How to Avoid a Winter Pest Invasion
When the landscape gets draped in thick blankets of snow and fires crackle in hearths spreading from Portsmouth to Burlington to Hartford, winters in New England can be a magical time of year. But with each passing season comes another round of invasive pests, and New England winters are especially good at driving outdoor pests indoors. That means the mice, rats, cockroaches, spiders, and flies that were a backyard nuisance in the summer seek out the warmth and safety of your home in the winter.
Get Your Winter Pest Game Plan in Place
Just like fall football, the best defense against your pesky opponents is going to be a good offense, and the best time to prepare is now, before the dead of winter when temperatures and weather conditions drive pests indoors.
Start by sealing your home against insects, rodents and other pests. First, make sure the weather stripping around all your doors seals tightly when the doors are closed. Next, look for any obvious holes, cracks or other openings that allow air to pass directly from the outside to the interior of your home.
After you’ve sealed up any possible pest entryways, it’s time to inspect your property to see if you’re unwittingly doing anything to attract pests. If you keep firewood, make sure it’s stacked at least 20 feet away from your property, otherwise you’re inviting wood-borne pests like ants and termites to cozy up right outside your home, where they can soon gain entry inside.
The same goes for garbage and recycling bins—it may be convenient to drop the trash right outside the door, but that makes it equally convenient for insects and rodents to stage an invasion of your home. Speaking of garbage, removing trash on a daily basis (not just when the bag is full) will do a lot to reduce pest problems in your home. In fact, the cleaner and tidier you keep your home, the less attractive it is to pests in general.
Beware the Weather, Especially Sudden Warm Spells
One weather condition you might want to pay extra attention to is a medium- to long-term warm spell—say, three days or longer—that comes after temperatures have spent weeks below freezing. When the ground starts to thaw, many insect species mistakenly think spring has arrived and wake up from what was supposed to be a winterlong hibernation. Although many of these pests will die when temperatures drop again, until they do you may find more critters stirring about than usual for the time of year.
For the best peace of mind, consult with a pest control professional about a preventative pest control plan to efficiently protect your home year-round against pests. Check out our home protection plan, which protects against more than 50 types of pests, providing the right treatment for every season.
