What Are The Common Pests That May Invade Your Home During Winter?

When winter comes, there are a few pests that hibernate while other invade houses looking for food sources and warmth. The National Pest Management Association is encourage homeowners to set in place various precautions against winter pests such as raccoons, rats, mice, spiders, and cockroaches. Read the guide provided below for some pest control tips on how you can prevent an infestation during the cold winter season.

Common Household Pests: Pest Control Tips

The house mice are the most common rodent in the United States. A house rodent tend to nest in the secluded, dark locations such as the basements and the attics. These rodents could cause major property damages by chewing on the wires and drywall. House mice contaminate food and they also spread diseases, like tapeworms and Salmonella.

Quick Tips:

Mice could fit through a tiny opening that is as small as a dime. You need to seal holes and cracks outside the house with steel wool and caulk.
Keep areas clear and be sure to store boxes off the floor since mice love to keep themselves hidden in clutter.
Check your home for signs of mice on a regular basis. Look for gnaw marks, droppings, as well as damaged food.

Norway Rats

Norway rats like to nest in piles of debris, basements, as well as other materials that are left undisturbed. They’re popular to gnaw through nearly anything like lead pipes or plastic, to get water or food. Norway rats are likewise a vector of several diseases such as rat bite fever, jaundice, as well as cowpox virus.

Quick Tips:

Norway rats could also fit through tiny openings and that’s why you should check your home for any crack or gaps and fill them with silicone caulk.
Inspect your home for signs of pest infestation like greasy rub marks that may be caused by the oily fur of rats.

German Cockroaches

This is the most common species of cockroach found all over the world. They prefer to reside in tiny areas that are close to moisture and food, so your home is going to be their perfect habitat. This kind of cockroach usually hitchhikes indoors through grocery bags, second hand appliances, and is commonly found in bathrooms and kitchens.

Quick Tips:

Always clean your floors and counters and make sure they are free of crumbs.
Dispose your garbage and vacuum on a regular basis.
Pay close attention to bathrooms and kitchens, especially under sinks and appliances.

Brown Recluse Spiders

Brown recluse spiders like to spin webs in areas that are undisturbed like attics, closets, basements, and crawl spaces. Like other kinds of spiders, these brown recluse are commonly found along window mouldings, cardboard boxes, as well as in seldom used shoes and clothing. These spiders could bite and inject venom when disturbed, which makes them dangerous to humans.

Quick Tips:

Keep shrubs and trees trimmed and make sure that you cut back on the limbs that are overhanging your roof. This would help lessen the chance of spiders will find a way inside.
Keep shoes and clothing inside plastic containers. Pay close attention to baseball mitts, shoes, and gloves that are not used as other items like spiders that like to conceal themselves inside them.
In case you think you have a spider bite, always get immediate medical attention.

Raccoons

Raccoons are generally found in the wooden eastern parts of the country. This kind of wild animal enters houses through chimneys and attics to look for a denning site. They are known to carry rabies.

Quick Tips:

Seal recycling bins and trash cans and place them in areas like an outhouse or locked sheds. These are basic yet extremely effective pest control Myrtle Beach tips you need to follow. When the trash cans left outdoors, be sure to use lids that are animal proof.

Check the outside of your home for broken vent covers, or other access points. Fix any loose shingles or sidings.

Install a cap or mesh cover over chimneys as well as other exposed openings to stop entry. Additionally, keep the tree branches trimmed back from your home.