Cockroach extermination on the North Shore
At a glance: Cockroaches are nocturnal insects that make their home where there is water, food and heat — especially in the kitchen and bathroom. They contaminate surfaces and their debris is allergenic (asthma, rhinitis). You can’t get rid of it on your own effectively: public health recommends calling a certified exterminator (gel-bait). If you are a tenant, it is up to the landlord to act.
Cockroaches multiply quickly
Seeing one of them emerge often means that a population is already established. The sooner you act, the more effective the treatment.
Cockroach sheet in brief
| Type | Nocturnal insect (cockroach), brownish, 1 to 3 cm |
| Where it is found | Kitchen and bathroom, near appliances |
| Distinctive sign | Cockroach seen from the day, excrement, sweet smell |
| Main risk | of allergy (asthma, rhinitis) and contamination |
| Solution | recommended Gel-bait by a certified exterminator |
Recognizing cockroaches
The cockroach is a brownish insect of 1 to 3 cm that does not jump or fly. She hides during the day near appliances in the kitchen, pantries and bathroom, and goes out at night. Droppings (small black dots), a characteristic sweet smell and the sight of a cockroach in broad daylight indicate an established infestation.
Health risks
Beyond disgust, cockroach debris (droppings, moults, dead insects) are allergens that can cause or worsen asthma and allergic rhinitis, and they can contaminate food. The Direction régionale de santé publique de Montréal recommends not treating yourself and calling a professional.
How cockroaches happen
They enter through cracks, the contours of pipes and the bottom of doors, and above all hidden in second-hand boxes, bags, furniture and appliances. In buildings, they circulate from one dwelling to another through the walls and ducts.
Why Professional Treatment
Aerosol cans disperse cockroaches without solving the problem. An exterminator uses targeted bait gels, which are much more effective, with a follow-up. Public health advises against treating yourself. To understand their behaviour, see our article on how cockroaches arrive.
Preventing cockroaches
Keep the kitchen clean, store food in airtight containers (not cardboard), don’t leave dirty dishes at night, do thorough cleaning behind the oven and refrigerator, repair leaks and seal cracks (see our anti-vermin caulk).
FAQ — Cockroaches
How do I know if I have cockroaches?
Are cockroaches dangerous to health?
Can I get rid of it myself?
I am a tenant: who should pay for the extermination?
Other pests we exterminate
Exterminateur Rive-Nord also deals with: bed bugs, wasps, spiders, fleas, flies, carpenter ants, as well as rodents and animal control.
Cockroaches to exterminate?
Treatment with gel-bait and follow-up, everywhere on the North Shore of Montreal — Laval, Terrebonne, Blainville, Repentigny, Mascouche and the surrounding areas.