Winter presents unique needs for pest management. After all, not all pests go underground or hibernate in the winter; some of them find refuge in the warmth and moisture of your home. To help you stay diligent and keep your home pest-free, remember which ones are most likely to appear this time of year.

4 Common Winter Pests

1. Rodents

There are several risks associated with mice and rat infestations. They chew on the structure, furniture, and electrical wiring throughout your home, as well as your personal items and food. Some rats can even gnaw through lead pipes.

Rodents also carry several dangerous bacteria and diseases, including salmonella, cowpox, and jaundice, which can affect humans and pets. Prevent them from building nests in your walls, roof, or attic by setting traps, pruning trees and shrubs so that the branches aren’t near your walls, and filling holes and cracks throughout your home.

2. Spiders

Besides causing red, itchy bites, most spiders are harmless. However, they tend to make people uncomfortable, and their cobwebs can be messy. Black widows and brown recluses are dangerous, and their poison can make humans extremely ill. In rare instances, they can even kill.

Pest management for spiders can include caulking any cracks in your walls or spraying warm, damp areas with peppermint oil or a vinegar-water solution.

3. Insects

Termites can cause substantial damage to your home by eating the wood, and silverfish are similarly frustrating because they’ll devour your paper, book bindings, wallpaper paste, and sugar. Harmful bacteria can be spread by cockroaches that eat your food. Earwigs, though not dangerous, are unsightly and annoying.

Discourage pests from entering your home by vacuuming and disposing of the trash regularly, keeping decaying plants and wood several feet away outside, and never leaving food out.

4. Raccoons

Raccoons are among the most common carriers of rabies, so you need to keep them as far away from your home as possible. Unfortunately, they like to make dens in chimneys, roofs, and attics, especially in the winter. For raccoon pest management, fix holes in your home that are big enough to accommodate them, install a screen on your chimney, and keep your yard clear of trash.

 
If you need professional pest management this winter or any other time of year, contact Cox Termite & Pest Control, Inc. in Garden City, GA. Having served the Savannah area for over 40 years, their licensed exterminators are experienced in rodent control and other types of pest control. To learn more about their services, call them today at (912) 236-2503, or check out their website.