When the weather outside is frightful, pests go looking for a place that’s delightful. This place could be your home if you leave it open to infestation. It’s warmer than the outdoors and closer to a more consistent food supply. Follow these winter pest control tips to help keep your home off their radar.

Winter Pest Control over Rodents

One of the most common rodents found this time of year is the house mouse. They prefer to nest in dark, secluded areas like attics and basements. Not only can mice and rats contaminate food and spread disease, but they can cause serious property damage by chewing through drywall and wires. Help keep mice out of your house by doing the following:

• Seal any cracks and holes in and around the house by stuffing with steel wool and filling with caulk. No hole is too small since mice can fit through a dime-sized opening.
• Keep storage areas clear of clutter. Store boxes up off of the floor where mice and rats can chew through and hide inside. Rats can also break through plastic and lead pipes.
• Regularly inspect in and around your home for signs of rodents—droppings, gnaw marks, and damaged food containers. Rats can also leave greasy rub marks caused by their oily fur.

Cockroach Control

While these pests don’t care what time of year it is, there are ways to keep them out year-round. They’re drawn to small areas close to food and moisture, and can make their way indoors stowed away in grocery bags, boxes, and secondhand appliances. This makes it even easier for them to access kitchens and bathrooms. Cockroaches also contaminate food and spread bacteria, and they can trigger certain allergies. Help keep cockroaches away by:

• Keeping kitchen counters and floors clean.
• Vacuuming regularly.
• Properly dispose of garbage.
• Frequently inspect kitchens and bathrooms, especially under appliances and sinks.

Winter Spider Control

Like most pests, spiders prefer to be undisturbed, so they spin webs in closet corners, attics, crawl spaces, and basements. They can also burrow in cardboard boxes, window moldings, and stored clothing and shoes. Some spiders can bite, so it’s best to help prevent them from making their way inside by:

• Keeping trees and shrubs trimmed away from the home so they don’t have a bridge towards indoors.
• Store clothing and shoes inside sealable plastic containers.
• Stuff the openings of shoes or other storage items so spiders have less chance of hiding inside.

Raccoon Control

If your home is near any wooded area, there’s more of a chance of having a raccoon problem. They start looking for a place to nest in the attic or chimney and can do a lot of damage by chewing and spreading rabies.

• Seal trash cans and recycling bins or keep them in a locked area until trash day.
• Inspect and repair any broken vent covers, loose siding, or broken shingles.
• Install a mesh cover or cap over chimneys and other exposed openings.
• Keep tree branches trimmed away from the house.

Professional Winter Pest Control

If you find yourself with any pest problem this time of year, you may want to call in the professionals depending on how big the problem is. It’s always a good idea to have professionals inspect your home to ensure there are no access points or areas of interest for pests to hide and nest. Contact Cardinal Lawns for more tips on guarding your home against pests any time of year.