‘Tis the Season For Home Pest Invasions!
Cold weather forces rodents and other small wildlife indoors
With the Holidays upon us and many areas of the country experiencing wintry weather conditions, pest-proofing may be the furthest thing from our minds. However, Franklin Pest Solutions, a pest control company servicing Northwest Indiana, reminds homeowners that pests don’t take the Holidays off when it comes to invading homes. And although some pest problems dissipate when the temperature drops, Franklin Pest Solutions warns that some infestations are greater during the winter months.
“Many people incorrectly assume that pests are only an issue during the spring and summer seasons when some species of ants and stinging insects are at their peak,” says Dave Sloop, Branch Manager at Franklin Pest Solutions Michigan City. “However, rodents and other small wildlife like raccoons, squirrels and even snakes have been known to enter homes this time of year in search food, water and shelter from Old Man Winter.”
The Threat
Just because there aren’t flies, mosquitoes and wasps zipping through the air this time of year doesn’t mean pests just die off when it gets cold. A lot of pests are still thriving, scurrying right under our feet and we don’t even know it! Spiders, roaches, and mice are the most common creepy crawlies you could encounter during the winter as they sneak inside your home or business away from the bitter cold elements. They’re hoping for more promising food sources and harborage areas.
Rodents are probably the pests you should be most concerned about preventing from getting inside your building. Why? They’re not as harmless as a cobweb near the ceiling. They carry diseases, leave trails of urine that cause asthma and allergies (GROSS, right?!) and they bring other pests like ticks and fleas indoors, which is not just a nuisance to you, but can also affect your pets as well. The following are illustrations of some of the common rodents you may see trying to get inside during these cold weather months.
The Solution
Any structural hole, crevice, or gap that is larger than the diameter of a pencil is an open invitation for rodents of all types to go right into your home or business. Other things that may attract mice, shrews and other rodents is brush that hasn’t been raked back from the building. This provides excellent hiding space for them and can make their travelling in and out of the building structure well concealed. They’re pretty darn clever, you know! They’re survivors.
Franklin Pest Solutions also recommends following these tips from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) to help protect against pest problems this winter:
- Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the structure using caulk, steel wool or a combination of both.
- Replace loose mortar and weather stripping around the basement foundation and windows.
- Install door sweeps on exterior doors and repair damaged screens.
- Screen vents and openings to chimneys.
- Keep attics, basements and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry. Consider using a dehumidifier in these areas.
- Store food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly.
- Keep exterior doors shut at all times.
- Inspect items such as boxes of decorations and grocery bags before bringing them indoors.
- Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and keep shrubbery trimmed and cut back from the house.
Don’t feel like dealing with all this yourself?
I don’t blame you. Luckily, Franklin’s your local expert mouse exterminator Indiana! We can rid your home or business of mice, keep it protected with one of our guaranteed maintenance programs, and take care of sealing and plugging up entry points to prevent them from getting in in the future. You tell us what you need, and we’ll be there with bells on. Get a free quote now!
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