Right now, pests are looking for warmth, food, and shelter from winter’s chilly temps. These are some of the critters you can expect to see this winter, and what you can do to keep them out.
Mice
Mice are common house pests and love nesting in the less-traveled areas of your home: attics, basements, cabinets, closets. These invaders can fit through 1/4 inch gaps making it difficult to keep them out.
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- Before cold weather hits, inspect your home for any entry points and seal them
- During winter months, routinely inspect your home for traces of mice (small droppings are an indication of mice infestations)
- Keep your home clear of clutter so mice don’t have a place to hide
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Rats
Like mice, rats are common winter nuisances, looking for food and warmth inside your home. They only need space the size of a quarter to enter.
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- Routinely inspect for evidence of rats by looking for droppings, gnawing, or footprints and tail tracks
- Do not leave any trash in or around your home, making sure outside trash cans are emptied daily and away from your home’s perimeter
- Seal any gaps or holes in your home’s foundation, around your roof, in the crawl space or basement, or around doors and windows
- Call an exterminator if you think you have rats; infestations can be difficult to eliminate
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Raccoons
Raccoons have been known to make an appearance in homes this time of year, specifically preferring crawl spaces, attics, and chimneys. Because it can be more difficult and time consuming to eradicate raccoons, we recommend contacting a wildlife control company. A professional can identify where the raccoons are coming into your home, remove them, and prevent them from coming back with exclusion techniques.
Squirrels
If you’re hearing noises in your attic, it’s possible you have a squirrel invasion. Similar to raccoon control, getting rid of squirrels in your attic or other parts of the house is a process that requires expertise. It’s important to know how they’re getting inside the attic, when they’re leaving, and how to prevent them from gaining access again once they’ve been removed. To prevent squirrels, keep trees trimmed and away from your home, and entry points sealed (usually cracks or holes in your home’s exterior or roof vents). A squirrel control professional can identify these areas and make recommendations for ongoing squirrel prevention.
Roaches
Cockroaches, too, are looking for food and warmth and often find it in your home. It’s typical to experience a roach infestation in the winter; here are some things you can do to prevent this:
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- Regular, preventative pest control service will ensure your home is protected, even in the winter months
- Eliminate food and water sources – never leave water out, make sure food containers are sealed and properly stored, clean up food debris and dirty dishes daily
- Seal any holes, cracks or gaps in and around your home
- Eliminate clutter
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If you are seeing roaches, call a pest control company immediately. Cockroaches are extremely difficult to get rid of once you have an infestation and a professional can implement techniques that will eliminate the problem quickly and prevent them from coming back.
Spiders
Most spiders will seek refuge indoors in the fall months, preparing for cold winter temperatures. And while most spiders pose no real threat, some are poisonous and will bite when feeling threatened. To eliminate and prevent spiders:
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- Ongoing pest control service throughout the year
- Knock down cobwebs regularly
- Eliminate clutter; spiders like to hide in dark, undisturbed places
- Seal any holes, cracks or gaps in and around your home
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