If you’re like us, then you’re wishing for warmer weather right about now. January is a frigid, seemingly barren time of the year. With that in mind, you’d expect there to be few concerns regarding pests and insects, right?
We hate to break it to you, but many of the insects and vermin that invade our homes don’t hibernate. That means managing and controlling them is a year-round ordeal. We thought we’d highlight the most common pests you can expect to find in your home in January, regardless of the negative temperatures outside!
Mice
A couple of mice can quickly become dozens of mice thanks to their quick ability to reproduce. Even worse, they’ll be drawn to the cozy warmth of your home as well as the abundant food supply, which they’ll find in your cupboards and pantry. If you see the signs of just one mouse, then it’s time to give us a call before the population grows. Mice will contaminate your home with their urine and feces, which is not only gross but can cause severe breathing problems.
Rats
While rats might not live in your home like mice do (although, they certainly can), they’ll typically enter your home to scavenge in the wintertime. Rats are pervasive creatures; they’ll get into anything that they are interested in, and are particularly drawn to wiring, which makes them a fire hazard.
Squirrels
Like mice, squirrels look for a cozy spot to escape the winter. If you have openings around your rooftop, then they won’t think twice about calling your attic or crawlspace home. Before you call the Ghostbusters after hearing footsteps in your attic, consider that you might be hosting a family of tap-dancing squirrels for the winter. Squirrels, like rats, will chew threw wiring and, since they are living in your home, will pollute it with urine and feces.
Skunks
Skunks will slow down a bit in the winter months, but they don’t store food for the winter like a squirrel or other rodent might. Instead, they’ll come out of their burrows in the night and dig up your yard for grubs and other insects that are staying warm below the surface. Skunks can ruin your yard and they simply smell bad.
Bed Bugs
Perhaps the worst insect invasion of all. Bed bugs are a year-round threat, and once they’ve put up stakes in your bed or furniture, they are incredibly difficult to get rid of. We’ve written in the past on bed bugs; give it a read.
Cockroaches
Like bed bugs, cockroaches are a year-round feature. They love the warmth of your home in the winter months. Cockroaches reproduce quickly and, as you’ve probably heard, if you see one cockroach, then you’re not seeing the other 100 that live with it.
Cockroaches love appliances like refrigerators—they pump out a constant supply of heat. Worse yet, cockroaches can enter your home from your plumbing, so caulking gaps isn’t enough. If you have a cockroach problem, then call us before it gets out of hand.
Are you in need of pest control? Whether you’re being overrun by vermin or an explosion of unwanted insects, we’ll be able to help you reclaim your home. Reach out to us today.
