Pest Control in Mount Washington, Baltimore

Why do carpenter ants and termites favour Mount Washington houses?

Wood-frame houses on shaded, sloping lots hold moisture longer than houses in open sun, and trees overhead drop leaves into gutters and onto roofs. Carpenter ants favour wood that has been damp, and they nest in porch posts, window sills, fascia and the framing around leaks. Eastern subterranean termites, meanwhile, live in the soil and reach wood sills and porch supports through mud tubes or hidden cracks. Neither pest is certain in any given house, but the conditions here are the ones that make a check worthwhile.

Walk the outside of the house in spring. Look for sawdust-like frass under windows, soft wood at the base of posts, mud tubes on foundation walls and winged insects at a window sill. Keep firewood and mulch away from the wall, and fix leaks quickly. See carpenter ant control, termite inspection and termite control for how a technician handles each.

Houses on steep lots can have an unusual feature: the downhill side may sit several feet above the ground while the uphill side is buried. That means one wall can be damp and in contact with soil while another is dry and exposed. A technician checks both, because wood-destroying insects tend to find the damp side first, and any treatment plan depends on where the soil and the wood meet.

What do squirrels and raccoons do on tree-lined Falls hillsides?

Branches that touch the roof are a bridge for squirrels, and raccoons climb wood siding and downspouts. Old soffits, roof vents, chimney tops and the gaps where a porch meets the main roof can all become entry points. Signs include scratching at dawn and dusk, thumping at night, chewed fascia and droppings in the attic.

Do not close an opening before a technician has checked whether animals, including young, are inside. A good job includes removal, repair and screening of the entry point, and a note about branches that should be trimmed. Our squirrel and raccoon removal page covers the sequence. Bats are protected in many places, so describe any flying animal you see rather than trying to block or remove it yourself.

How do rodents get in from the Jones Falls corridor?

Stream corridors give rats and mice cover, water and a path between yards. Norway rats may come up from the Falls bank, and mice move into wood-frame houses as nights cool, using gaps around the foundation, vents, utility lines and the bottoms of doors. Because the houses here are detached, there is no party wall to worry about, but crawlspaces, porch skirts and sheds can still hold nests.

A technician inspects the foundation, crawlspace, porch and outbuildings, then seals gaps and sets traps or bait where it makes sense. Bird feeders, pet food and open compost can bring rodents close to the house, so moving them away helps. See mouse control and rat control for details.

On a wooded hillside, shade and leaf cover keep the ground damp for longer, which suits ticks, millipedes and other moisture-loving creatures. Raking leaves away from the foundation and keeping a gap between mulch and siding helps. If you are unsure, ask a technician to look at the planting beds as well as the house.

Are ticks, mosquitoes and wasps a concern on wooded lots?

Shade, leaf litter and nearby woods are the conditions ticks like, so people who garden or have pets on wooded lots may want to check for them after outdoor time. Standing water in buckets, planters and clogged gutters can breed Asian tiger mosquitoes, and eaves and porch ceilings are favoured spots for paper wasps and yellowjackets, whose nests tend to peak in late summer. See flea and tick control, mosquito control and wasp and hornet nest removal for options.

If you hear noise in a wall or ceiling, note the time of day. Squirrels are typically active in the morning and afternoon, while raccoons, mice and bats are more often heard in the evening and at night. That detail helps a technician narrow down what is in the house before the visit begins.