Pest Control in Tehachapi

Tehachapi at a glance

Tehachapi is a city of 12,939 people in the Tehachapi Mountains at nearly 4,000 feet, between the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert, about 35 miles east-southeast of Bakersfield. Its name comes from a Kawaiisu word thought to mean "hard climb."

What that means for pests

Unlike the valley floor, Tehachapi has four seasons, with 15 to 20 inches of snow most winters and about 95 nights a year at or below freezing. Cold drives mice and rats indoors in fall, and homes on large rural lots near open land see more of them. See rodent control.

Mountain and desert edge

Homes backing onto open hillsides and oak woodland may see scorpions, black widows and other spiders, especially in garages and woodpiles. Store firewood off the ground and away from the house; see spiders and scorpions.

Loop, wind and gliders

Tehachapi is known for the Tehachapi Loop rail spiral, the Pacific Crest Trail, its gliding weather and the thousands of wind turbines on the surrounding ridges. Apples, peaches and grain have long been grown here. Cabins and seasonal homes left empty for weeks are easy targets for rodents, so check them before and after long absences.