Many Canadian homeowners feel they don’t need winter pest control. However, we wrote this blog to convince you that winter pest control is indeed an investment for your home. During the long, cold and endless winter months of December, January and February, the feeling seems to be that everything is dormant.
We don’t blame you for that feeling either. In the fall, we all witness that trees lose their leaves and bulbs and plants reappear in the spring.You may even notice that the cockroach infestation you’ve been fending off doesn’t seem as bad as it did in the summer. All of these things make us feel like winter pest control falls into the category of nice to have rather than necessary.But it’s wrong. To educate you on the importance of winter pest control, Terminix Canada has listed five reasons why you should batten down the hatches and take care of your home at this time of year.
1.RODENTS SUCH AS MICE AND RATS SEEK SHELTER AND HEAT IN WINTER
First of all, house mice and rats do not hibernate during the winter. At this time of year, these rodents make it through the Canadian cold season seeking shelter in our homes. They settle in dark, secluded spaces in our properties, and unfortunately become extremely comfortable quickly. These two incredibly cunning species have no reason to leave, if human food is nearby and they have easy access. Ultimately, shelter, warmth, and food sources provide them with a safe haven until they can begin foraging for fruits, plants, and seeds in the spring. As this blog from Terminix Ontario states, rodent control in winter is also important given the rapidity with which these species reproduce.
Agile species, mice and rats enter properties through tiny cracks, gaps and crevices in the foundations and walls of houses. Did you know that mice can expertly maneuver their bodies through small openings that are only the width of a pencil? If you’re wondering how to get rid of mice in the attic or even a Norway rat, the answer is to hire a professional rat or mouse exterminator. Read our blog on how to get rid of mice as well as eliminating rats like mousetraps and hunting animals to better understand the control gaps when doing it yourself.
2. COLD WINTER WEATHER DOES NOT AFFECT PESTS IN YOUR HOME WALLS
Certainly, cold winter weather means fewer pests invading your home compared to other times like summer. But what about the pests that already live in your home? Ultimately, pests that have already entered your property are unaffected by frost outside. We are talking about pests that live between walls like carpenter ants, cockroaches, earwigs and termites. These types of pests can thrive indoors, in winter thanks to the maintenance of favorable living conditions.
We all love to relax by the fireplace with a nice cup of hot chocolate, especially during the holidays, sounds good right? While pests won’t do that, the same sentiment applies in that insects have a much higher chance of survival indoors than outdoors. Take the example of the cockroach. One of the hardiest species on the planet, this pest is infamous for being nocturnal. Hiding during the day and emerging at night, cockroaches often reside behind kitchen units, appearing on kitchen counters, areas behind refrigerators and where dirty dishes have been left. Capable of surviving a month without food, a week without water, and even without a head, these pests like these require professional control.
3. CONTROLLING PESTS IN WINTER PREVENTS INTRUSIONS IN SPRING
As temperatures warm in the spring, insects such as ants, cockroaches, millipedes, flies, hornets, centipedes and mosquitoes begin to reappear in search of moisture and food sources. Being the season that falls immediately before spring, winter is indeed the best time to prepare your home for spring pest intrusions.
Remember that pest prevention is the best form of defense. It all starts with sealing the entry points of your foundation. A task that many leave to the professionals, are things like steel wool and caulk commonly used to deter intruding mice or rats. Elsewhere, weatherstripping is popular among Canadian homeowners because it can be applied to all door and window openings in your home. What better way to feel reassured about your home than by anticipating spring intrusions in advance?
4.YOUR ATTIC PROVIDES WINTER SHELTER FOR SPIDERS AND WASPS
Many Canadians cringe at the thought of spiders lurking around their homes, and for good reason. One of the most intimidating-looking pests, spiders cause distress and arachnophobia to much of the human population. May we not like it, spiders are often discovered in attics in the winter. Why When laying their eggs in the fall, the eggs are laid in a silk sac, often hidden in a web. If you’re brave enough to set foot in your attic, it’s important to remove cobwebs and egg crates to prevent spiders from reappearing in warmer weather.The same rules also apply to specific types of wasps. If you’re wondering where wasps go in the winter, the answer is undisturbed places like your attic. For the same reasons explained earlier in this blog, wasps try to find calm and safe places to survive and wait out winter. These two very problematic species can be entrusted to the experts at Terminix Canada.