For most people, winter is generally a time for relaxing and staying indoors. It's challenging to go out when the temperatures are freezing, and there's occasional snowfall. Unfortunately, many pests share the same sentiment. The weather impedes their ability to find food and shelter in the wild, and so, instead, they'll head to your home. The following are some of the most common reasons homeowners seek pest control services in the winter. 

Why You Need Winter Pest Control

1. Raccoons

Characterized by the black mask around their eyes and their curiosity, raccoons typically enter a home via the chimney or attic. They're also known to dig through trash cans and recycling bins for food. This inquisitiveness can cause significant property damage. However, the biggest threat they pose is that they tend to have rabies.

2. Mice & Rats

Like raccoons, mice and rats enter a home looking for food and a warm place to stay. They're also carriers for various diseases. However, unlike raccoons, these rodents tend to chew on wood, wires, insulation, and anything else they come across. 

3. Ladybugs

As surprising as it may be to see this insect on a pest control list, ladybug infestations are a real possibility and nuisance during winter. While they aren't harmful to your family, pets, plants, or the architecture, they can secrete a malodorous yellow fluid as a defense mechanism. This fluid, which is, in fact, their blood, can stain any light-colored fabric or furniture. 

4. German Cockroach

One of the most common types of cockroaches, the German cockroach, is distinguished by its light brown color and two black stripes that run vertically atop its head. They often congregate in areas of warmth, moisture, and food, such as the kitchen. Not only do their droppings carry bacteria and spread disease, but the insect itself can exacerbate respiratory problems and cause allergies.

5. Brown Recluse Spiders

Commonly mistaken as an insect, spiders are arachnids like scorpions and ticks. As such, they're prone to biting anyone or anything they deem as a threat. Their bite comes with a necrotic venom, which demands immediate medical attention. As their name suggests, Brown recluse spiders often hide in dark, uninhabited areas like crawlspaces, attics, and closet corners. 

Whether it's mammal, insect, or arachnid, if pests are infesting your home, you can rely on AllPest Pest Control & Wildlife Removal to clear up your home. Family-owned and -operated, this Lewisburg, OH, the company serves both residents and businesses in Preble, Dark, Montgomery, and Miami Counties. For wildlife, they take extreme care to capture the animal humanely, and per the Ohio Nuisance Wildlife Law. As for the smaller pests, they use only the highest-quality chemicals that have been proven safe for adults, children, and pets. If you have any questions about these products or their pest control services, call (937) 884-5646 or send a message online.