6 Pests That Thrive in High-Rise Buildings

1. Rodents

Mice love high-rises. These buildings offer plenty of hiding spots—inside walls, ceilings, and utility lines. Trash rooms and food storage areas provide an endless buffet.

Once inside, rodents move fast. They travel through elevator shafts, plumbing, and electrical conduits, spreading from floor to floor. Their droppings contaminate food, while their chewing damages wires and insulation. That damage can spark fires.

Without sealing off entry points, rodents can take over an entire building.

2. Ants

High-rise buildings attract two common types of ants:

• Pharaoh ants—Small, fast, and hard to eliminate. They live inside walls and near pipes, forming large colonies with multiple queens.
• ManhattAnts—A species adapted to NYC. Unlike most ants, they scale high-rises with ease, reaching the upper floors.

While ants don’t carry diseases, they contaminate food and multiply fast. Standard sprays won’t eliminate them. Targeted treatments are necessary.

3. Birds

Birds treat high-rise buildings like cliffs—perfect spots for roosting and nesting. The warmth from vents and heating systems helps their eggs hatch year-round. With no natural predators, their populations grow fast.

But birds bring problems:

• Their droppings contain bacteria and fungi that cause illnesses like cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis.
• Their nests block vents and attract mites.
• They introduce fleas, ticks, and other parasites into buildings.

Preventing nests with spikes and netting can help keep birds away.

4. Bird Mites

Bird mites invade high-rises through pigeon and sparrow nests. When birds leave, mites search for new hosts—including humans.

They don’t spread disease, but their bites cause itching and irritation. They enter apartments through vents, cracks, and air ducts. If you suddenly feel tiny bites near windows or vents, bird mites may be the culprit.

5. Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are a nightmare in high-rises. They hitchhike on luggage, furniture, and clothing. Once inside, they spread quickly through walls, hallways, and even electrical outlets.

These pests can survive up to a year without food. That’s why infestations keep coming back. High-rise buildings with many residents face an even bigger challenge—bed bugs spread between units, making total elimination difficult. Building-wide treatment is key.

6. Cockroaches

Cockroaches, especially German cockroaches, thrive in NYC apartments. High-rises provide everything they need—food, warmth, and moisture.

They spread through:

• Utility lines and plumbing
• Cracks in walls and floors
• Garbage chutes and trash rooms

Cockroaches aren’t just gross. They trigger asthma and allergies. They also spread bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella. Keeping food sealed and trash contained helps, but professional pest control is usually needed.