Winter is a busy season. Shopping for gifts, preparing for parties, and generally having a good time will already fill your plate with things to do. Dealing with winter pests should be the least of your priorities.
While some insects and pests hibernate during the winter, others become more active as they seek food and warmth from houses and busy places. To prevent having to deal with cumbersome winter pests, it’s best to be prepared. There are tried and tested ways to prevent pests from coming to your home.
How to Keep Winter Pests Away
Here are the top three tips to keep winter pests away from your home.
- Keep your home as neat as possible.
Unkempt garbage, food debris, and other clutter attract many common winter pests. These areas are ideal for their nesting habits. They are also great sources of food.
The house mouse is a common rodent that can be seen during the winter. They are dangerous because they can contaminate food and spread diseases. These rodents prefer hiding in clutter and piles of debris, so it’s best to keep your floor clean. Keep boxes and other miscellaneous items off the floor and into organized, clean storage spaces.
The German cockroach is another pest that likes the dirt. These cockroaches like to stay near areas of spoiled food and waste, like the kitchen and bathroom. Keep your floors, counters, and surfaces free from crumbs. You should also try and vacuum as often as possible.
- Seal your house to keep pests away.
Raccoons are common pests found in the country, especially in the eastern side. They can be found rooting through trash cans in other seasons. During the winter, they can become even bolder and even enter your house searching for warmth.
Inspect your home for access points. These include loose shingles, broken windows and vent covers, and loosely closed doors. You can even add a mesh cover over your chimney.
Aside from raccoons, Norway rats, another disease-carrying rodent, can enter your house. Even the smallest gaps or cracks can serve as access points for these rodents. Mice can fit through a hole as small as a dime! Keep them away with regular inspection and a thorough sealing.
- Regularly check for signs of infestation.
Sometimes, pests can find their way into your home regardless of what you do. German cockroaches are infamously resilient, and pests like Brown Recluse Spiders can enter unnoticeably. The next best thing to do is to have your eye out for signs of infestation.
The oily fur of mice and rats can leave greasy rub marks on surfaces. Disturbed food, droppings, and gnaw marks through wires and other materials are also signs of infestation. Hot spots to look through include dark, secluded areas like your attic, and moist areas like in your kitchen under the sink.
Enjoy the winter season without having to deal with pests by keeping these tips in mind. When in doubt, call, and consult a professional pest control service.
Written by BugOut Pest Control & Lawn Care. BugOut Pest Control & Lawn Care offers the best service for pest control in Columbia, MO.