Rodent & Bug Season Survival Guide: What Alabama Homeowners Need to Know
Original Publish Date: March 7th, 2013 | Updated: July 2nd, 2026
It’s summertime in Alabama, so you’ve probably already had a fair share of mosquito bites and other interactions with wildlife this year.
Whether you’re new to the Yellowhammer State, plan to visit, or just want to refresh your memory, here are the pests you can expect to see zipping around outdoors (and trying to enter homes) during the warm months (rodent and bug season) in Alabama, year after year.
Pests to Expect During Rodent & Bug Season
Squirrels
Squirrels are abundant throughout Alabama and are valuable to the state’s many ecosystems as part of the food chain, as passive pollinators, and as seed dispersers. Some of these clever bushy-tailed rodents will squeeze through a crack and redecorate your attic or outdoor storage shed.
It’s pretty rare to get bitten by squirrels, but the rodent fleas they carry, nestled in their fur, can wreak havoc when they get sick of sucking on the blood of a particular squirrel. Have pets? They’ll hitch a ride on your best friend. Given the cycle of life, your dogs and cats bring fleas inside. Next thing you know, you’re seeing a doctor because you got bitten by one of these little hoppers. Equally problematic are the ticks that enjoy a squirrel meal.
Mosquitoes
Alabama’s humidity often brings heavy rain in the warmer months. The puddles that form after a summer storm provide an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Apart from causing incessant itching for days, some skeeters can carry West Nile Virus. For the young and elderly, that disease can be a death warrant.
If your yard, patio, or other outdoor area on your property has any post-rain shower puddles or if water is pooling in old car tires, empty plant containers, or a birdbath, you need to drain what you can or flush out the container regularly to make the mosquito maternity wards empty out quickly. If your property has a mosquito infestation, contact your local mosquito control pros ASAP.
Rats
When temperatures are high, rats become more active as they search for food, water, and shelter. Unfortunately, garages, crawl spaces, attics, sheds, and even outdoor grills can all serve as enticing hiding places where they can keep cool.
When they enter indoor areas, rats can chew through wires, contaminate food sources, damage insulation, and spread bacteria and disease through their droppings and urine.
Summertime rat prevention starts with eliminating easy access to food and hiding spots. Keep trash cans tightly sealed, store pet food indoors, clean up fallen fruit or bird seed, and seal any small openings around your home’s foundation, roofline, or utility lines. If you hear scratching noises in the walls or attic, don’t ignore them. Rats reproduce quickly, and a small problem can escalate fast; call us immediately, and we’ll come out to diagnose and eradicate the rat population.
Bats
Mid-summer is when these spooky rodents start to flap around. That’s because the baby bats now know how to fly.
Bats are not necessarily evil. They actually help control the mosquito population by using them as a food source. There’s nothing wrong with keeping them on your property, but your challenge is to make sure they stay and raise their brood at the farthest point away from your house.
If you have a bat problem in your home, call us. We’ll help relocate them. No need to kill them.
House Flies
Whoever invented the fly swatter should get a Nobel Peace Prize. Your grandma was right to keep one nearby at all times.
To keep these nuisance bugs out, install screens on every portal in your house (i.e., windows) and, as Mom always reminded you growing up, “Shut the door behind you!”
Ants
Cleanliness is the most effective way to get rid of ants. If there’s food for them to find—little crumbs or a drop of pancake syrup—they will. They also leave behind pheromone trails to point the clan toward the grub. It’s simple: keep surfaces and floors in your home as spotless as you can and seal all food with tight lids.
June Bugs
No harm in having a few June bugs around, but if you have an outdoor light and leave it on, you’ll quickly realize how many June bugs and moths there are in your vicinity. And as we explained in a recent blog, too many June bugs on your property pose a threat to your garden and other outdoor plants.
Turn off all unnecessary lights, and you’ll solve that problem straightaway. Another upside is that you save money by not wasting electricity.
By following the advice we share in the above sections, you can keep your home free of pest infestations through the fall! Just know that if pests still manage to get inside, Vulcan Termite and Pest Control has your back.
If any small wild creature is interfering with your comfort, safety, or quality of life, give us a call at 205-663-4200 or contact us online. We can safely eliminate harmful and annoying pests for you, restoring your peace of mind. Our team has proudly served families in Alabama since 1965, and we would love to help you, too!