If you live in Salt Lake City neighborhoods bordering the major railway lines, you might be dealing with a pest problem. These are especially areas west of I-15, near the industrial zones, or along the main Union Pacific tracks. Field crickets are some of the most relentless and noisy invaders in the area.
Crickets thrive in the hot and undisturbed environment of the railroad corridor. When temperatures change, they quickly abandon the tracks and head towards people’s homes. The noise alone is enough to disrupt your life, but crickets also cause damage and attract secondary pests like spiders and rodents.
Living near railroads can cause constant pressure from pest infestation. You do not have to sleep another night of sleep to cricket chirping. Contact saelapest.com today for an immediate railroad-adjacent property inspection.
Why Do Crickets Love The Rail Tracks So Much?
Railroad lines provide an endless stretch of ballast (crushed rock bed), ties, and adjacent gravel. This creates the perfect and secure habitat for massive cricket populations right in the middle of an urban environment. This habitat gives them three things crickets need to survive and multiply year-round in Utah:
First of all, the tracks give them warmth and stability. The dark ballast rock absorbs the intense Utah sun all day long. This warmth keeps the soil stable and protected from quick temperature drops at night. This allows the crickets to maintain colonies close to the surface.
Second, the tracks are filled with shelter and food. Railroad workers rarely disturb the land directly beside the tracks. This allows weeds, grass, and debris to build up. This debris is full of decaying organic matter, which provides a steady food source and countless hiding spots.
Third, the area is an undisturbed territory. Since the land along the tracks is rarely dug up or landscaped, cricket colonies can grow year after year.
Why Do Crickets Leave The Railroad Then?
Crickets are content to stay near the railroad tracks all summer long. However, once late summer hits and the first cool autumn nights arrive in Salt Lake City, the entire population gets a signal to move. This triggers a mass migration directly into nearby residential areas.
The migration happens for two main reasons. As the summer food supply outside starts to dry up, crickets search for a more consistent food and water source.
More importantly, they are looking for a stable shelter to overwinter. While the tracks are warm in the day, they are too exposed to survive Utah’s harsh winter freezes and heavy snow. Your basement or crawl space offers the exact stable humidity and warmth they need to ride out the cold months.
Know The Hidden Dangers Inside Your Home
When crickets invade your property, their presence is immediately obvious due to the annoyance. However, the damage they cause is often hidden until it is too late.
The most frustrating problem is the noise. Only male crickets chirp, and they do it constantly, day and night, to attract mates. Once a cricket gets into your wall void, basement, or garage, the noise can be amplified and make it almost impossible to sleep.
Beyond the noise, crickets cause two main risks. First is structural and fabric damage. Crickets will eat almost anything organic when food is scarce, including clothes, paper, stored fabric, and even leather.
Second is the secondary pest attraction. Crickets are a primary food source for other, more dangerous pests in Salt Lake City. Crickets in your home are a direct invitation for Hobo Spiders, mice, and rats.
Partner With A Professional Pest Control Company For Railroad Defense!
Fighting the constant influx of crickets is not easy. Saela Pest Control is the local expert at managing these high-pressure railroad-adjacent problems. They have helped many families near the tracks regain their peace and quiet by stopping these relentless invaders.
Get a permanent solution for your railroad home. Call Saela Pest Control now for a detailed assessment!
