What Makes An Animal A Pest?

What Makes An Animal A Pest?

Summary: Pest control is an essential service in the modern world, but what actually makes an animal a “pest?” This blog provides a high-level view of the factors that contribute to certain creatures being deemed “pests” by humans. There is an analysis of humanity’s relationship with animals and how it’s changed, then a brief look into why farmers need to stay vigilant against every pest. It then gives a short description of the 2 types of pests (arthropods and vertebrates), followed by a list of the typical signs of a pest invasion. The article ends with a case for professional pest control and a recommendation of Pointe Pest Control’s efficient services.

“Man versus nature” is a classic conflict in fictional stories, and its popularity might be due to its relatability. In other words, we all have at least one memorable story about an interesting struggle with a critter. Animals do as they please and often use our building developments to their advantage. This is why pest control has become an essential service in the past century.

But why are the animals targeted by pest treatments considered to be “pests” in the first place? Let’s go on a brief exploration of how animals come to be disregarded as pests, depending on how their habits conflict with humanity’s.

The Humanity Factor

The question of what makes an animal a pest boils down to the fact that this sector of creatures creates conflict with humans. Some compete with us for food (ants, rodents, etc.), while others invade our homes and hide in the structure (rodents, termites, etc.). Pests have an obvious negative impact on people’s health, homes, environment, and food. They are not a welcome presence because they’re wild critters that reciprocate our negative feelings, rather than pets that we happily invite into our homes.

It is interesting to note that, in regards to pests, humans determine which creatures are “good” and which ones are “bad.” As your high school English teacher might’ve said, everything is subjective and depends on the context. A hive of docile honeybees is beneficial to the environment, but a nest of angry wasps in the backyard needs to be eliminated. It’s really when these types of creatures enter our space (inside or outside) that we consider them to be pests.

Bethany Brookshire, author of Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains, puts it this way: “We expect animals to be in their place” (Quimby). When they make their own homes in or near our houses and buildings, we want them gone ASAP. But these animals invaded by finding a weak spot in our properties. If there’s a lot of crumbs or trash laying around, there are plenty of critters that would love to live near these safe food sources. That’s why prevention is key in keeping pests out in the wild, but more on that later.

What About The Farmers?

Of course, some people don’t have the option not to control the animals that are pests to them. Anyone in the farming community understands this firsthand. There’s enough to think about when trying to successfully grow crops — drought, rain patterns, frost, etc. — that adding pests to the mix can feel overwhelming. Whether they’re sporadic or reoccurring, crop pests only mean trouble for the farmers who are trying to protect their crops at all costs.

In a crop field, pests are more than a nuisance. They bring about loss and destruction, both literally and economically. Many pests invade when the soil is fertile and the crops are growing since they’re easier to devour. A wheat field that’s ravaged by locusts results in a low crop yield that won’t bring the farmers enough profit to comfortably continue this business.

Insects, birds, nematodes, rodents, and mites are all problematic pests for farms. A large enough invasion of any of these pests can destroy a major percentage of the crops. Pest prevention and control (that are safe for humans) is essential in this case. You don’t want to wait for a pest problem to happen before you jump into action!

The Main Types of Pests

Now that we’ve discussed the ways that this group of critters relates to humans, it’s time to turn our attention to pests themselves. The pests you see depend on several factors, including the region, weather patterns, season, and native plants. But there are many common invaders across the board that are worth noting. Some people may not consider all of them to be “pests,” while others would rather keep them out of the house and yard at all costs.

There are two main groups of pests that homeowners see across the country: arthropods and vertebrates.

• Arthropods are the critters you probably thought of when we said the word “pest.” This group includes all of those creepy-crawlies that we’d rather not have enter our homes. Insects, ticks, mites, and spiders are the popular members of the arthropod club. They all have their distinct characteristics, but they share some similarities that grant them “arthropod” status. They all have an exoskeleton, segmented bodies, and jointed appendages.

• Vertebrates are the animals that fall more under the “critter” category than arthropods do, in our opinion. They ruin plants and eat smaller pests at a faster rate because they are larger than the smaller types of pests. Vertebrates have a skull, 2 pairs of appendages, a backbone, and an endoskeleton. Rodents, birds, deer, and snakes are all vertebrates. Although they’re larger than arthropods, vertebrates can still hide and reproduce often enough to create a growing population.

Signs of a Pest Invasion

There are plenty of ways to treat pest problems, but it’s ideal to stay ahead of them when you can. The key to this is keeping an eye out for any new pest activity in your home. The earlier you catch a pest problem, the easier it is to eliminate them. Luckily for us, pests are messy and leave a lot of signs that they’re around — if you know what to look for.

Every pest gives different signs because of their various habits, but the general signs of a pest infestation are:

• Chew marks on items (food, walls, furniture, etc.)
• Small droppings
• Musty odors, especially near walls
• Shed exoskeletons
• Spiderwebs in multiple areas
• New tiny holes in walls, fences, firewood, and furniture
• New red bites on you or anyone else in the house
• Multiple live or dead insects, spiders, and/or rodents

The Need For Pest Control

Speaking of controlling pests, why is pest control so important? Well, when done safely and correctly, pest control services are the easiest way to keep pests out of your indoor space. The technicians should target the actual pests and put an end to the problem as efficiently as possible. This feat requires the relevant training and experience, hence why we recommend leaving proper pest control to the professionals!

One method of pest control isn’t enough to keep pests away for the long run. For instance, spraying a can of chemicals around a house’s perimeter won’t keep ants away forever. Sticky traps, bait, and exclusion work are necessary for long-term prevention. Monitoring the treatments and inspecting for new pest activity are essential in any good pest control program. Pest control services don’t exist to eliminate every single critter from the ecosystem. They are just an efficient way to keep invasive species out of our homes and businesses where they can bring us harm. Food contamination, structural damage, and bites or stings are very real threats that stem from pest infestations, so protecting your home and family is essential.

Pointe Has the Answers to Your Pest Questions

The psychology behind determining which animals are pests is forever debatable, but one thing is for sure: we don’t want any creepy-crawlies claiming our spaces as their own! That’s why the licensed experts of Pointe Pest Control are dedicated to protecting local homes and businesses from pest infestations. We thoroughly inspect every property before creating a treatment plan that’s customized to solve your pest problems. Instead of spraying a bunch of random pesticides around your property, we take the time to target the current pests with efficient treatments. Contact us today to schedule your initial service with our experienced team!

Citations

Animal pest. (n.d.). ScienceDirect. Retrieved June 18, 2024, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/animal-pest

Bekoff, M. (Dr.). (2022, December 6). Calling animals “pests” is more about us than them. Available at https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions/202212/calling-animals-pests-is-more-about-us-them (Accessed on June 19, 2024).

Boyles, C. & Koehler, P.G. (Dr.). (n.d.). All about pests. University of Florida: Institute of Food and Agricultural Services. Available at https://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/pdfs/Cir543-All_About_Pests.pdf (Accessed on June 18, 2024).

Quimby, T. (2023, June 23). Outside/inbox: ‘What makes an animal a pest?’ NHPR. Available at https://www.nhpr.org/environment/2023-06-23/outside-inbox-what-makes-an-animal-a-pest (Accessed on June 18, 2024).

What is a pest?. (n.d.). Purdue University: Youth and Entomology. Retrieved June 19, 2024, from https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/radicalbugs/index.php?page=what_is_a_pest

Yu, A & Scott, M. (2023, March 3). How we decide which animals are pests, and why. WHYY. Available at https://whyy.org/segments/how-we-decide-which-animals-are-pests-and-why/ (Accessed on June 18, 2024).