Are Cockroaches A Problem In Portland, Oregon

What comes to mind when you think of cockroaches? For most, cockroaches are considered dirty pests that can quickly invade your home or space and are the last thing people want to encounter. Though some cockroaches can be kept as pets like the Madagascar cockroach, most species are unwanted especially within the confines of one’s home. The question remains, however, are cockroaches a problem in Portland, Oregon?

Cockroaches

Of all the cockroach species, 4,600 to be exact, only a fraction of them are actually associated with human habitats. Cockroaches have been around for millions of years and are still considered primitive within the insect world. They are hardy insects that can withstand various climates on both ends of the extremes which may explain why they have been around for so long. Social in nature, they feed on almost anything and are considered ‘dirty pests’ because of how they transfer pathogenic microbes on their body surface and are even known to cause allergic reactions for some people. 

Are Cockroaches A Problem In Portland, Oregon

You can’t really go anywhere without cockroaches being present to some capacity. Every town, city or rural dwelling is susceptible to cockroaches and that is certainly the case for Portland, Oregon. Cockroaches are often found in areas where there is poor sanitation because they can easily feed and breed in large numbers. With the rise in homeless camps and disregard to proper sanitation methods for the city cockroaches have an unlimited food source let alone the ability to breed into great quantities. Without any intervention, these pests will continue to multiply and infest the areas they are breeding in. 

Outside of poorly sanitized areas, even homes and work buildings are susceptible to cockroaches. These pests can enter into one’s space in a variety of ways. Cardboard boxes, groceries and appliances are just some of the ways they can be transferred from one place to another. Cockroaches can easily hide in cracks and crevices allowing them to go unnoticed when they are tucked away out of sight. Once inside all they need is a food source and another place to hide. 

With the coming and going of city life, pests like these have all sorts of ways to not only find food but easily find a place of shelter where they can breed and quickly become an infestation. People living in the city move in and out all of the time and it’s common for multifamily living spaces to endure tenants who don’t keep their living quarters clean and maintained, attracting pests like cockroaches. 

How To Keep Cockroaches Out Of Your Home

As with any pest, everything that needs to survive will require food, water and shelter so the first step in keeping your home cockroach free is making sure that food is put away and properly sealed as well as food prep areas cleaned and sanitized. Eliminating any possibility of these pests finding food is the best way to discourage them. However, cockroaches will eat just about anything so cleaning up after spills, soiled clothing and general areas of your home is another way to eliminate any appeal. Take out garbage and place it away from your home as far as possible along with keeping floors swept and vacuumed so crumbs are not left to sit on the ground for too long. This does not mean that you have to keep your home perfectly clean but a well maintained home will lessen the chances of any cockroach infestations. 

Pet food is another big one. Cockroaches will easily use your pet food as a food source and that’s the last thing you want for your pets so sealing your pet food in an airtight container especially when it is left in areas like garages and sheds that do not have as much foot activity is a smart preventative method. Tidying up and maintaining areas around the exterior of your home is also a good idea. Essentially you want to eliminate their food source as that is their number one priority. Keeping trash bins sealed and emptied on a routine basis will help keep these pests away. 

Cockroaches are an unpleasant hassle that no one wants to deal with. If you see cockroaches in or around your home it’s a good idea to call a pest control professional as even one cockroach could be a sign of an infestation that is hiding somewhere within your home. Pest control specialist have a keen eye for these pests and will be able to distinguish if you have a pest problem on your hands.