Top 5 Common Pests in Bakersfield, CA: What Every Homeowner Should Know

Why Bakersfield Creates the Perfect Environment for Pests

If you're living in Bakersfield or considering moving here, understanding the local pest scene is quite frankly essential. The reality is that Bakersfield's unique climate and environment create nearly perfect conditions for pests to thrive year-round.

Climate plays a major role in pest activity. Bakersfield summers are hot and dry, with temperatures regularly hitting 100 degrees. These scorching conditions can stretch well into September and even April, creating an extended warm season that supports pest reproduction cycles almost continuously. Winters bring cooler temperatures that drop into the 50s, along with rain and occasional thunderstorms. However, these mild winters rarely get cold enough to completely eliminate pest populations. Instead, pests remain active during winter months and quickly restart their breeding cycles when spring arrives. The pleasant spring and fall seasons, with temperatures in the 60s and 70s, provide additional comfortable conditions for pests to spread throughout neighborhoods.

The dry summer heat leads to another pest problem: water sources. Bakersfield homes are filled with lawn sprinklers, pools, outdoor showers, and irrigation systems. These water sources become magnets for pests and insects that would normally struggle in drier climates. Mosquitoes breed in puddles and moisture from irrigation systems. Cockroaches and ants are drawn indoors, seeking water from showers, kitchen sinks, and toilets. Even during the chilly winter months, bed bugs remain active as they search for warmth inside homes.

Living in Kern County adds another layer to the pest equation. As one of the largest agricultural producing areas in the United States, Kern County grows over 250 different crops. Bakersfield is surrounded by farms, gardens, and agricultural activity, creating a natural and ideal habitat for common pests like rodents, flies, cockroaches, and plant-eating insects. This agricultural abundance supports pest breeding throughout the year. When harvest season ends or crops are rotated, these insects often swarm into nearby neighborhoods searching for alternative food sources.

The architectural characteristics of Bakersfield homes also contribute to pest problems. Many older homes feature cracks, crawl spaces, and attics that provide excellent nesting areas for pests. Additionally, numerous Bakersfield properties have woodpiles and cluttered yards, creating perfect hiding spots for insects and rodents during daylight hours.

All these factors combined make Bakersfield an area where pests can breed and spread easily throughout neighborhoods. This is exactly why many homeowners seek reliable pest control companies that can ensure safety and peace of mind when it's needed most. The majority of Bakersfield homeowners have become accustomed to dealing with pests, which is why routine annual pest inspections and control have become standard practice in the community. This article highlights the top 5 most common pests you'll encounter in the Bakersfield area, helping you understand what to watch for and when to seek professional help.

The Top 5 Most Common Pests in Bakersfield

1. Ants

Ants are extremely common throughout Bakersfield. The area is home to several species, including Argentine ants, Red imported fire ants, Southern fire ants, Carpenter ants, and Odorous house ants. You'll often see ants entering houses or commercial properties through cracks in walls or foundations, or through open doors and windows.

The dry Bakersfield summers create especially favorable conditions for ant infestations. As temperatures rise, ants begin searching for water and food sources inside properties. Homeowners report noticing ants more frequently as summer approaches and temperatures climb.

Ant infestations are widespread during Bakersfield summers. Homeowners commonly spot them in kitchens, around pools, in foundation cracks, and near showers. It's important to understand that ant infestations usually have nothing to do with how clean your house is. Ants are simply searching for water sources, which is why they invade properties. It's not unusual to find pools completely surrounded by ants.

Getting rid of ants in Bakersfield can be challenging. Homeowners who recently moved to the area often report that DIY methods don't work effectively. Long-time residents already know this and typically contact pest control companies to completely eliminate ant problems. If you notice a colony of ants invading your space, seeking professional help is your best option. Old home remedies rarely provide complete solutions.

Most ant infestations decrease as winter approaches, but in Bakersfield's relatively warm climate, ants can remain active until the end of October.

2. Cockroaches

Cockroaches present a significant problem in Bakersfield. They appear in apartments, houses, and garages, and are often spotted outdoors near pools. Cockroaches are considered common pests throughout California, with American cockroaches and Turkistan cockroaches being the most prevalent species locally.

Similar to ants, cockroaches are searching for water sources. You'll especially see them near pool areas, sewer entries, puddles, and bathrooms. Cockroaches seem like pests that never go away no matter what you try. Standard prevention methods like maintaining a cleaning schedule, keeping sinks empty of dishes, wiping down counters, regularly taking out trash, and keeping food sealed are often not enough to stop Bakersfield cockroaches. They just keep coming back.

The roach problem in Bakersfield becomes even more apparent when you consider that three local restaurants—Ming's Cafe, Country Kitchen, and Hooters—were shut down by the health department due to cockroach infestations. This isn't surprising, especially when you learn that three cities in California ranked among the "Top 20 Most Roach Infested Cities In America."

What makes the roach issue even more complicated is that infestations may not be entirely caused by your actions. If you're living in an apartment complex, your neighbors' habits can affect you. A neighbor who leaves food out overnight, doesn't take out trash regularly, or leaves wet puddles in their apartment can cause cockroach problems for everyone nearby. New Bakersfield homeowners often report seeing far more roaches than they expected.

Because of this, simply bleaching countertops rarely works. Property managers and homeowners typically need to call a pest control company to completely eliminate the problem. Some homeowners even recommend having a pest control company perform cockroach extermination every six months to maintain protection against these pests. Bi-annual treatment is commonly suggested.

Calling a professional pest control company is more effective because exterminators can actually locate and seal the common entry points roaches use to access your property. It's also worth noting that Bakersfield homeowners sometimes confuse water bugs with cockroaches, though neither is pleasant to find inside your home.

If you suddenly see a surge in cockroaches in your house, your neighbor may have just treated their home, causing the roaches to move to your property. In such cases, having your house treated is essential, or they'll keep coming. We also recommend keeping an eye on cardboard boxes in your garage or home, as these are common breeding areas for cockroaches.

Unlike ants, cockroaches are noticed throughout the year, even during winter. Due to frequent rainfall in winter, most cockroaches remain outdoors, but it's still common to see them inside homes during colder months. If you see cockroaches during the day, you likely have a major infestation problem. Cockroaches are nocturnal, so daytime sightings mean the infestation is so large that it's forcing them to search for food even during daylight hours. At that point, DIY tricks won't help—seeking professional extermination is necessary.

For additional tips and prevention strategies, check out our website article: "How To Prevent German Cockroaches From Invading Your Home" which provides DIY tricks and advice on keeping roaches out of your property.

3. Rodents (Mice and Rats)

Rodents, including mice and rats, are highly present in the Bakersfield area. When your county is one of the nation's largest plant-producing regions, rodent pests that love feeding on leftovers, farmhouses, and storage facilities are inevitable.

During summer, rats and mice feed on plants and agricultural crops. However, once winter arrives, rats and mice search for warmer places to hide and feed—and your garage makes an ideal spot. Rodents are a year-round problem in Bakersfield.

If you notice chewed wires, rubber, wall corners, carpets, or see chew or claw marks, you're most likely dealing with a rat hiding in your garage or a dark corner of your home. We encourage you to address this issue quickly because rats and mice reproduce rapidly. Keep in mind that rodents are some of the biggest transmitters of disease-causing pathogens.

In such cases, you can purchase a mouse trap at your nearest store. However, if the problem continues, seek professional rodent control services before your property sustains further damage. Bakersfield homeowners and commercial property owners report rodents being especially present in roofs, attic spaces, and trees where they tend to hide.

If you see a mouse or rat in your home or commercial property, trust the experts—it's not alone. Professional exterminators can identify where rodents entered, seal that gap, and prevent the problem from recurring.

4. Spiders

Bakersfield is home to numerous spider species, including black widows, false widows, wolf spiders, jumping spiders, and orb-weavers. Other regularly found families include funnel weavers, cellar spiders, and lynx spiders. Residents often encounter unique species that they share on social media.

Spiders in Bakersfield commonly get into garage spaces, basements, outdoor furniture, and dark corners inside homes. Be extra cautious when dealing with spiders. Bakersfield is home to at least 1,000 species of spiders, including venomous ones like the Black widow, with over 68 unique species identified in the area.

We recommend creating a routine cleaning schedule for your property that includes vacuuming and dusting corners, storage areas, and spaces under furniture. This reduces the chances of creating a comfortable environment for spiders.

While most species you're likely to encounter are non-venomous, you can never be too sure. We recommend not attempting to identify the specific spider species you've encountered. Treat every spider carefully—the less contact you make, the better. Use a broom or other object to help you remove them.

If you're unsure how to remove spiders safely, notice bright colors, or find that the problem keeps recurring, seek professional help. A professional pest control company is trained to safely remove even the most venomous spiders from your property.

5. Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes weren't a common problem in Bakersfield until 2014, when a new species called Aedes Aegypti was accidentally introduced to the area. These mosquitoes don't need large amounts of water to survive, and unlike native mosquitoes, they thrive in high temperatures during summer heat. Since then, mosquitoes have been a persistent problem in Kern County, with homeowners feeling frustrated during hot seasons.

Bakersfield is now home to Aedes aegypti and Culex mosquitoes, which thrive in the area's warm climate and abundant standing water from irrigation systems, pools, outdoor showers, and containers. These species are active from spring through fall and can carry diseases such as West Nile virus.

Residents are encouraged to reduce breeding sites by eliminating standing water, maintaining pools properly, and using repellents during peak mosquito hours. Homeowners typically install and repair screens on doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out, use repellents containing DEET, and wear protective clothing during peak mosquito season.

If your property experiences large numbers of mosquitoes to the point where you can't enjoy the outdoors or sleep at night, it's time for professional intervention. Pest control companies have access to equipment and solutions that can keep mosquitoes off your property both indoors and outdoors.

Protecting Your Bakersfield Home from Pests

Understanding the common pests in Bakersfield is the first step toward protecting your home or business. From ants and cockroaches to rodents, spiders, and mosquitoes, these pests are part of life in our area due to our unique climate and environment. While some DIY methods can provide temporary relief, professional pest control is often necessary for complete elimination and long-term protection.

If you're experiencing any of these pests, the Never Pests Pest Control team is always here to assist you. We protect both residential and commercial properties against all of the top five most common pests in Bakersfield. Schedule a pest inspection or receive a FREE quote from our pest control team today! Never Pests Pest Control proudly serves the entire Kern County area!