Wintertime Pest Worries

Baby, it’s COLD OUTSIDE.  With temperatures in the 20s and sometimes lower here in Central Virginia, folks may think they don’t need to worry about pests.  Wintertime pest worries are certainly fewer, but not exactly non-existent.  Certain sturdy pests can make trouble in your home year round.  Here’s some insight on wintertime pests and how you might avoid having them inside your home.

• Mice and Rats: Mice and rats seek shelter and warmth during cold months and can squeeze through very small cracks and holes in and around your home. Sealing entry points are effective in preventing them from coming into your house. This includes installing chimney caps, covering air vents with wire mesh, sealing holes around pipes with caulk or expanding foam, etc. You may also want to keep your house, attics, and garage tidy to help eliminate hiding spots, and store items in plastic containers versus cardboard. Lastly, eliminating food and water sources for the possible rodents will make them feel less welcome.

• Cockroaches: Cockroaches are attracted to moisture and will come into homes in the search for food. Search your pipes for leaks and repair them quickly. Seal around pipe entry points, clean your gutters, and take out trash regularly. Again, eliminating food and water sources will make them feel less welcome in your home.

• Fleas: Fleas can still enter your home on your pets in the winter. Make sure you treat your pets with flea medicine and check your carpets, furniture, and pet bedding for signs of fleas. They are certainly less active in the colder weather, but can still pose wintertime pest worries.

• Spiders: Spiders tend to hide in parts of the home that are seldom used. Seal cracks and holes to prevent them from coming in and keep outdoor lights off as spiders tend to make their webs where other bugs (like moths) are attracted. 

• Termites: Termites are active all year round, and egg production is continuous. Termites will funnel tunnels seeking warmth during the winter months whether that be in the ground or your house. Finding termites in your home is possible, and drywood termites that have found shelter in your house’s foundation and walls will not be as affected by the cold. Even though termites remain active during the winter, it is unlikely that you will see a swarm of termites. Likely signs of termites in the winter are mud tubes or damaged wood. Winter is a very important season for termite control and to prevent future infestations. Since termites stay closer to the home in the winter, termites are more likely to take bait closer to the home rather than food further away. If you already have an infestation, it is important to have them exterminated as soon as possible. 

If you have any wintertime pest worries in your home, contact Holistic Pest Solutions TODAY! We will treat the root of the infestation with long term solutions designed to keep them from coming back. Whether you’re in Charlottesville, Palmyra, Keswick, Ivy, Crozet, Earlysville, Greene, Madison, Waynesboro, or Staunton, Holistic Pest Solutions has the perfect plan for you that is mindful of your family and our Earth!