Have you noticed webs in the corner of your bedroom, mounds in your lawn, or ant trails in your kitchen?
If so, you’ve got a pest problem, and you need to act fast!
For more than twenty years, Smith’s Pest Management has been providing pest control services to Alameda County residents.
We’ve compiled our expertise into this guide about the most common pests in the area and how to deal with them.
Key Takeaways
- If you live in Alameda County, the pests you’re most likely to deal with are gophers, ants, ground squirrels, rats, and spiders.
- Your best bet for getting rid of these pests is to use methods like traps, baits, and physical barriers (like mesh fences).
- If your DIY methods aren’t working or you want faster results, call us at (408) 871-6988 to request a free inspection.
Pests that Inhabit Alameda County
1. Gophers
How to Identify Them:
- Gophers are medium-sized rodents that dig tunnels underground.
- They have stocky bodies, short tails, and strong front legs and are known for creating holes and hazards in yards, fields, and pastures.
- The most apparent sign of gopher infestation is the presence of crescent-shaped dirt mounds on the ground.
Common Species:
- The most common gopher species in Alameda County is the pocket gopher.
Common Locations:
- Gophers mostly live in rural areas like Livermore.
- They like places with loose, sandy soil and lots of plants to eat.
- Fields and gardens provide a perfect place for them to dig and burrow.
How to Deal with Them:
- Set traps designed to catch and kill gophers.
- Use bait (secured in bait boxes).
- Install barriers like wire mesh under your grass and around your garden beds.
- Limit sources of food and shelter.
- Check out our comprehensive gopher control guide for more tips.
2. Ants
How to Identify Them:
- Ants are small insects with segmented bodies and bent or clubbed antennae.
- They usually move in lines and are often found near food.
Common Species:
- There are more than 15,700 species of ants.
- The most common in Alameda County are Argentine, carpenter, and odorous house ants.
Common Locations:
- Indoors, ants are commonly found in kitchens, bathrooms, and around appliances.
- Like all pests, they live where food and water are easy to find.
How to Deal with Them:
- Use ant baits and traps to catch and kill these pests.
- Apply contact sprays to kill ants immediately.
- Clean up spills, curbs, and loose food to limit ant populations.
- Call a pest management professional for severe infestations.
- Check out our comprehensive guide on how to get rid of ants for more specific guidance.
3. Ground Squirrels
How to Identify Them:
- Ground squirrels have bushy tails and are larger than tree squirrels.
- Depending on the species, ground squirrels vary in color and features, but all have short legs and small, rounded ears.
Common Species:
- In Alameda County, the most common species of ground squirrel is the California ground squirrel.
- These critters have mottled gray fur, short, stocky bodies about 12″ long, and tails shorter than their bodies.
Common Locations
- Ground squirrels are often found in grassy or open areas like parks and fields.
How to Deal with Them:
- The best way to get rid of ground squirrels is with traps.
- You can also use repellents, decoys, or live-catch traps.
- Check out our ground squirrel control guide for more details.
4. Rats
How to Identify Them:
- Rats have long tails and pointed noses.
- They are larger than mice and are primarily active at night.
- Their droppings are dark brown and elongated with tapered ends.
Common Species:
- The most common rats in Alameda County are the Norway rat and the roof rat.
Common Locations
- Rats are most common in dense, urban areas like Oakland and Berkeley.
- Indoors, they’ll seek shelter in basements, attics, wall voids, and other out-of-the-way areas.
How to Deal with Them:
- Seal entry points.
- Remove nesting materials.
- Secure food in airtight, gnaw-proof containers.
- Set rat traps.
- Check out our detailed rat control guide for more information.
5. Spiders
How to Identify Them:
- Today, there are more than 45,000 known species, and they all come in different sizes and colors.
- All species have two main body parts and eight legs.
Common Species:
- Common species include the black widow, the wolf spider, and the yellow sac spider.
Common Locations:
- Spiders are common in rural areas like Livermore, where the natural environment provides all the food, protection, and shelter they need.
- Indoors, spiders typically like to take shelter in secluded places high up on walls or ceilings, behind furniture, in stored items, or in other areas that are unlikely to be disturbed by people.
How to Deal with Them:
- Clean your space regularly and remove any webs you find.
- Use traps and contact sprays.
- Check out our spider control guide for more steps.
When to Call Smith’s Pest Management
Sometimes, DIY methods just aren’t enough to get rid of pests.
When this happens, it’s a good idea to call in the professionals.
Here are a few signs it may be time:
The Infestation is Severe
If you have major pest problems, like a constant trail of ants, an infestation of dangerous black widows, or disease-spreading rats, it’s time to invest in professional help.
Doing so is the best way to stay safe and get rid of the pests as quickly as possible.
Your DIY Methods Haven’t Worked
Call our team if you’ve been setting traps and using baits, but pest numbers don’t seem to be decreasing.
Teams like ours use eco-friendly, humane tactics to deal with stubborn pests and provide tangible results as quickly as possible.
DIY Just Isn’t Your Thing!
Not everyone likes DIY pest control, and that’s okay!
If it’s not your thing, calling a professional is a great way to get the job done without getting your hands dirty.
Get Pests Under Control in Alameda County With the Help of Smith’s!
You don’t have to live with pests like spiders, rats, or ground squirrels!
Here at Smith’s Pest Management, we provide reliable and proven pest control methods to help you enjoy a pest-free home once again.
