30 Dec The Most Common Indoor Winter Pests
When winter rolls in and the days become colder, we begin to seek refuge within our homes to escape unfavorable weather. Unfortunately, that also means some animals and pests have the same idea. Seeing pests in your home during the winter is an incredibly common occurrence as pests try to seek a warmer place to stay.
Among the extensive list of indoor pests, there are three that you’re most likely to see: mice, rats, and insects/spiders. These pests can squeeze into your home through small cracks and openings within your home and can be incredibly difficult to manage on your own.
Let’s go into more detail about these pests and how to handle them when they surface.
Mice and Rats
Mice can squeeze themselves into holes as small as a nickel, so keeping up on any structural damage is important to prevent a mouse problem from forming. With rats, the problem is similar, only the holes they can fit in need to be bigger. While mice can fit into holes as small as ¼ inches in diameter, a rat needs a hole at least ¾ inches in diameter.
You can usually deduce you have a mouse or rat problem if you see visible animal dropping or urine, usually near the baseboards. Bite and gnaw marks in your foundation and food sources can also indicate a rodent issue.
Lastly, mice and rats both leave a greasy residue on floors and walls where they’ve been. If you notice unusual markings near your baseboards that resemble grease, it’s likely to be a mouse or rat.
Cockroaches and Termites
Although cockroaches don’t really mind the cold, they still prefer the warmth of an insulated home. Beyond that, if your home isn’t cleaned often and you leave leftover food unprotected, they’re more likely to congregate.
Termites, on the other hand, will invade your home if you have good warmth, wood, and water. These three Ws are what termites need to survive and thrive. While they’re typically less active during the winter, they can still be present. This can cause several issues for your home’s foundational integrity. If you notice sagging walls or creaky floorboards, among other indicators, you may have a termite problem.
Ants and Earwigs
These insects typically hibernate or go dormant in the wintertime. With that said, they typically seek refuge inside residential homes to ensure protection until the weather eases up. If you don’t take care of the issue right away, you might be in for a rude awakening once spring rolls around.
Spiders
Although some spider species hibernate, not all do. Regardless of their hibernation habits, they also make like ants and earwigs and look for a warm and secure place to stay for the cold winter months.
It may be startling to see one of these eight-legged creatures hanging out on your ceiling. However, unless you notice an abundance of spiders overtaking your home, you may decide to keep a few around to trap and eat other unwanted insects.