Rain and Cold Drive Pests Indoors
Recent moisture and copious amounts of rain are turning the end of October into a real pest emergency. The water is displacing ground-dwelling critters, and the wet is seeping into burrows forcing occupants to find new shelter. So who’s on the move this October? Let’s find out!
1 Mice and Rats
All this rain is driving mice and rats indoors. They need the dry and warmth to continue reproduction, and homes and businesses often are excellent water and food sources.
What can you expect? In short, expect an almost constant flow of mice. Of course, rats may also become active in homes, but the focus here will be mice.
2 Overwintering Insects
There is a small list of insects that overwinter, and many prefer to live in a home or outbuilding. Cockroaches are a perfect example of an insect that overwinters indoors.
Expect a parade of Stink bugs and other hemipterans, such as the harlequin bug. If you have cockroaches in your home, you can expect the population to grow as outdoor roaches make their way into warmer quarters.
Non-insects, such as scorpions and spiders, may also begin to migrate inside. For example, many scorpions dig burrows, and the rain can easily displace them. Likewise, most spiders do not handle the cold weather well and will seek to hibernate indoors. Some species of spiders may remain active all year long indoors, while others will build a nest and sleep.
3 Wildlife
As we move into colder weather, you may see a decrease in wildlife, such as raccoons, skunks, and possums. The reason is that these critters tend to remain in their dens during the colder months. Many are busy preparing to give birth. It is also a time some might look for dry denning locations, such as under your home, under outbuildings, or even in vehicles that sit for long periods.
On the other hand, you may also see an uptick in other wildlife pests such as stray animals, feral cats, and possibly pest birds. In addition, as food resources dry up outside, strays will look to garbage cans, leftover pet food, and other opportunities to feed.
4 Bed Bug Season
Bed bugs, which are transported as people move from one location to the next. Now that we are back to work, school, and college, bed bugs have more opportunities to travel back home with you.
As the holidays approach, traveling to see family, or having family visit and stay with you is another way to invite bed bugs into your home.
Back to college means winter break, and college kids come home, and as they do, they too can bring bed bugs. Unfortunately, dorms are a place where bed bugs can become overwhelming. The same scenario is true of school kids.
Suppose you are looking for ways to reduce the impact of winter pests; consider giving us a call. We offer affordable pest control services throughout Bryan and College Station. In addition, we offer ongoing pest control services that target emerging pests before they become a problem. We also offer emergency pest control visits for times when an infestation becomes overwhelming.
