The weather is cooling off here in Florida, and people all over the south are enjoying the break from the summer heat. You may be thinking that the cooler weather will eliminate your need for pest control. The mosquitoes have moved on, and the love bugs aren’t here yet. But you’ll soon be reminded that every season has its own specific pest control needs. Keeping pests out of your home during the cooler weather requires a multi-pronged approach and a strong partnership between homeowners and their pest control companies.
Why Does It Seem Like Some Pests Have Disappeared?
The truth is many pests are a lot like the people you know. They can survive the cold, but they’d much rather find a cozy place to hibernate during the winter. Some bugs die off during cold weather, but many others find creative ways to stay warm, including burrowing deep into the ground or finding their way into your home. If you’ve noticed more bugs than expected over the last couple of years, it could be due to the warmer winters we have experienced. If the weather doesn’t dip below freezing, more bugs survive, increasing pest activity the following spring.
How Our Lifestyles Complicate Pest Control
In some parts of the country, winter is when people spend nearly all their time inside, avoiding the harsh weather and frigid temperatures. However, in Florida, the climate is usually pretty temperate through the end of the calendar year, leading to, in some cases, an increase in outdoor activity. The cool air is often a welcome reprieve after the sweltering and humid summer.
And what do Floridians do when the air cools off? We throw open all our doors and windows! But, if you’re not careful, your gesture to welcome in the comfortable breeze from outside may also be inviting unwanted pests into your home. This is an excellent time of year to check your window screens and screen doors to ensure that you’re only welcoming the desirable elements of fall inside your home.
You may also be outside enjoying bonfires, walking through the woods with your family, or going to the farm to pick out the perfect pumpkin or Christmas tree. Beware of the pests like fleas and ticks that you can unintentionally track into your home when you spend more time in the great outdoors this fall.
Why Do I See More Spiders Indoors?
One pest you may see more of during the cold weather is spiders. Some believe that spiders are coming in to get out of the cold, but it’s more likely they’re coming into your home to lay eggs. Who wants that in their house? The truth is most spiders are harmless and are more likely to eat pests than threaten your family in any way. But that doesn’t mean you want them making a web above your bed.
The Rodents Are Coming In From The Cold
One common pest that does find its way into your home in search of warmth and food is rodents. Not only are they attracted to the temperate climate inside your home, but they are also interested in scrounging for food in your kitchen, pantry, or even in your pets’ food bowls.
There are several things you can do to eliminate rodents from your home. The first is to lay traps, and this can be a messy and undesirable job. Many of our clients prefer to leave things like this to the professionals. If you are struggling to gain control of a rodent problem in your home, please call us right away. Another great way to protect your home from rodents is to be diligent about putting food away and keeping your kitchen tidy. And finally, you must figure out how the rodents are getting into your house in the first place. They’re not walking through walls, so somewhere there is an access point that you could quickly close up to limit their ability to get into your home.
Ultimately, your number one tool in the fight against unwanted winter pests is an ongoing relationship with a pest control company. By the time you determine your problem and reach out to a local pest control service, it might be a week or more since you found yourself in this situation. By maintaining an ongoing relationship with a team of pest control experts, you know that your home is consistently treated, and you won’t have a delay of service or wait days or weeks to start your pest control regimen.
We hope you also noticed in this article the number of ways homeowners can act as their first line of defense to maintaining a pest-free home. Keeping your home buttoned up and secure is one of the most important factors in keeping unwanted pests out.
No matter what your pest control needs are, there is no time like the present to invest in a team that will always be there for you when you need them. Holder Pest Control has served the DeLand community for decades and would be glad to add your family to our roster. Contact our office today for more information about our pest control services this winter and every season after.
