Summer Pests in Durham: Ants, Spiders, and Roaches

Summer Pests in Durham: Ants, Spiders, and Roaches

Ants in Durham

North Carolina’s summer heat draws ants indoors and outdoors alike. While some ants are merely nuisances, others, like fire ants, pose real risks. Fire ants and other ant species can deliver itchy, painful stings, causing allergic reactions, intense pain, and potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis in sensitive cats, dogs, or small mammals. Their bites can lead to secondary infections when a pet scratches.

Pets that are recovering from surgery and those unable to move quickly, such as seniors or disabled pets, are especially vulnerable to ant bites. Even non-stinging ants can contaminate food bowls, leading to upset stomachs or skin irritation for pets sensitive to their bites. While ants and the pests below play an important role in Durham’s ecosystem, it’s best to prevent their presence inside your home and yard, for your protection and your pets’.

Preventing Ants in Durham

• Clean your kitchen each night to avoid attracting ants
• Make sure your doors and windows seal properly
• Wash and wipe jars and containers of honey, maple syrup, and other sweet foods before storing them
• Store food in airtight containers made of glass or plastic
• Keep pet food indoors and clean up immediately after feeding
• Keep pet sleeping and eating areas free from food crumbs
• Regularly wash bowls and clean up pet feeding areas
• Avoid free-feeing
• Regularly inspect your yard for nests and, if needed, treat mounds with pet-safe ant control methods

Spiders in Durham

Durham hosts many spider species, and while most are harmless, some, such as black widow and brown recluse spiders, can deliver venomous bites. Pets may accidentally disturb a spider while playing in the yard or sniffing around dark corners. While large pets may only experience mild symptoms, smaller animals and cats might react severely to spider venom, leading to muscle tremors, vomiting, drooling, or even paralysis. Untreated bites can develop into localized swelling, serious neurological symptoms, severe allergic reactions, pain, necrosis or tissue death, secondary infections, or systemic illness.

Preventing Spiders in Durham

• Reduce clutter and maintain a tidy home
• Shake out pet bedding and wash beds/blankets regularly
• Inspect spider hiding places including the following list
• Seal cracks in basements and garages to prevent spider entry
• Supervise outdoor play to catch bites when they happen
• Avoid overgrown areas where spiders may hide
• Walk dogs on leash when in unavoidable overgrown areas or hikes

Cockroaches in Durham

Roaches are common in humid Durham summers and often sneak into homes seeking food and water. While they are rarely aggressive toward pets, cockroaches contaminate food and water bowls, potentially spreading bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, intestinal parasites, and other pathogens. They can also cause allergic reactions and skin infections because cockroaches are a known allergen. If eaten, their tough exoskeleton can cause digestive upset, vomiting, or blockages.

Preventing Cockroaches in Durham

• Pick up pet food after meals and clean bowls regularly
• Keep your home clean, especially in kitchen and pantry areas
• Use pet-safe cockroach control solutions and avoid toxic chemicals
• Don’t store open boxes where cockroaches can hide
• Seal cracks and holes in your foundation, walls, and around pipes with caulk or weatherstripping
• Repair leaky faucets and pipes because cockroaches are attracted to moisture
• Wring out your dish sponge and store it in a draining sponge holder so it dries quickly
• Ensure windows and doors fit snugly and have screens in good condition
• Maintain proper hygiene in and around your home so it’s not as appealing to roaches as other hiding places

Keeping Pets Safe from Summer Pests in Durham

• After outdoor play or hikes, look for bites, swelling, or unusual behavior
• Supervise pets around gardens, woodpiles, and other areas where pests thrive
• Maintain a clean yard and home
• Practice preventive pest control in and around your home

Pests tend to hide in bathrooms, drains, and showers, cardboard boxes, shoes, lamp shades, closets, fireplaces, chimneys, indoor plants, outdoor storage like barns and sheds, yard debris and bushes, window and door frames, firewood stands, and other areas they deem cozy. When dusting and maintaining your home, give these areas a bit of extra attention to ensure you and your family stay safe from bites and other dangers. Maintain your yard in the spring and fall to ensure an even greater layer of protection.

Kind Pest Control in Durham

If you’re in the market for pest control, our team unanimously recommends Kind Pest Control. They care about their customers and the planet. We love that they partner with One Tree Planted to plant a tree for every service they provide! You can reach them at info@kindpest.com or 919.981.9798. Tell them your friends at Bull City Pet Care sent you!

The Best Care for Durham Pets

As professional pet sitters and dog walkers, we’re in people’s homes all the time. We do our best to leave homes in as good shape (if not better) than we found them, but there’s only so much we can do to keep pests at bay during visits. We encourage you to keep an eye out for pests in your home and let us know if you’re dealing with an infestation. We like to be armed with information so we can protect your pets, ourselves, and the other families in our care. Any bites or injuries your pet sustains as a result of a bug bite should also be reported to us so we can keep an eye on the area.

By understanding these local pest threats and taking proactive measures, Durham pet owners can keep their pets (and their humans) safe, healthy, and pest-free all summer long.

Become a Part of Bull City Pet Care

Join the Bull City Pet Care family by contacting us via email or phone. We offer midday dog walking, vacation pet sitting, and specialty services, including trail walks, crate escapes, late-night potty breaks, nail trims, medical assistance, and canine massage services. We proudly serve the following areas of Durham: Downtown, Lakewood, Tuscaloosa, Old West Durham, Old North Durham, Northgate Park, Watts-Hillandale, Trinity Park, Duke Park, Erwin/LaSalle, North Durham, Southside, Croasdaile, Walltown, Braggtown, Historic East Durham, Hope Valley, and Forest Hills.