Many homeowners mistakenly believe familiar pests magically disappear in the winter. Just because there’s snow outside doesn’t mean all the insects and rodents aren’t around. In fact, the cold weather pushes insects, rodents, and other unwanted critters looking for warmth into your home. Pest control isn’t exclusive to the warm months, and it’s equally as important in the winter as it is in the summer. Don’t make the mistake of not protecting your home and garden from pests in the winter, as populations of pests will multiply just in time for the spring. Here are the top four reasons why you should continue pest control in the winter.
Prevent Mice and Rat Invasion
Mice and rats can make their way into your home in droves during the winter. These pests only need a tiny opening or crack to enter your home, where they’ll ride out the cold months. The worst part about a mice and rat infestation is how often they reproduce. A female mouse creates 5-10 litters of baby mice annually. Each litter consists of approximately six mice, which can begin to breed their own spawn after 30 days. Rats produce up to five litters of baby rats each year, and each litter consists of 7-14 baby rats. There’s nothing adorable about these small pests, as they’ll make their way into your attic and gnaw on electrical wires and wood beams.
Keep Wood Destroying Insects Away
Termites and carpenter ants can destroy your home from the inside out, and you won’t notice the damage until it’s too late. Unlike other bugs, such as monarch butterflies, carpenter ants and termites don’t have a reason to migrate to another country during the winter. Why would they leave when they can just live inside your home? These insects will have no trouble nesting inside your walls and floor, which will lead to structural issues.
Say Goodbye to Spiders
You may notice an increase of spider webs in your home during the winter. Spiders will crawl into your home before the snow starts to fall, and they’re not as subtle as other insects. These insects crawl on your walls in broad daylight, leaving behind a trail of spider webs. Moreover, spiders prefer to spin their webs in undisturbed places, such as closets, attics, basements, and crawl spaces. The three most common spiders in Utah are Black Widows, Hobo Spiders, and the Desert Recluse, all of which are dangerous. Protect your family from potentially lethal spider bites by continuing pest control during the winter.
Scare Squirrels Away
Squirrels can make their way into your attic by using overhanging tree branches, power lines, or by climbing up your roof’s siding. Once a squirrel makes its way into your attic, it will cause significant damage by chewing on wires and gnawing on your walls until it can make it inside the rest of your home. These rodents carry parasites such as fleas, ticks, and mites that can crawl their way into your living spaces and harm your children.
Every responsible homeowner must continue pest control in the winter. By addressing pest issues in the winter, you’ll have little to no problems dealing with pests in the spring. Contact Summit Lawn & Pest Control today, and our exterminators will handle those pests for you.
