Most of the time, the reason someone calls a pest control company is because they’ve seen pests. Usually indoors. But the thing about pests is that they are amazing at hiding, often most active at night or early morning, and don’t always live in visible places.

That means that, sometimes, pests can be smelled before they are seen. While not all pests will emit an odor, those that do can emit a smell that is distinctive and gets worse and worse over time the longer the pests are on the property.

Examples of Pest Scents and Odors

Many, many issues can lead to pest odors. From the pests themselves to the issues they cause, it’s a good idea to be aware of some of the smells that pests can make even if you are not sure whether or not they’re on your property. For example, pay attention to the following:

• Cockroaches – Roaches are well known for their smells, which come specifically from the oils of their skin (which also cause allergies). This smell is musty and gets stronger the more cockroaches are present.
• Rodents – Rodents themselves urinate everywhere, which causes an ammonia smell that can be easy to notice. After they die, they may also emit a powerful and foul decomposition smell.
• Bed Bugs – Bed bugs also release a heavy and troubling scent. It is a musty odor that comes from their scent glands. It is similar to cockroach smell, but will be located solely where bed bugs congregate, like beds and baseboards.
• Stink Bugs – Known specifically for their stink, these bugs release a sulfuric odor when they’re bothered or, unfortunately, crushed. The smell can also linger, which can make it particularly unpleasant inside of the home.

Ants, spiders, and other pests are less likely to emit smells. However, there can be secondary smells that indicate a possible presence of a pest. For example, termites have n smell, but they’re attracted to and eat rotting wood. If you smell something that smells like rotting wood, you have to at least be concerned that these pests may be present.

Smelled But Not Seen

Lastly, smells and other pest related issues are all part of a puzzle that you’ll be tasked with solving. For example, if you sense smells, then you should be on the lookout for rodent droppings, or allergies, or other issues. Often, if you look closely enough, you can tell when pests have been there and know that calling a pest control company is urgent.