Many pests see your crawl space as an opportunity to be your roommate. These spaces are often dark, damp, and neglected, making them the perfect spot for pests to take shelter from the elements and go relatively unnoticed until they’re a major issue.
Knowing about seven common pests found in crawl spaces and understanding why they’re there can help you get rid of them for good.
1. Rodents Like Mice and Rats
Mice and rats are some of the most frustrating pests to find in your home. They’ll chew through wood, wires, insulation, and anything else they can get their paws on.
They love your crawl space because there are plenty of places to hide, and it often gives them access to other areas of your home, like your kitchen, where they forage for food.
Keep your crawl space clean and clear so they have nowhere to hide. Use weatherstripping and sealants to block them from getting inside. And if you already have a bad rodent problem, consider calling pest experts and using traps to get things under control.
2. Termites
Not far down the list in frustration are termites, the hungriest little bugs that will rip and tear their way through your home like a buffet. They love a crawl space because it gives them everything they need to thrive:
- A dark, damp place to feed and multiply
- A food source (the structure of your home)
- Peace to merrily munch through joints and beams
Address termites the same way you would with mice and rats. Seal everything up and use chemical traps or repellants. There are also special termite barriers you can install. These block the space between the dirt and wood in your crawl space, so it’s not nearly as easy for them to access their food.
3. Spiders
Spiders are probably the most common pests found in crawl spaces. Some homeowners take a “live and let live” approach to spiders. However, this can backfire depending on the species of spider and how bad the infestation is.
Since spiders enjoy spaces where there’s plenty of prey for them to feast on, seeing lots of spiders in your crawl space can tip you off to other bugs thriving.
Eliminating their food source certainly helps, but so do the other methods that work with common pests found in crawl spaces. Do your best to seal up any cracks and gaps, use insecticides to dispose of large colonies of spiders, and call in a professional if the problem gets out of hand.
4. Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are a lot like termites in that they’re one of the last things you want to see in your crawlspace. They don’t eat wood like termites do, but they’re just as damaging to it.
This type of ant can cause expensive structural damage by hollowing out wood to create satellite nests. They can also attract other common crawl space pests, like spiders.
These pests like to nest in moist, decaying wood, so any signs of this in your crawl space could indicate you have a carpenter ant problem. Set up bait stations and see if you can find an ant trail. This will lead you back to their nest and make it easier to find the source of the problem.
5. Cockroaches
Cockroaches are among the most notorious insects to have in a home. Unfortunately, they’re also one of the most common pests found in crawl spaces. That’s often where they thrive and multiply until they spill over into the rest of your home and cause absolute mayhem.
These are among the most difficult pests to get rid of. The best approach is one that covers all your bases. Aside from contacting professionals for assistance, repair and restore any parts of your foundation that could make your crawl space easily accessible for them.
You can use other pest control methods, like boric acid, to eliminate cockroaches while you address the structural issues with your crawl space.
6. Snakes
Snakes are often in crawl spaces because they’re looking for food. Much like spiders, finding snakes in these areas frequently means you have other pests that they feed on.
They can’t always access crawl spaces as easily as tiny bugs, but once they’re there, the shelter and stable food source are too good to pass up, and you’ll probably have to evict them yourself.
Snakes are one of the few common crawl space pests that you should absolutely let an expert take care of. This is the safest way to manage an existing snake problem.
To prevent their return, think about installing barriers and repellents. And if they came in search of a food source, like mice, you’ll want to eliminate that as well for good measure (and so you don’t end up with a larger mouse problem).
7. Centipedes
Last but not least is the king of the creepy crawly — the house centipede. Centipedes adore dark and damp spaces. But more than that, they’re dominant predators that eat spiders and other bugs.
If you have centipedes, that means you probably have a small food chain of problematic pests holing up in your crawlspace.
Follow the similar methods you’d use for any of the other bugs, like removing moisture and hiding places from your crawl space. These both help centipedes thrive on their own and also help the bugs they like to eat.
Addressing both issues means you’re taking a full-spectrum approach to managing the centipede population.
You can also use natural repellents, like peppermint essential oil, to discourage centipedes from accessing your crawl space.
How Pests Can Cause Damage to Your Crawl Space
Getting rid of the pests in your crawl space “because they’re icky” is a perfectly valid reason to call in the pros. However, that’s far from the only reason you should.
Many of these pests pose risks to your health and your home. Their chewing through wood and insulation leaves structural damage that can weaken and make your home uncomfortable. Their waste can contaminate surfaces and spread disease, especially if they make their way into the livable parts of your home.
Pests can also become a crawl space problem because they attract other pests. If mice and rats live and thrive in your crawl space, what would stop a snake from finding a way in and making a nest?
The more uninvited guests you have making themselves at home in your crawl space, the higher the chances are of it becoming damaged.
Getting Rid of Pests in Your Crawl Space
Your first step should be getting the existing infestation under control. There are many methods to try, but aim for one that’s specific to the type of pest you’re dealing with.
Most homeowners are better off calling in professionals to handle their problem. That’s because pest experts know how to find the root of the influx of pests.
They’ll use their expertise to eliminate pests at the source, making it less likely for them to return.
But part of getting rid of pests in crawl spaces is ensuring they have no reason to return. That means getting your crawl space in order once the infestation is gone or at least contained. Schedule inspections regularly to catch any issues with mold, pests, or the area’s structure.
Most homeowners who experience pest issues will also want to invest in better moisture control solutions, like vapor barriers and humidifiers. Talk with a repair specialist to see what they recommend for your specific crawl space.
FAQs
Do you have some lingering curiosities about these crawl space critters? Here are a few commonly asked questions with some definitive answers.
Facing Crawl Space Damage From Pests? Turn to Crossroads Foundation Repair
If your home is one of the many victims of these common pests found in crawl spaces, we’re here to help. Get your crawl space healthy and secure again with the experts at Crossroads Foundation Repair.
Contact our team today to learn more and schedule an appointment for crawl space repairs.
