Winter pest control is just as important as summer pest control. In fact, because the cold weather drives pests, creatures and nuisance-makers to seek warm shelter, they often take up residence in your home during these months. The best way to prevent bringing in unwanted house guests during this holiday season is to prepare your home and keep the professional pest control technicians at Truly Nolen Canada on speed dial.

What Type of Pests Should You Expect During Winter?

While some insect and pest populations die off or hibernate when temperatures begin to plunge, others choose to seek refuge inside your warm home. So, when you inspect your house, keep a close eye out for any of these common winter pests:

• Ants
• Beetles
• Boxelder or maple bugs
• Cockroaches
• Flies
• Rodents
• Spiders

Even if these creatures don’t quite make it inside your home, they may take up residence nearby or in tool sheds, piles of firewood and garden beds. It’s important to take immediate steps to remove these pests, should you identify them, since they can contaminate food sources, damage your home’s structural integrity and spread disease.

What Are the Signs of Infestation?

The indicators of infestation will vary depending on the particular pest. If you notice gnaw marks on cords or wires, droppings or the smell of urine, you are likely dealing with rodents in your home.

Bugs and insects also provide visible markers of their presence. Cockroaches, for instance, leave behind their feces, which often resembles ground black pepper or coffee. They also shed their skin and emit a musty odour.
Spiders leave behind their patented webs. If you spot more than one spider, this can be a sign that you have a thriving source of food, such as bugs and insects, living inside your home.

Wildlife, including raccoons or squirrels, are typically nocturnal creatures. If they’re in your home, you’ll likely hear nighttime noises, such as scurrying or chirping sounds.

What Steps Can You Take To Prevent Pests in Your Home?

Pests often serve as prey to larger creatures. This makes them experts at finding places to hide and identifying locations that are usually left unvisited by potential predators. The best way to prevent pests from entering your home is to remove any potential hiding spots or points of entry.

For example, before the temperature drops, you should walk the perimeter of your house and identify any cracks or crevices. If you find some, make sure to seal them with a weather-resistant sealant. To prevent rodents from gnawing through the sealant, reinforce it with steel wool.

As you’re examining your building’s exterior, take a look at your window or door screens. If any are broken or contain holes, fix or replace them as soon as possible. This should help keep out spiders and other insects.

Throughout the winter months, take time to clear the clutter in and around your home. Dusty areas let pests know this can be a place where they can hide and be ignored. With routine cleaning, though, it’s difficult for any creature to take up residence in a forgotten corner or closet.

It’s also essential to remove clutter outside your house. Untouched piles of leaves or collections of firewood keep pests nearby and make it easy for them to gain entrance through an open door or window.

Whom Should You Call for Winter Pest Control Services?

If you need help with these preventative measures or have found signs of an infestation even after taking preemptive steps, it’s time to call in the professionals. At Truly Nolen, we use an Integrated Pest Management system that’s friendly to your home, your pets and the environment. Reach out for a home inspection today so we can take year-round action to keep pests of all seasons from entering your home.