How to Identify and Eliminate Cold Weather Pests

When the cold weather arrives, some pests start hiding out, not to be seen again until the temperature starts rising, while other pests choose to seek warmth and food sources from people’s homes.

What are these cold weather pests and what can you do to keep them out of your home in the winter months?

German Cockroaches

They’re the most common kind of cockroach people the world over know of. They like human homes, especially the kitchen and the bathroom, because they want to be around food and moisture. They typically get into your home by way of grocery bags, boxes, as well as second hand furniture and appliances. They contaminate food as well as spread bacteria, human pathogens, and allergens.

How to keep them out:

Keep your house clean of food crumbs. Vacuum regularly.
Take out your trash daily.
You can detect them through scent, so even if you don’t see them, their smell will alert you of their presence. Call your Modesto pest control company to take care of them. If there’s one cockroach in your home, there would be a legion more hiding in the walls.

Brown Recluse Spiders

They like to spin webs and hide out in places where they think they will be undisturbed, such as closets, crawl spaces, attics, and basements. They may not be after your food, but they do bite and inject venom, so they’re dangerous to have around. Seek medical attention immediately if you suspect you’ve been bitten.

How to keep them out:

Don’t let vegetation touch your home.
Use airtight plastic containers to store clothes and shoes.

House Mice

They may be the most commonly encountered rodent in the country since they like to nest in people’s attics and basements, but you don’t have to have any in your own home. They’re not harmless. They can chew on your things as well as your drywall. They can even gnaw at your wires and cause an electrical fire. They also contaminate food and spread diseases, such as salmonella, leptospirosis, and tapeworms.

How to keep them out:

Since they can fit through the smallest of holes, make sure to seal all cracks and holes on the outside of your house using caulk and steel wool.
De-clutter your home because mice love a messy home.
Look out for signs of their presence – droppings, chewed on food, and other gnaw marks.

Norway Rats

These are your garden variety rats, so they’re basically the larger, scarier, and more vicious cousin of house mice. They will nest in your home too and would gnaw their way through plastic and even lead pipes. They carry the same diseases spread by the smaller mice, plus others like jaundice, rat-bite fever, and cowpox virus.

How to keep them out:

Seal all outside holes using silicone caulk.
Eliminate sources of moisture in basements and other crawl spaces.
Inspect for signs of their presence, which are the same as those of the mice, plus greasy rub marks made by the rat’s oily fur.

Raccoons

They may be cute and smart, but they’re wild and have no right to den in your home. They are a major host of rabies, so they’re dangerous to have around.

How to keep them out:

Store your garbage and recycling bins in a locked shed or outhouse. If you don’t have one, choose bins with animal-proof lids.
Check the outside of your home for entry points such as broken or loose vent covers, siding, or shingles.
Cover chimneys and other openings with a mesh cap.
Trim tree branches to keep them back from the house.

If they become troublesome and these tips don’t work, please check out our Animal Removal Services.

Apply the above tips from your local Modesto Pest Control Company and cozy up in your home this winter without the presence of these cold weather pests. If you are looking for a pest control specialist in Modesto, contact AAI Pest Control today.