You might see fewer pests during the winter months, but that doesn’t mean more aren’t around!
There are some late winter pests you should be on the lookout for, and our winter (as well as spring, summer, and fall) pest control experts are here to tell you about them!
Common Winter Pests
Where do pests go during the winter? While some migrate or hibernate, many stay put and have their own unique ways of surviving the winter cold. One particular winter pest survival method you should be aware of as a homeowner is their tendency to seek shelter in human homes!
To wild critters, your house or apartment is a warm shelter that’s inviting them to wait out the cold weather, so our advice is for you to 1) be on the lookout for some of these stowaways in case you need to call a pest pro to get them out and, even better, 2) get a pest control professional to implement preventive measures in your home to keep it effectively protected all winter long, rather than having to do damage control later.
Small Rodents
Squirrels
Squirrels are common pests found in homes during the winter. You’ll most likely find them in your attic or between walls, and they can wreak havoc! They’ll chew through wires, leave smelly (and pathogen-containing) droppings, and can cause severe damage to structures.
Unfortunately, sealing up holes isn’t enough to stop squirrel problems once they’re inside your residence. They’re more than happy to remain in people’s homes for a long time, so oftentimes, our rodent control specialists have to go in and pull them out!
Mice and Rats
Mice are another type of small rodent that will gladly make your house their new cozy home, and you might even hear them inside your walls scurrying around. The urine, other body fluids, and natural protein particles that mice leave behind can cause allergies, especially in children. They can also bring lice, ticks, and disease-harboring fleas into your home.
Also, be on the lookout for rats! They, too, can carry disease, leave droppings, get into your food, and cause fires by chewing on wires inside your walls.
Insects, Arachnids, and Other Small Arthropods (Such as Spiders and Ticks, Slugs, Worms, etc.)
- Cockroaches are among the most resilient and harmful of insect pests. They harbor at least 33 different types of bacteria and allergens, and can even harbor parasitic worms. While you might not see as many of them during the winter, that doesn’t mean they’re not around and looking for something to feed on.
- Termites
- Ants will hang out inside your home, hoping for a sugary treat! You’ll most likely find them in kitchens and around food, so be sure to keep the area tidy and crumbs to a minimum. Ants, especially carpenter ants, also burrow into wood to nest, which can cause significant damage.
Don’t Just Consider Winter Pest Control; It’s Essential!
Even if you’re seeing fewer pests, the winter months are not the time to slack on pest control. When it comes to keeping annoying or harmful pests at bay, prevention is crucial! Otherwise, you might be left with a severe infestation come spring.
If you’re ready to invest in your family’s health and safety with professional winter pest control, you can trust the Vulcan Termite and Pest Control crew. With 40+ years of experience keeping homes, businesses, and other establishments in the area pest-free year-round, the people of Birmingham and across central Alabama trust us to exterminate harmful pests and implement preventive measures to keep them from coming back.
Contact us for any winter pest problems, and we’ll be there to solve them!
Thanks for reading today’s article from our pest blog! To learn more essential pest control and prevention tips, or to discover all the incredible biodiversity Alabama has to offer, check back in here with us every week for fresh new content, or look at past posts to see all the useful pest and critter-related knowledge we’ve shared over the years.
