As the August heat bakes Angeleno Heights, with temperatures hovering in the 80s and 90s and no rain in sight, two pests are particularly active right now: German cockroaches and Norway rats. The hot, dry weather drives cockroaches indoors seeking moisture, and your vintage Victorian and Queen Anne homes—with their lath-and-plaster walls, unfinished basements, and abundant attic spaces—offer perfect harborage. The dense canopy of mature ficus and jacaranda trees, especially along the streets near Echo Park Lake, creates shaded, humid pockets that help roaches thrive, while leaf litter clogs gutters and downspouts, providing standing water that they need. Meanwhile, Norway rats are exploiting the urban edge habitats around commercial dumpsters and alleyways, particularly near the 101 Freeway corridor, and the elevated wood foundations of your historic homes give them easy access to crawl spaces and basements. The lack of rainfall has concentrated their activity around any available water sources, making your properties prime targets. Watch for roach droppings (look like black pepper) in kitchen cabinets and along baseboards, musty odors in pantries, and shed wings near plumbing. For rats, listen for scratching in walls or attics at night, look for gnaw marks on wiring or wood, and check for greasy rub marks along foundation walls or pipes. If you notice any of these signs, act quickly—these pests multiply fast in the summer heat. Below are the top-rated Echo Park exterminators who specialize in these specific seasonal threats.