Are you battling with a pest infestation in your home? If so, what do you do in a world where 90% of the US population is on lockdown?
Before we expand on ways to control pests at home, let’s look at the global conditions facing us.
The world as we know it is no longer
Circa 50% of the world’s population, and 90% of the US population, is currently under some form of a lockdown or stay-at-home order of varying degrees.
Why?
The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is racing across the world. It is a zoonosis that has jumped from an animal to a human, and it has evolved to spread rapidly via person-to-person transmission. While it was first noted in China, it has now spread to most of the countries across the globe. And it causes a respiratory illness similar to pneumonia, which can be fatal for people who are considered high-risk.
The World Health Organization has indicated that social distancing or staying at home is one of the best ways, if not the only way, to control the virus’s rampant spread. Consequently, all non-essential businesses have been closed, and millions of people across the globe are at home and are only allowed out to buy essential items and seek medical attention.
The increase of certain pests during the COVID-19 shutdown
Therefore, the question that begs is whether there is an increase in the numbers of pests in urban settlement areas during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emma Marris of The National Geographic notes the following in her article titled, Rats come out of hiding as lockdowns eliminate urban trash:
Because people’s behavior has changed to control the spread of the virus, pests like rats are coming out of hiding and are patrolling streets and urban areas during the day looking for food.
This is because restaurants have closed, and vacationers are no longer visiting traditional tourist areas. As a result, there is no food or rubbish lying around in these areas. Therefore, “people who have never had rat problems before are suddenly coping with unwanted visitors invading their social isolation.”
Ways to control unwanted pests
Therefore, the question that must be asked and answered is, how do you control the spread of unwanted pests?
By way of answering this question, here are a few points worth considering:
Approach a pest control specialist
Pest control specialists like Empire Pest Defense are skilled and experienced at dealing with pest infestations. Not only do they remove existing infestations, but they also offer advice on how to prevent pests from moving in again.
Keep your living area clean and tidy
Lockdown living brings with it a certain amount of stress and lethargy. The cdc.gov website notes that viral outbreaks can be stressful. And, the resultant fear and anxiety can feel overwhelming and cause intensely negative emotions in both children and adults.
Consequently, it is easy to forgo cleaning up your home, especially your kitchen and food preparation and storage areas. This is the first place rats, mice, flies, and other pests will come looking for food. Therefore, it is essential to clean up straight after preparing and eating a meal. And, finally, it is vital to ensure that food storage containers are tightly sealed and packed neatly away.
