Not a Creature Was Stirring…Wait, What Was That?

Think you are safe from pests in the winter? Think again. Winter pests are far more common than you think. While there might not be mosquitos feeding on your limbs and ruining your backyard bar-b-cue, there are plenty of other pests that will need your attention during the winter months. Mice, cockroaches, spiders, and bed bugs are some of the pests that don’t seem to recognize the change in seasons. Luckily, no matter what pests are trying put a damper on your winter, How To Pest, has exactly what you need.

Got mice? The house mouse is the most common rodent in the United States, and unfortunately for us, it doesn’t hibernate during the cold winter months. Instead of giving us a cold weather reprieve, mice are actively foraging for food and seeking shelter. Their favorite resting spots include attics and the insulation they can find there, basements or crawl spaces, garages, inside walls and ducts, cabinets and pantries, and anywhere there is clutter. Mice love a good pile of clutter!

While they might be cute little critters, pound for pound they pack a serious punch when it comes to the damage they can cause. They have a penchant for chewing through drywall and electrical wires that can lead to electrical fires and contaminating food and spreading disease is also deep in their wheelhouse. Small pests that cause big problems.

Cockroaches got you down? You are not alone. Cockroaches remain active all winter long, spending their time reproducing and eating. Because they aren’t fans of the cold and prefer to live in small areas that are close to food and moisture, they seek the comfort of your nice, warm home. They are the exact type of holiday guest that you don’t want. Not only are these pests far from appealing to look at, they are destructive and can contaminate food sources and spread bacteria. It is not uncommon for the infestation of cockroaches in the winter as they swarm to stay warm.

Arachnophobia? Then, brown recluse spiders are definitely not your jam. Contrary to their name, brown recluse spiders are not so reclusive in the winter. In fact, they stay active in your home all winter long. They are drawn to dark areas, have a field day in clutter and are often found in stored items, like clothes, shoes, and bedding. They prefer to set up camp in undisturbed areas like closets and attics and have a fond love of good old cardboard boxes. Brown recluse spiders are biters and will not hesitate to inject their venom when disturbed. They are extremely dangerous to humans and a bite from this spider will require immediate medical attention.

Bed bug bites keeping you from sleeping tight? It is no surprise given that bed bugs remain active during the winter months and actually spread during this time. Just like people snuggle into nice warm blankets to ward off the winter chill, bed bugs are all about that, too. Bed bugs prefer the same temperatures that humans do, which makes the inside of your home the perfect place to enjoy the holidays.

Bed bugs can easily make their way into homes by climbing into the belongings that we carry around or hitching a ride or laying eggs on our clothes or in our luggage. As people move from areas of infestation to new locations, they are sharing far more than the gift of their presence. Evidence of bed bugs can be found on mattresses or the trail of red bitemarks on your skin when you wake up in the morning.

The winter months are far from pest-free. The pests just might look a little different. Whatever has you frustrated, whether it is the pitter patter of mice using the inside of your walls like an Olympic track and field event, cockroaches jumping out at you when you flip the light on, the fear of spiders hiding around the corner, or bed bugs sharing your warm blankets with you, How To Pest has the products to suit all of your needs, no matter what the weather is outside.