Here in Washington State, our winters aren’t the absolute worst in the world, but they’re no picnic either. Our average winter highs hover just above freezing, and it’s common for our nights to dip below. That means lots of pests and animals need a warm place to ride out the winter—and your cozy house works just fine. It’s common for home and business owners alike to notice an uptick in pest activity during the coldest months of the year. While there’s nothing you can do to keep the pests local to Yakima County, WA from wanting to get in your home, there’s plenty you can do to keep them from actually getting in your home.
Common Overwintering Pests
Rodents
One of the biggest problem pests in the winter is rodents, specifically squirrels, rats, and mice. Squirrels need places to bed down for the winter, and it’s typical for them to try to use attics, sheds, garage rafters, and other places with easy access and little human foot traffic. Rats and mice stay active all winter, meaning they won’t store food and sleep—they’ll be running around from hiding spot to hiding spot and eating your food all winter.
Spiders
Many spiders have a natural antifreeze system that prevents them from dying in the cold. However, even if they don’t have to shelter from the freezing winter temps, they’ll follow other insects that need to keep warm. This is why it's common for homeowners to see more spiders in their house during the wintertime.
Insects
Lots of different insects need to use your home as a warm place to nest for winter. Ladybugs, stink bugs, ants, beetles, aphids, leaf hoppers, and many others will either use your house as a place to sleep away the winter or remain active throughout.
Winter Pest Prevention For Yakima County
Overwintering pests can cause tons of problems. Rodents especially are a major issue in the winter. They can spread disease with their droppings and their dirty feet. They can destroy property by ripping up insulation for their nests and chewing on hard surfaces to grind down their teeth. Spiders can also cause problems because a couple of different spider varieties—including black widows—pack a bite venomous enough to cause serious symptoms.
It would help if you took advantage of the fall season to prepare your home with some of our recommended fall pest prevention tips to help you avoid these harmful pests during the winter. Sealing off damage is a good start. You’ll need to:
- Inspect your home’s exterior and seal off every crack or hole you find with silicone caulk.
- Ensure all window and door screens are free of damage and fit well.
- Install weather stripping under door sweeps and windows that have gaps.
- Cap chimneys and vent ducts to keep squirrels out.
You can also make your home less attractive to rodents and certain insects by:
- Keeping all indoor and outdoor trashcans tightly covered.
- Storing food in airtight containers or the fridge.
- Cleaning frequently to get rid of crumbs and food residue.
Unfortunately, even all these measures can frequently not be enough to keep rodents and overwintering insects out of your house. Many pests that spend the rest of the year close to humans have become semi-dependent on us. That means in winter, they often have no choice but to use us for support, and desperate times call for desperate measures. So you may wind up needing professional help. Here at Prosite, our ongoing residential pest control and commercial pest control programs are the best option for winter pest control in Yakima County. We can help you nip winter pest problems in the bud before they get out of hand. So give us a call or visit our contact page to schedule a consultation today!