Finding droppings inside your home, garage, attic, or crawl space is often the first sign that unwanted pests have moved in. Identifying the size, shape, and location of droppings can help determine which pest is present and how serious the infestation may be. More importantly, pest droppings can carry harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses that may pose health risks to your family or employees.

At Go Green Pest Control, we provide professional inspections, humane wildlife removal, rodent control, exclusion services, and sanitation recommendations throughout Delta, Tsawwassen, Ladner, North Delta, Surrey, White Rock, and surrounding communities. Our environmentally responsible approach focuses on identifying the pest, eliminating the problem, and preventing future infestations.

Mouse Droppings

Size: 3–6 mm (about the size of a grain of rice)

Shape: Small with pointed ends

Colour: Dark brown or black when fresh, turning gray as they age

Mice leave dozens of droppings every day, usually near food sources, cupboards, basements, garages, and wall voids.

Health Risks:

• Salmonella
• Hantavirus (rare in Canada but possible)
• Allergic reactions from contaminated dust

Rat Droppings

Size: 12–20 mm

Shape: Capsule-shaped with blunt ends

Colour: Dark brown to black

Rat droppings are much larger than mouse droppings and are commonly found in crawl spaces, attics, sheds, and along walls where rats travel.

Health Risks:

• Leptospirosis
• Salmonella
• Rat-bite fever
• Contamination of stored food

Squirrel Droppings

Size: 8–12 mm

Shape: Oblong with rounded ends

Colour: Dark brown when fresh

Squirrel droppings are often mistaken for rat droppings but are usually slightly thicker and found in attics or around roof entry points.

Health Risks:

• Salmonella
• Parasites such as fleas and ticks
• Contaminated attic insulation

Raccoon Droppings

Size: 20–30 mm long and 15–20 mm wide

Shape: Tubular with blunt ends

Appearance: Often contains seeds, berries, or undigested food

Raccoons frequently create communal bathroom areas called latrines on roofs, decks, attics, woodpiles, and garages.

Health Risks:

• Raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis)
• Leptospirosis
• Salmonella

Raccoon droppings should never be handled without proper protective equipment because roundworm eggs can remain infectious for years.

Skunk Droppings

Size: 25–50 mm

Shape: Tubular with tapered ends

Appearance: Often contains insect parts, berry seeds, and fur

Skunks usually leave droppings near decks, sheds, crawl spaces, and den entrances.

Health Risks:

• Salmonella
• Roundworms
• Parasites

The presence of skunk droppings often indicates a den nearby that should be professionally removed.

Bat Droppings (Guano)

Size: 4–8 mm

Shape: Small pellets that crumble easily

Appearance: Sparkly due to insect exoskeletons

Bat guano is commonly found beneath attic roosts, roof vents, or entry holes.

Health Risks:

• Histoplasmosis (caused by fungal spores growing in accumulated guano)
• Respiratory irritation
• Secondary insect infestations

Large accumulations of bat guano should only be cleaned by trained professionals using appropriate protective equipment.

Cockroach Droppings

Size: Less than 1 mm to 3 mm

Shape: Fine black specks or tiny cylindrical pellets

Appearance: Similar to black pepper or coffee grounds

Cockroach droppings are commonly found inside kitchen cabinets, behind appliances, under sinks, and in bathrooms.

Health Risks:

• Food contamination
• Triggering asthma and allergies
• Spread of bacteria including Salmonella and E. coli

Cockroach droppings are often one of the earliest signs of an active infestation.

Why You Should Never Ignore Pest Droppings

Droppings are more than an unpleasant mess. They can indicate:

• An active infestation
• Structural damage from rodents or wildlife
• Contaminated insulation
• Food contamination
• Increased health risks for your family or employees

Many homeowners discover pests only after finding droppings in the attic, basement, garage, or kitchen. Early identification and prompt action can prevent extensive property damage and reduce cleanup costs.

Professional Pest Inspection and Removal

If you’ve found unidentified droppings, avoid sweeping or vacuuming them, as this can release harmful particles into the air. Instead, isolate the area and arrange for a professional inspection.

Go Green Pest Control provides:

• Wildlife removal
• Mouse and rat control
• Bat exclusion
• Cockroach treatments
• Entry-point sealing and exclusion
• Preventative inspections
• Humane, environmentally responsible pest management

Our experienced technicians will identify the pest, explain your treatment options, remove the infestation, and help prevent future problems.

Contact Go Green Pest Control

If you’ve discovered pest droppings in your home or business, don’t wait for the problem to get worse.

Go Green Pest Control

Phone: 778-886-4111

Visit: gogreenpestcontrol.ca

Serving Delta, Tsawwassen, Ladner, North Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Richmond, and surrounding communities with professional, environmentally responsible pest control and wildlife removal services.

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If you’ve been hearing scratching noises in your attic or ceiling, there’s a good chance rats have found their way onto your roof. In Delta, BC, and throughout the Lower Mainland, roof rats are excellent climbers and can access homes in surprising ways. Understanding how they reach your roof is the first step in preventing a costly infestation.

At Go Green Pest Control, we help homeowners identify rodent entry points, eliminate infestations, and prevent future problems using effective, environmentally responsible methods.

How Do Rats Get Onto the Roof?

Many homeowners assume rats simply climb trees, but they’re capable of much more than that. These agile rodents can scale rough surfaces, leap impressive distances, and exploit even the smallest structural weaknesses.

1. Trees Touching the Roof

Overhanging branches are one of the most common “bridges” rats use to access a home.

Fruit trees, cedar hedges, and large ornamental trees that touch or hang over the roof provide a direct pathway into your attic.

Prevention Tips:

• Trim branches at least 6 to 10 feet away from your roof whenever possible.
• Remove fallen fruit regularly.
• Keep vines from growing onto your home.

2. Shrubs Growing Against the House

Dense shrubs and hedges give rodents shelter from predators while they climb toward the roofline.

Tall cedar hedges, ivy, and climbing plants are especially attractive because they provide both food and cover.

Prevention Tips:

• Keep shrubs trimmed well below windows.
• Leave a gap between vegetation and exterior walls.
• Avoid allowing ivy or vines to climb the building.

3. Climbing Brick Chimneys

One of the biggest surprises for homeowners is that rats can climb straight up exterior brick chimneys.

Brick provides excellent traction, allowing rats to scale vertical walls with ease before entering through damaged flashing, roof intersections, or uncapped chimneys.

Prevention Tips:

• Install a properly fitted chimney cap.
• Repair damaged mortar joints.
• Inspect flashing around the chimney annually.

4. Utility Lines and Cables

Power lines, telephone cables, and internet wires often act like highways for roof rats.

They can travel considerable distances above the ground before jumping onto the roof.

Prevention Tips:

• Keep tree branches away from utility lines.
• Have your roof professionally inspected if lines terminate close to the house.
• Seal every potential roof entry point.

5. Downspouts and Gutters

Rats are excellent climbers and can easily scale metal downspouts.

Once on the gutters, they often enter through damaged fascia boards, roof gaps, or deteriorated soffits.

Leaves and debris inside gutters also provide hiding places and signs of rodent activity.

Prevention Tips:

• Clean gutters regularly.
• Repair damaged fascia boards.
• Replace rotting wood around the roofline.

6. Rough Exterior Walls

Stucco, brick, textured concrete, and even some wood siding provide enough grip for rats to climb vertically.

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that a rat does not need a tree nearby—it can simply climb the side of the house.

7. Decks, Fences, and Pergolas

A fence that meets your home or a pergola attached to the roof can become another easy access route.

If rodents can climb onto these structures, reaching your roof becomes much easier.

Why the Roof Matters

Once rats reach the roof, they begin searching for tiny openings.

Common entry points include:

• Roof vents
• Plumbing vent flashings
• Damaged soffits
• Gaps beneath roof tiles or shingles
• Loose flashing
• Chimneys
• Attic vents

Rats can squeeze through surprisingly small openings and may enlarge weak spots by gnawing. Sealing potential entry points is one of the most effective long-term prevention strategies.

Signs Rats Are Using Your Roof

Watch for these warning signs:

• Scratching noises at night
• Droppings in gutters or the attic
• Greasy rub marks on roof access points
• Gnaw marks on wood or plastic vents
• Insulation damage
• Unpleasant odours coming from the attic

Early detection can prevent extensive damage.

Protect Your Delta Home

The best rodent control combines inspection, exclusion, sanitation, and targeted control methods. Simply trapping rats without sealing entry points often results in new rodents moving in shortly afterward. Integrated pest management focuses on removing food sources, trimming vegetation, and blocking access to the home.

Need Professional Rat Control in Delta?

If you suspect rats are climbing onto your roof or have already entered your attic, don’t wait until the problem gets worse.

Go Green Pest Control provides professional rodent inspections, rat removal, exclusion work, and long-term prevention for homes throughout Delta, Ladner, Tsawwassen, Surrey, Richmond, and the Lower Mainland.

Call Go Green Pest Control today at 778-886-4111 to schedule your rodent inspection and keep your home rat-free year-round.

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If you’ve spotted a buzzing insect around your home or business in Delta, BC, you may be wondering whether it’s a bee, a wasp, or a hornet. While these insects can look similar at first glance, they have very different behaviours, nesting habits, and risks. Knowing the difference can help you decide whether to leave them alone or call a professional.

At Go Green Pest Control, we specialize in the safe, environmentally responsible removal of stinging insects throughout Delta and the Lower Mainland.

Bees: Nature’s Essential Pollinators

Bees play a vital role in pollinating flowers, gardens, and crops. Most bee species are gentle and will only sting if they feel threatened.

How to identify bees:

• Fuzzy or hairy bodies
• Thick, rounded shape
• Usually golden brown with black stripes
• Often found collecting pollen from flowers

Nesting habits:

Honey bees typically build wax hives inside hollow trees, wall cavities, or other protected spaces. Bumble bees often nest underground or in sheltered areas.

Should bees be removed?

Not always. Because bees are valuable pollinators, relocation is often the best solution whenever possible. However, if a colony has established itself inside your home’s walls, attic, or another structure, professional removal is recommended to prevent damage and future infestations.

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Wasps: Aggressive Defenders

Wasps are more aggressive than bees and can sting multiple times. Unlike bees, they have smooth bodies and are natural predators that help control other insect populations.

How to identify wasps:

• Smooth, shiny body
• Thin “waist”
• Bright yellow and black colouring
• Fast, darting flight

Nesting habits:

Paper wasps build umbrella-shaped nests under decks, eaves, railings, and roof overhangs. Yellowjackets frequently build nests underground, inside walls, or in attics.

Are wasps dangerous?

Yes. Wasps become especially aggressive when defending their nest, making DIY removal risky. Since they can sting repeatedly, they pose a greater threat to children, pets, and anyone allergic to insect stings.

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Hornets: Large and Powerful Wasps

Many people don’t realize that hornets are actually a type of wasp. They are generally larger than common wasps and build large paper nests.

How to identify hornets:

• Larger than most wasps
• Smooth body
• Black with white or yellow markings depending on the species
• Loud buzzing flight

Nesting habits:

Hornets often build large enclosed paper nests in trees, shrubs, or under roof eaves. In British Columbia, bald-faced hornets (which are technically aerial yellowjackets rather than true hornets) are commonly encountered around homes.

Are hornets aggressive?

Hornets can aggressively defend their nests if disturbed. Their colonies may contain hundreds of insects by late summer, making professional removal the safest option.

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Quick Comparison

Feature	Bees	Wasps	Hornets
Body	Fuzzy	Smooth	Smooth and larger
Shape	Round	Slim	Large and robust
Sting	Usually once (honey bees)	Multiple times	Multiple times
Temperament	Generally gentle	Aggressive near nests	Very defensive near nests
Nest	Wax hive	Paper nests or underground	Large paper nests
Benefit	Pollination	Pest control	Pest control

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When Should You Call a Pest Control Professional?

Contact a professional if:

• You discover a nest inside your home.
• The nest is near a doorway, patio, playground, or walkway.
• You notice increased wasp or hornet activity.
• Someone in your household has a sting allergy.
• You’re unsure whether you’re dealing with bees, wasps, or hornets.

Attempting to remove a nest without proper equipment can provoke hundreds of defensive stings.

Go Green Pest Control – Safe Wasp & Hornet Removal in Delta, BC

At Go Green Pest Control, we provide safe, effective, and environmentally responsible solutions for wasps, hornets, and other stinging insects. Our experienced technicians inspect your property, identify the species, and recommend the safest treatment while minimizing environmental impact.

Whether you’ve found a small paper wasp nest under your deck or a large hornet nest in a tree, we’re here to help.

Go Green Pest Control
📍 Serving Delta, BC and surrounding communities
📞 778-886-4111

Don’t wait until a small nest becomes a major problem. Contact Go Green Pest Control today for fast, reliable service and peace of mind.

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