Ignoring a pest problem almost always makes it worse — and more expensive. Most pest populations grow fast when left alone, and the damage they cause adds up quietly in the background. A problem that costs a few hundred dollars to fix in October can cost several thousand by spring. Here's what actually happens when you wait. Why Ignore a Pest Problem? Always Makes Things Worse Every pest infestation follows the same basic path: First, one or a few animals get in. The signs ar