Winter Pest Prevention – What Is Your Call?
The onset of winter can also be a big period for pest problems to develop. Pests look for warmth and refuge in your home as temperatures drop (and maybe even in your vehicle). Here are some pests for this winter to keep an eye on and for which you need an exterminator.
Rodents
During every season of the year, mice and rats can infest your home if they can, but during the winter, you will see a spike in rodent issues simply because they do not want to stay outside. They can fit the size of a coin through cracks, and an expecting mouse can start a whole pest epidemic on its own. Rodents are major carriers of several diseases, so it is most beneficial to your health to contact the pest control professionals as soon as possible if you begin to think you may have a rodent issue.
Cockroaches
During the winter months, cockroaches may also appear more frequently because they cannot live in cool temperatures, in particular if the thermometer dips below 15 degrees. They must, therefore, burrow or make their way into your home's warmth. Many diseases are also borne by cockroaches, and they can cause allergies and asthma. They can eat almost everything, so keep surfaces clean and store food safely, it will work to prevent them from infesting your home.
Bedbugs
Bed bugs are an all-weather insect, but if you fly extensively, they can crop up during the winter. Since they are experienced hitchhikers, you will want to search hotel rooms for someone who has entered the luggage of another traveler, and when you get home, you may want to examine your own belongings to make sure they do not cause you trouble. If you find that this winter you have a bed bug infestation, contact us immediately to have them out because you are not going to be able to do it yourself.
Ants
Via cracks in the walls or base of your home or through greenery that you put in as decorations, ants will find their way indoors during the winter months. One of the best things you can do first if you start seeing a lot of them is to thoroughly clean the area and get rid of all signs of food and the pheromones they use to mark where to find said food. This does not, however, get rid of the issue entirely, so working with a competent pest control technician is always a good idea.
In winter, pests are likely to look for indoor warmth and shelter. They frequently live behind crates, sheds, under drawers, in wall cavities, storage rooms, and are often not too far from a food source. You may wish, in addition to pest control, to:
Maintain well-organized storage areas and reduce clutter.
Address all sites of moisture, including leaking pipes
Fix any damaged fly displays
Fill any holes that provide easy access to pests
Year Round Security
It is important to plan for the warmer months. Don't wait for them to make an appearance in numbers before you take action, as many of the pests are hiding in your home. Chat to your specialist company for pest control and ask if they have any annual programs for safety. It is essential for your property to be secured throughout the year and not just at times of infestation. Check that these include year-round daily visits which include an annual inspection of the termite. Narrow down your search at Mother Nature Pest and Lawn for professional pest exterminator.