GOT A PEST PROBLEMIN ALTOONA?

Altoona homeowners spot 1 mouse and assume it's alone — most infestations involve 20+ individuals breeding in walls. Signs: scratching sounds at night, droppings in multiple rooms, pet pawing at baseboards.

Carpenter ant colonies can reach 10,000–20,000 workers and damage Altoona structures over 2–5 years. Signs: hollow-sounding wood around plumbing leaks, frass piles in crawlspaces, large black or red ants foraging in kitchens.

Pets bring ticks into Altoona homes from yards and parks. Year-round preventive medication is now standard. Signs: ticks on dog ears and between toes, ticks crawling on bed sheets, embedded ticks at hairline.

Build nests under eaves and in attics across Altoona each summer. Highly aggressive when disturbed. Signs: papery nests, increased wasp activity near roof overhangs.

Sealing gaps in siding, windows, and attic vents in late summer is the best defense for Altoona homes. Signs: bugs squeezing through gaps in cedar shingles, evening fly-ins to porch lights, foul odor from vacuum bags.

Spreading rapidly across Altoona. Nearly impossible to eliminate without professional treatment. Signs: rust stains on sheets, itchy welts in rows, sweet musty smell.