When we’re eager for the holidays, it’s easy to get complacent when it comes to pest control. Problem is, decking the halls provides invasive species with opportunities to get inside and hunker down for the winter. Only by taking precautions and enlisting the help of professionals can you hope to stay on top of overwintering pests that can ruin your holiday celebrations.
Deck The Halls
This is the time of year to be merry and to decorate your property in the trappings of the season. However, boxes that have been stored for months on end and are brought out of the dark storage areas of your home or business provide pests with places to nest. The places we keep our holiday decorations are the same places that pests flock to in order to survive the cold months, so it’s not uncommon for pest populations to already be lurking in the crawl spaces or basement. Only by knowing what to watch out for and by taking early preventive measures can you avoid a pest outbreak during the holiday season.
Dangers To Decorating?
As you remove or pack up decorations during the fall and winter, pests can easily emerge and take advantage. Here are just some of the overwintering pests that can be found nesting inside of holiday decorations:
- Rodents: Mice and rats prefer to nest in tight, dark spaces, so boxes and clutter inside of storage areas simply call out to rodents looking for a winter home.
- Insects: There are many different kinds of insects that feed on fibers and can find shelter in containers. From cockroaches to carpet beetles, you not only have to worry about the crawling bugs, but also the eggs they might have laid within boxes.
- Spiders: As insect populations move indoors, so do the spiders that hunt them. Spiders themselves will often lie in wait inside of containers, waiting for doomed insects to come along.
Holiday Pest Prevention For Your Home
With so many kinds of pests that can find shelter and food in your holiday splendor, it’s important to protect your property from an invasion well before one becomes a problem. Here are steps you can take to avoid overwintering pests, especially those that might lurk inside of decorations:
- Unpack outdoors: Before you even open up boxes or bags, haul them outside so that any pests that might emerge won’t be able hide somewhere indoors.
- Inspect thoroughly: Once you’ve brought them outside, you should thoroughly check your containers for pests or their signs. Look for bite marks and eggs, too.
- Crack sealing: Pests can only access areas of your property if they have an entry point. This is why it’s important to regularly check your exterior for holes or cracks and make repairs wherever necessary.
- Moisture control: Pests are even more attracted to storage areas because they are often poorly ventilated, providing ample access to moisture. Keep these areas of your home dry by addressing leaks and installing proper ventilation.
Let Smith’s Pest Management Help Today
During this time of year, you should be worried about spreading cheer, not keeping pests away. Instead of worrying yourself with all the steps necessary to protect your home from overwintering pests, let trained professionals take the load off for you. At Smith’s Pest Management, we can provide you with an inspection of your home that looks for any pests that might be hiding. We’ll also check for potential access points and provide you with detailed tips for how you can keep pests from getting inside. If a winter pest problem is already plaguing your property, we’ll get rid of it in time for whatever festivities you have planned.
Don’t let overwintering pests ruin your holiday season, contact Smith’s Pest Management today to get started with our pest control services.
