How Local Construction Projects Are Displacing Pests in Salt Lake City

With the valley’s building boom comes an unexpected side effect: pests are arriving where they have never been before, according to a Salt Lake City, Utah, report. However, crews reworking the ground along neighborhoods from Sugar House to Rose Park are not just moving sets in journals. The unstoppable fire is driving rodents, spiders, and insects out of their long-standing habitats and directly into the neighbouring houses and workplaces. 

If you feel like there have been more unwelcome guests since construction started near or around your community, contact a local pest control professional such as Saela Pest Control to keep the problem at bay.

Salt Lake City’s Changing Landscape

The capital is witnessing significant changes, swallowing up whole neighbourhoods. Salt Lake City’s population has increased by more than 8% since 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, pushing up demand for fresh housing and commercial buildings. Take a cruise through spots such as The Granary District or along 900 South, and you will notice skylines peppered with cranes. This included over 3,500 building permits in 2023, ranging from single-family homes in the Avenues to mixed-use developments in Downtown. And now you cannot slow down from this construction wave.

How Construction Activity Displaces Pests

1. Habitat Destruction Forces Movement

As crews demolish older structures or scrub clean a vacant lot, they are courting the spaces local critters call home sweet home. Batten down the hatches, because rodents in dilapidated buildings or underneath debris have lost their homes. They do not go away; they move to the closest viable dwelling, such as your home or the neighboring business.

2. Ground Disturbance Awakens Underground Colonies

Breaking ground disturbs ant colonies, termite nests, and spider communities in the soil. Here, a backhoe making a foundation scatters thousands of insects that were probably doing just fine two meters underground. The displaced animals then immediately seek new territory, with homes bordering the sites becoming prime real estate.

3. Vibration and Noise Create Panic Dispersal

Heavy machinery rumbles for prolonged periods, sending vibrations through the ground and buildings. These vibrations masquerade as enemies, triggering a flight response in pests. Ordinarily, mice and rats stay within specific territories, but once the conditions in their territory turn uninhabitable, they become increasingly likely to wander into new areas. Even spiders and certain beetles will migrate out of their specialized zones and move toward quiet regions.

4. Food Source Disruption Changes Behavior

Construction usually clears away vegetation, fills in ponds, and wipes out the natural food supply that pests rely on. Pests become more vicious in their pursuit of alternatives when their regular meals are removed. That hunger pushes them into yards where trash bins, pet food, and kitchen pantries are easy to reach. 

5. Seasonal Timing Amplifies the Problem

Fall and winter are when pests naturally migrate into homes, and construction projects that run through these seasons push the issue. Rodents and insects are a natural draw to heated buildings during Salt Lake City’s cold winters. This is a perfect storm when construction activity overlaps with cooling temperatures, pests escape from disturbed habitats and search for warmth, and homes near construction activity are likely to suffer infestation.

When to Seek Professional Help?

You do not want to wait until you have a full infestation to get help. It makes perfect sense to take precautions if construction has commenced within a few blocks of your house. Look out for early warning signs: droppings in unexpected spots, scratching in the walls, a sudden increase amount of spider webs around your property, and similar activities. Local companies like Saela Pest Control, which works in the Salt Lake Valley, know how pest displacement from construction works in your neighborhood.