Pest Control in Rockaway Beach, Queens
Rockaway Beach stretches along the central Rockaway Peninsula, roughly from the Hammels area near Beach 73rd Street to around Beach 108th Street. It is best known for its public beach, rebuilt concrete boardwalk and the surf scene centered on Beach 90th Street, one of the few places in the city where surfing is permitted. Beach 97th Street and other concessions draw summer crowds, while the NYC Ferry lands at Beach 108th Street. The A and S trains serve Beach 90th, Beach 98th and Beach 105th Streets. Year-round residents include longtime Irish American families, a growing number of young professionals and a diverse mix of African American and Latino neighbors.
Also known as: Hammels, Seaside.
About Rockaway Beach
The Rockaways became a major seaside resort after rail connections arrived in the late nineteenth century, and Rockaway Beach filled with hotels, bungalow colonies and amusement parks. Rockaways' Playland, near Beach 98th Street, operated until 1985. After the resort era faded, many seasonal buildings were converted to year-round homes. Hurricane Sandy in 2012 destroyed much of the boardwalk, which was rebuilt in concrete over the following years, and many homes were raised or rebuilt.
Common Pest Problems in Rockaway Beach
The boardwalk, beach concessions and summer crowds produce a lot of food waste, and rats take full advantage, nesting under boardwalk ramps, in dune grass and around commercial dumpsters. Pigeons and gulls gather where food is dropped and roost on the elevated train structure and building ledges. In winter, rats and mice move into nearby homes and walk-up buildings, especially older structures with gaps at foundations and under porches. Storm debris and summer litter under the boardwalk ramps give them additional cover.
Many houses here are wood-frame bungalows and cottages that have stood for close to a century, and sandy, moist soil makes them prime targets for subterranean termites. After Sandy, homes that were flooded but not fully rebuilt may still harbor damp framing. Earwigs are common in moist garden beds and around decks, and raccoons roam the bay side of the peninsula, sometimes getting into sheds and crawl spaces. Homes near the bay side of Beach Channel Drive tend to see raccoons most often.