2019 Fall Pest Outlook
The leaves are turning, and football is back once more—it is the start of fall in the Mid-Atlantic. While the fall equinox started this week, it is never too early to start thinking about pest defense and how you can keep your home pest-free this fall. Join us today as we showcase some of the common fall pests you may encounter and how to keep them out for good!
Rodents
From mice to squirrels and every other rodent in-between, rodents will scramble to find shelter once the weather starts to turn, and your home may be on their list. Don’t let their furry appearance deceive you—rodents have the propensity to carry multiple different pathogens that can be harmful to you and your family. Furthermore, rodents can shift their body to squeeze through some of the smallest cracks out there, making them frustrating to defend against. Our best tips to you is to do a quick check of your exterior to make sure that there are no holes or openings in the siding, and trim back any branches that are close to your house. In the same vein, some simple fall decluttering won’t hurt, as you’ll cut down on the number of spaces where they can hide.
Roaches
Oh the roach—the bane of every homeowner’s existence. Seeing one roach often means that there is an infestation not far away, as the social nature of these pests tells us that they travel and live in packs. Like rodents, they too are looking for places to spend the cold winter, but you should not feel obligated to host them. The strongest sense of the roach is their sense of smell, so by cleaning up the kitchen periodically and being consistent about putting away leftovers will translate into drastically cutting down the chances of an infestation. Checking for holes in your exterior is also important, but taking care of food is by far the best thing you can do.
Spiders
Spiders hate the cold, and so you can bet in the coming months that they’ll try their best to break into your home for some warmth. Sure, they are beneficial insects when outside, but when inside, certain species can be a threat to you. Take the brown recluse spider, for example. Looks small and not a huge problem at first glance (well, other than to arachnophobes), but despite their size they have a powerful venom that will kill living tissue, and it hurts just as much as it sounds. If you see one, calling us is the optimal way to deal with them, but we know that you want to stop them from coming inside in the first place. Along the same lines of rodents, the best way to prevent dangerous spiders like the brown recluse is to limit the spaces where they can hide. So, break out the tunes, put on the work pants, and try to clean up around your home one weekend—the returns will easily pay off the effort.
Fall is a beautiful time to be with your family, and household pests should be nowhere near that picture. To keep them out, stick to these tips or give us a call today for a comprehensive pest-defense plan that is sure to make your autumn a pest-free one!
