It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that pest control should only happen during the summer months. In fact, homeowners and commercial building managers face more pest control challenges during the cold St. Louis winters. It’s during the cold weather that pests are searching for warm, dry places to find food and moisture.
When pests move indoors, they carry diseases that can spread and contaminate food, making people and pets sick. Rodents can chew through electrical wiring and cause serious damage or even a fire. Roaches trigger asthma and allergies and some spiders can pack quite a bite. You’ll want to do everything you can to avoid putting out the welcome mat for pests.
Don’t Believe The Myth
No — winter weather doesn’t kill insects. Many pests actually go into resting states until it gets warm during spring, and that resting state is called diapause. They go into hibernation to conserve energy and emerge ready to go when it’s time for spring. In winter, pests that go into diapause often choose to do so in the warm, dark confines of your home.
Pests that don’t hibernate will find ways to “ride out” the winter, but generally their diets don’t change depending on the season. The colder the weather is, the more inviting your home can be, and once they’re in it’s much harder to get them out.
Tackle Maintenance and Make Upgrades
There are some obvious ways to prevent pests from getting in, and many of them involve plugging up holes and cracks around the house. Pay particularly close attention to windows and doors, securing them and checking for damage — weather stripping needs to be free from rot and holes. Remember that mice can fit through a hole the size of a dime!
Adding screen vents to your chimney and repairing any leaky pipes that cause additional moisture are some extra steps to take to keep pests out. You’ll also want to clear up the clutter in your attic, basement, or crawl space, and move firewood at least 20 feet from the home. This will eliminate the potential that pests will find a cozy home (in YOUR home) with easy access to food and water and this presents a cozy home that will go unnoticed for months.
Close Down The Buffet
Do you have uncovered trash cans in and around your home? Is the dumpster spilling over at your business? Are there open bags of pet food in your garage or open storage containers of snacks in your pantry? You may as well just send pests an invitation to come to eat. We know it can sometimes be cold, but you still need to take out the trash — and take it far away.
Make it a habit to keep trash sealed away from pests, and to properly store the food your family eats. Clean up after messy cooking, or crumby snacks in the carpet that can lead a trail of goodies for rodents and roaches to follow.
Look For The Usual Suspects
House mice create one of the biggest winter pest control challenges not only in St. Louis but across the country. They love to eat drywall and wooden construction studs and can carry diseases and bacteria wherever they go. When they’re not destroying your home, they’re nesting in the dark, damp corners of your basement.
Cockroaches are another common winter pest. They just want to be close to food, which makes the bathrooms and kitchens in your home an ideal target. Their droppings and creepy little legs track bacteria that can cause serious illness. Other pests can also find a way inside if you let them, including raccoons, squirrels, and spiders.
Schedule An Appointment With The Pros
Make seasonal appointments to have the pest control professionals come to visit your home. There’s nothing more frustrating than creepy crawlies and critters living in your home. And, honestly, you shouldn’t have to deal with it. That’s why you call on the professionals at PestShield to remove them quickly, efficiently, and permanently. Our residential pest control services ensure your family is in and pests are out.
Don’t waste time on ineffective winter pest control measures. Go straight to the professionals at PestShield for serious winter pest control services to bring you peace of mind and a pest-free home. Connect with us online now to get a free quote for residential services.