Rodents, Cockroaches, Spiders – Oh My! How to Pest-Proof for Autumn

For many pests, including spiders, rodents, and cockroaches, the change in season indicates the need to find refuge from the cold winter ahead. While you’re planning your Halloween costume and preparing for sweater weather, pests are making their way indoors.

It’s important to continue your pest control service throughout the winter months, as this is the best time to reinforce your defense, according to the National Pest Management Association. This could also end up saving you time, trouble, and money in the long run, since prevention steps are much easier to take than dealing with an infestation.

The most common cold weather pests, rodents, can not only destroy property and eat your food, but can also pose a risk to your health and safety. Rodents spread disease and bacteria as well as triggering allergies and asthma attacks from a protein in their urine. Furthermore, they can significantly damage your property by chewing through wood, drywall, and electrical wires (which can cause fires).

Half of all rodent infestations occur in the fall and winter months, and most often in the kitchen. Follow these tips from our experts to prevent rodents from making your home theirs this winter:

1. Inspect the exterior of your home for potential rodent access points. Seal any crevices or gaps, no matter how small.
2. Practice proper rodent control by screening windows and other entry points such as attic vents, chimney openings, and animal doors.
3. Eliminate rodent hiding places by maintaining your yard: remove weeds and debris, keep shrubbery and tree branches (especially near the home) trimmed, seal off pool heating equipment, and store firewood at least 20 feet away from the exterior of your home.

Another common autumn pest, the spider, comes out in full force as the weather gets colder. Most spiders hatch in the spring and reach adulthood by fall, when they begin to look for mates and lay their eggs somewhere warm. Don’t let it be your home!

With over 3,500 spider species identified, combatting these pests can be a little daunting. Luckily, most spiders are harmless to humans and eat other insects. However, spiders such as the brown recluse and black widow are poisonous and can be dangerous. Here are some tips to keep spiders at bay:

1. Just like rodents, spiders also need an access point to gain entry to your home. Seal around doors and windows with caulk and stripping, and look for cracks and crevices.
2. Spiders nest in undisturbed areas, so make sure to regularly vacuum and sweep inside your home in hard-to-reach places such as closets and under furniture. Additionally, reducing clutter in your home can help reduce the number of hiding places.
3. Sweep and clean porch/patio areas frequently, particularly around foundations and under eaves, and remove spider webs when you see them.

One of the most hated pests, the cockroach, can bug you year-round. However, with winter approaching, cockroaches are on the crawl to find the resources they need to survive – food, water, and a warm place to hide. Follow these steps for the best pest defense against cockroaches:

1. Sanitation, sanitation, sanitation! Keep your home free of debris and crumbs, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. Make it a habit to regularly wipe down surfaces, vacuum, do the dishes, and take out the trash. Additionally, keeping your home free of clutter can eliminate places for roaches to hide.
2. Ensure that food is stored properly in your fridge and pantry in sealed receptacles and throw away expired items. Keep pet food in a sealed container, and pick up their bowl before going to bed.
3. Cockroaches can enter your home under doors, through windows and garages, and by way of drains and pipes. As with the other autumn pests, seal potential entry points on the exterior of your home and secure common cockroach haunts: basements, laundry rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.

To request a quote, or if you need one of our pest control professionals to address a pest problem, go to www.pestdefense.com/request-quote/ or call 855-855-4873.