How To Get Rid of Overwintering Pests

Overwintering pests are exactly what you’d guess them to be. Over the winter, they hole up inside to survive the cold. While they move into your home to lay dormant during the winter, they are likely to appear active when the heat comes on. They’re confused, you’re unhappy, and it’s not an ideal situation.

There are several overwintering pests to be aware of to prevent their unwelcome appearance in your homes this winter.

Three Types of Overwintering Pests

There is a large range of pests that you may be confused about seeing in your house when the weather turns. Being able to identify them is the first step in evicting them from your toasty winter haven.

One type of overwintering pest has three variations commonly seen in Oklahoma & Kansas. These cockroaches might take the cake for most disgusting infiltrators. Here is a description of these nasty pests, where they nest, and the hazards they bring into your home.

• The German Cockroach is light brown with two black stripes on its back.
• The American Cockroach is dark, reddish-brown with a yellow pattern behind its head.
• Oriental cockroaches are shiny and black and can cause a powerful stink.
• Cockroaches often nest behind refrigerators, in cabinets, and other hard-to-reach, closed-in spaces.
• These pests can be vectors for a heaping handful of diseases, including E. Coli, dysentery, and salmonellosis. Their unsightly tracks can also increase asthma symptoms, particularly in children.

Rodents are another pest that can make their way indoors during the winter months. These house guests need only the smallest of invitations to get indoors. Common overwintering rodents include:

• Mice can come in through holes the size of a dime anywhere around the perimeter of your home.
• Rats can enter through holes the size of a quarter.
• Rodents often nest in attics, walls and ceilings, and cracks and crevices around and outside the home.
• Both rats and mice can cause salmonellosis, but other possible diseases are plentiful.
• May cause damage to insulation, support beams, and wiring. They are likely to seek food in your cabinets and garbage.

How to Prevent Overwintering Pests From Entering Your Home

While you can’t necessarily blame them for looking for warmth in the winter, they’re most certainly not welcome house guests. There are a few ways to keep them outdoors, and the best way to prevent them is to prepare in the fall. There’s still something you can do when winter comes for those who are too late to that party.

Prevention tips:

• Do a perimeter check and seal up any cracks or holes you find. Even holes the size of your pinky can admit pests.
• Keep trash receptacles sealed and away from home.
• The cleaner the inside of your home, the less appealing it is to intruders. Make trash hard to get, and keep surfaces clean.
• Make cabinet foods hard to infiltrate by putting them in sealable plastic containers.
• Remove convenient hiding places like woodpiles, tires, and garage clutter.
• Plug up and maintain broken drain pipes.
• Feed outdoor pets only the food they need and keep pet food in sealed, gnaw-proof containers.

If you miss your window of opportunity in the fall, it’s not too late to practice these prevention tips; however, if you fear an infestation, then it’s time to take action.

BugBros Can Help You With Your Rodent Problems

For a free quote that fits your needs, call BugBros or visit us online. With over six hundred five-star reviews, we are so confident that BugBros is the best choice pest removal, you’ll get a full refund if you’re not 100% happy with our service. Call BugBros today to keep your home safe and clean of overwintering pests with professional pest control.