What Are the Winter Pests?

When it gets cold outside, you might think bugs and other pests disappear. But actually, the cold weather often makes different pests come inside your warm and cozy home. Your house is the perfect hiding place because it has food, water, and shelter, which pests need to survive the winter.

It’s important to know which pests like to come indoors in winter. They don’t just scare people, they can damage your house, ruin your food, and sometimes make your family sick. This article will show you the most common winter pests, why they come in, and how you can keep them out.

Do I Need Pest Control in Winter?

Yes! Pest control is needed all year. When it’s cold, some bugs slow down, but others start looking for a warm place to live. Your home has everything they want, so pests like cockroaches, mice, rats, spiders, and silverfish move inside.

Once pests are in your home, they won’t just sit still. A warm house lets them stay active, have babies, and make the problem worse by spring. That’s why stopping them early is so important.

Common Winter Pests To Watch For

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are tough and can live in hard places. When it gets cold, they slow down outside, but if they get inside your warm home, they wake up and become more active.

Cockroaches are good at hiding in tiny cracks like behind your fridge, under sinks, or inside walls. If you see one, there are probably many more you can’t see. They can dirty your food and make allergy and asthma problems worse.

Rodents (Mice and Rats)

Mice and rats do not sleep all winter like some animals. In cold months, they look for food and warmth indoors because it’s hard to find these outside.

Rodents can cause big problems. They chew holes in walls, wires, and insulation, which can lead to expensive repairs or even fires. Mice can squeeze through holes as small as a dime! They also leave droppings that spread germs.

Spiders

If you spot morespiders in your home in winter, don’t be surprised. Spiders eat other insects, and when bugs come indoors to escape the cold, spiders will follow.

Most house spiders aren’t dangerous, but some like black widows or brown recluses can be. Even if they’re harmless, seeing spiders usually means you’ve got other pests, too.

Silverfish

Silverfish are little, shiny bugs that like cool, damp, and dark places such as your basement or bathroom. They don’t bite or spread disease, but they do eat things like paper, wallpaper glue, and clothes. If you see a lot of silverfish, you might have too much moisture in some parts of your home.

Box-Elder Bugs

Box-elder bugs gather in large groups on sunny walls in the fall. When winter comes, they find cracks to hide in and stay there until it gets warm again.

But if your house gets toasty, they might think it’s spring and come out inside your home. They aren’t dangerous, but they can smell if you crush them or stain your walls and furniture.

How To Protect Your Home This Winter

Stopping pests before they get inside is the best way to keep your home pest-free. Here’s what you can do:

• Seal Cracks and Gaps: Check the outside of your house and seal any holes or gaps, especially near doors, windows, pipes, and your foundation.
• Store Food Properly: Keep food (including pet food) in tight containers. Clean up crumbs and spills quickly, and avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight.
• Fix Leaks and Dry Out Damp Areas: Fix any leaks in pipes or faucets and use fans or dehumidifiers in basements and attics to keep things dry.
• Keep Your Yard Tidy: Stack firewood away from the house and trim branches that touch your home, since bugs and rodents can use these as “bridges” to get inside.

When Should You Call a Professional?

You can stop many pests with regular cleaning and sealing up your home, but sometimes the problem gets too big to handle on your own. Pests are good at hiding, and it’s hard to get rid of all of them without help.

A professional pest control team knows how to find and treat these pests safely. They’ll also help you keep them from coming back, so you can feel safe and comfortable all winter.Don’t let winter pests take over your home! Contact Brooks Pest Solutions today for a free quote and keep your home safe and pest-free all year!