How To Look for Holiday Pests
As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to think about decorating, welcoming friends and family, and cozying up indoors. As you prepare your home for the season, remember many pests are also looking for a spot to snuggle in until spring.
Plummeting temperatures and cold, dry air push many pests like insects, spiders, and rodents to hunt more aggressively for food, warmth, and moisture in the winter.
Cockroaches, for instance, are highly motivated to find a warm hiding spot for winter, often sneaking inside your home to take shelter. Spiders aren’t far behind, as they follow these pests in search of a meal, and rodents are eager to find a place to nest away from the biting winds.
Fortunately, Accel Pest and Termite Control can help you keep these unwelcome guests at bay. Let’s walk through what you need to know about holiday pests and how a few key steps can shield your home from these seasonal invaders.
Where Do Mice Live?
Mice don’t hibernate during winter, which means you’re just as likely to see them indoors during the cold months as in the warmer seasons. Rodents like mice are nimble climbers and proficient diggers, capable of squeezing through tiny openings in walls and around doors. Once inside, they quickly build their nests within walls with shredded insulation and scavenged trash.
These nests provide them with a cozy shelter from the cold but create issues for homeowners and apartment renters. Mice can chew through wiring, causing electrical issues, and leave stains and droppings throughout your home.
How To Keep Mice Away
If you’re wondering how to keep mice away, we recommend a few helpful tips:
- Store all food, including pet food, in airtight containers to minimize scents that attract mice and other pests.
- Inspect window sills, door frames, garages, and other possible entry points, sealing any gaps or cracks that could allow rodents to sneak inside.
- Request a pest control inspection. Accel Pest and Termite Control offers professional perimeter treatments. These sprays create a barrier that deters mice from approaching your home, helping to prevent them from entering altogether.
Where Do Spiders Live?
Spiders are adaptable and tend to live wherever they can catch a meal, and their homes often depend on their species. Some spiders spin their webs early in the morning, often relocating their webs to catch prey as the sun rises. Many spiders are nomadic, moving frequently as they seek new food sources, while others stay in a single spot if food is abundant.
As the warmth from your home draws other pests indoors, it’s only natural that spiders will follow, taking advantage of the prey they find inside.
Top Tips To Keep Winter Pests Out of Your Home
A few small steps can make a big difference in keeping pests out during the holiday season. Consider the following:
- Clean up food and crumbs. Regularly clean kitchen counters, tables, and floors, as food residue is a big draw for pests.
- Check your doors and windows. Make sure weather stripping and door sweeps are intact, as these help block pests from finding their way inside.
- Keep an eye out for signs of pests. If you notice gnaw marks on furniture, hear scuttling noises at night, or even spot a spider spinning a web on the ceiling, contact pest control professionals for an inspection.
How To Keep Pests Out of Your Holiday Home Décor
While they may bring you festive cheer, your holiday decorating materials like wreaths, garlands, and Christmas trees are also popular with pests. They’re perfect for mice looking for a spot to nest or spiders scouting out new hunting spots. Even if you prefer a live Christmas tree, pests that were living on it outside could hitch a ride into your home.
To avoid a nightmare before Christmas, we recommend storing your artificial holiday home décor in airtight plastic containers. Before you bring a live Christmas tree indoors or gather pine cones from outside for a do-it-yourself craft, thoroughly check for spiders, rodents, or insects.
Are you a big fan of holiday baking? Take extra care to clean up after making that pumpkin pie or batch of holiday cookies—all the flavors and aromas of festive baking can draw kitchen pests like cockroaches, ants, and silverfish if you’re not careful.
Find Pest Relief This Winter With Accel Pest and Termite Control
Winter doesn’t mean you have to settle for sharing your home with unwanted pests. Accel Pest and Termite Control has specialized services to resolve and prevent pest problems in your home this winter.
Get in touch today to schedule a pest inspection or treatment plan, and enjoy a comfortable, worry-free holiday season!