MEMPHIS, TN - Rats, roaches and ants! That's what's keeping local exterminators busy. They say the record rainfall has flooded them with new service requests.
Pat O'Bryan of Jamison Pest and Lawn says things usually slow down when the weather gets cooler but not this year.
"We're rolling everyday from sun up to sun down,” O’Bryan said. “We've worked the last couple Saturdays, and we'll be working the next couple Saturdays just to try to get caught back up."
That's because the critters are crawling. Fire ants generally like to live underground, but, with the rainfall, they've risen to the surface.
"Every species of ant, when you have an excessive amount of moisture, they're going to move indoors,” O’Bryan said. “When you have rural areas, we have a lot in Shelby County, you have a lot more incidents of fire ants. You get a lot of rain, you're a lot more at risk for them to move indoors."
The ants aren't alone. Exterminators have seen a rise in rodent calls. American Cockroaches are creeping into homes all over the Memphis area.
"Roaches can multiply so quickly,” O’Bryan said. “So they're terrified that one roach getting in is going to mean millions of roaches inside of 6 hours. They tend to panic when that occurs, and they will call."
Experts say if you think you have a pest problem, the easiest thing to do is call and get an inspection. Most companies will usually come out and perform one for free.
The recent rain is also keeping lawn care businesses busy. The pros say all the moisture can lead to a lot of diseases in grass. It has to be treated now, or you may not have a lawn next spring.
