Why Rodent Activity Is Increasing in the Gorge After Two Mild Winters

March 2026 — Columbia River Gorge

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After two unusually mild winters in a row, pest activity across the Gorge is beginning to look different than what many property owners are used to seeing. This spring, rodent and insect populations appear to be noticeably higher than normal.

Winter typically plays an important role in naturally reducing pest populations. Cold temperatures and harsher conditions usually cause a significant die-off among insects and rodents. Over the past two seasons, however, those conditions never fully arrived. As a result, many populations of mice, rats, and voles survived the winter months and continued multiplying.

As a local pest control company working throughout the Hood River Valley and surrounding communities, we have been seeing the effects of this firsthand. Homes and businesses that have never dealt with rodent problems before are beginning to notice activity.

One of the more unusual patterns we observed last year was that rodent work did not slow down during the summer months. Normally, activity decreases as the season progresses, but last summer the calls continued steadily. That is something we had not seen before.

Because of these changing conditions, early prevention around structures is becoming more important. Small gaps, crawl space openings, and other entry points can allow rodents to move in quickly when populations are already high.

Understanding how seasonal conditions affect pest pressure helps property owners stay ahead of potential problems before they grow.

— Mark

Owner, Gorge Central Pest Control