If you are in Bend, you understand, or should understand, that infrastructure projects are part of urban growth. Still, many will say they did not expect the negative aftermath that accompanies sewer maintenance and repairs. New sewer work all across Bend has created a pesky issue many residents have had to face in their homes: rodent incursions. Disrupted underground sewer systems displace rats and mice, so they are driven to find new in-home shelter once their established pathways and nesting areas have been destroyed.
If you are seeing a spike in pest activity around your home after recent sewer work in your area, contact professional pest control like pointepest.com to safeguard your property.
Why and How Sewer Work Increases Rodents?
Rodents are creatures that tend to live and roam beneath our feet, and sewer construction and repair work fundamentally disrupts their underground ecosystem. Every time crews excavate pipes, repair broken lines, or install new infrastructure, rodent burrows and tunnel networks built for years are obliterated.
The situation becomes a refugee situation for the rodents. Rats and mice who thrived in relative comfort in vast sewer systems find themselves out on the streets, near-homeless, scoping out new lodgings. The construction noise, vibrations, and water flow pattern alterations also stress these animals, prompting them to be more aggressive in searching for new territories and less fearful of entering occupied spaces.
Why Bend Homes Are at Higher Risk?
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Geographic Location and Climate Factors
Bend’s high desert location provides unique circumstances that can make a home attractive to displaced rodents. Sewer projects are typically completed in the fall and winter months, when temperatures can plummet, even at a city elevation of 3,623 feet.
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Older Neighborhood Infrastructure
Much of Bend’s older inventory homes, constructed in the 1970s and 1980s, predate modern pest-proofing standards. Roughly a third of residential properties in Bend are older than three decades, according to Deschutes County records, making many entry points old foundations, aging siding, and caulking deteriorate.
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Construction Boom Impact
Over the years, Bend has grown quickly and also needed to update and expand its infrastructure accordingly. In 2024 alone, Bend made improvements to more than 12 miles of sewer line, reaching thousands of homes throughout multiple neighborhoods, from the Westside to areas near the Old Mill District.
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Proximity to Natural Habitats
Bend homes are frequently adjacent to natural areas, and transition zones are often easy entry points for wildlife. Wildlife highways run through the Deschutes River corridor and multiple parks into the edges of neighborhoods.
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Seasonal Timing of Projects
Typically, in Bend, most sewer work happens in the summer months; however, projects sometimes continue into the fall when rodents begin searching for their winter hideaways.
Signs Rodents Are Moving In After a Project
- Strange noises such as scratching or skittering in walls, particularly at night when rodents are more active.
- Recent droppings found in kitchen cabinets, pantries, or along baseboards
- Signs of gnawing on food packaging, wood, or even electrical wires in garages and basements
- Intense, urine-like smells in a contained area, such as a closet or storage space.
- Fresh signs of chew around small holes or gaps between pipes, vents, or foundation
- The food vanished from pet bowls or unsealed containers in pantries and garages.
Time to Call The Pros. Do Not Wait!
Rodent problems develop quickly, and any delay makes amenities more costly. A pair of mice can produce 4–6 babies per litter, and there can be up to 10 litters in one year. In a few months, what was a minor problem has developed into a carpet of infestation that is much more costly and difficult to fix.
Professional pest control companies like Pointe Pest Control understand the unique needs of Bend homeowners whose sewer work has been disrupted. They are familiar with the displacement patterns specific to Central Oregon and can forecast where to find entry points into the construction styles of local homes. Experts can tell the difference between a simple mouse visit and the start of a significant infestation.