Although you may no longer see mosquitos, flies and bees swarming outside (thankfully to the cold weather) that doesn’t mean that pest control should be forgotten about in the winter months.  I hate to say it, but the winter poses its own threat of pests that can be found seeking shelter in your home.  Mice, cockroaches, and spiders could be crawling through your home and cozying up for a long winter stay.  Not only will they take up room in your home, but they can carry disease, spider bites can cause serious side effects and (little did I know) cockroaches are a trigger for asthmatics.  So, take my advice and prep your home before you can’t evict your new guests or run into some serious health issues for your family.

The most common guests that you may see enter your home during the winter months are:

• House Mice: can fit through an opening as small as a dime, they love to hide in clutter.  A sign that you may have a mice infestation: droppings, gnaw marks and damaged food.
• Norway Rats: can fit through an opening as small as a quarter and love moisture.  They can gnaw through almost anything including plastic and lead pipes.  If you start to see greasy rub marks around your home – it could be caused by the rat’s oily fur.
• German Cockroaches: are the most common species of cockroaches found in the world.  They prefer small areas close to food and moisture.  They hitch a ride into your home via grocery bags, boxes, and secondhand appliances.  Pay attention to kitchens and bathroom – especially under sinks and appliances.
• Brown Recluse Spiders: prefer to spin webs in undisturbed places like closets, attics, crawl spaces, etc.  This guy WILL bite and inject venom if disturbed – BEWARE! 

National Pest Management Association (NPMA) offers these several tips that homeowners can use to prevent winter pests.

• Seal cracks and holes on the outside of your home.
• Replace loose mortar and weather stripping around basement foundation & windows.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet from home. 
• De-clutter storage areas – no boxes on the floor.
• Eliminate all moisture areas (leaking pipes, clogged drains, etc).
• Install door sweeps and repair damaged screens in windows.
• Screen vents to chimneys.
• Keep attics, basements and crawl spaces ventilated and dry.
• Keep trees and shrubs trimmed away from the home.

Fall and winter pest services are targeted to meet the needs in your home.  Our certified specialist will search for rodent activity and look for any openings that may leave your home susceptible for visitors.  Spider webs will be knocked down and removed from the home’s interior.  Special attention will be provided in the basement to prevent crawling insects. 

Now is the best time to also make sure you have a pest control plan in place for when the warmer months arrive!

If you suspect that you have a pest infestation, contact us – we are ready to help rid you of unwanted nuisances in your home.