor allergens. It is believed that the enzymes that are produced in a cockroach and excreted through shedding, eggs, saliva and excrements can cause allergic reactions among humans. There are some way to try to remove cockroaches by yourself, but its best to leave these to professionals as you never know where they are hiding.

Coming into Contact

Coming into contact with cockroaches can potentially pose a risk to your health. Although they do not bite, they can scratch. They have heavy leg spines which can pierce the skin and become infected. They could also transfer any diseases they may be carrying onto you.

Cockroaches and Your Pets

In most cases cockroaches view your furry friend as a threat and will typically flee to avoid contact with your pet. However, in some rare cases, if cockroaches are desperate for food, they may feed off of the skin of your pets. Your pet may have some discomfort and itching from the bites. They also may potentially get infections from the bites as well. Keep in mind that although it is rare, it is still possible.

If you are concerned  that you may have a cockroach infestation, it is best to call the professionals as cockroaches can carry diseases which can be transferred to you, your family and potentially your pets. Here at SOS Wildlife Control we care about our customers and their satisfaction with our work. Our experts have the skill and experience to provide effective and efficient solutions for your pest problem. We pride ourselves on our work and the positive feedback we receive from our clients. If you suspect that you may have a cockroach infestation or require professional assistance in effectively removing an infestation call us at (647) 994-9453 or 1-800-981-0330 for all of your pest removal needs and we guarantee your satisfaction.