Is Winter Pest Control Really Necessary?

With the cold temperatures of late, many people in South Carolina wonder if winter pest control is really necessary. The answer for a variety of reasons is a resounding yes. Winter brings a number of pests that are not seen as often in the warmer months. Winter pest control is important for more reasons than we can count, but we have outlined a few below.

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Winter Brings Rodents and Other Pests Indoors

Winter is often the time that rodents and other furry pests decide that it’s much better to live indoors than outside. In the winter, we see an increase in calls for squirrels, spider control, mice, rats, and even raccoons. Many of these pests find holes in and around plumbing pipes and make their way into your home—uninvited! Squirrels, opossums, and raccoons are notorious for damaging fascia boards* and soffits** to make their way into your attic to make a nest for their young. Winter pest control can help to identify these problem areas and fix them before it is too late.
 

signs a mouse may live in your house

As it cools down outside, house mice look for a warmer place to live, including your home. They are small in size and can usually squeeze through openings such as gaps beneath doors and pipe openings. You can spot them from their footprints and mouse droppings and you can sometimes see or hear them running or moving along your walls.

Recognize the Signs of House Mice

Pests Hibernate in Winter Waiting to Multiply in Warmer Months

When pests make their way into your home during the winter, they often enter a state of hibernation where they can be difficult to detect. They tend to lay low during the winter and may lay eggs–which will not hatch until the weather begins to warm up. With consistent monthly or quarterly winter pest control treatments, you can avoid these new colonies of pests invading your home at the first hint of warm weather. Spring tends to be the time when pests flourish in and around the home. Why not avoid this yearly struggle and hire a Spartanburg pest control company to provide winter pest control? 

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what you can do to prevent mice

Although there are some steps you can take to prevent a mouse infestation yourself, don't hesitate to call an expert when things get out of hand (or preferably before they do). If you do, however, want to mouse-proof your house yourself, here are some tips to get started:

• Eliminate openings through which mice can enter
• Seal cracks and openings around vents and pipes
• Make sure your windows, screens, and doors fit tightly
• Seal openings that are larger than 1/4″
• Store food in glass jars, metal containers, or resealable airtight containers

If you're planning on using mousetraps, don't be fooled: cheese isn't a mouse's favorite snack! Although many people believe this, the truth is that mice prefer chocolate, peanut butter, or bacon. Mice are not picky eaters though. They like to nibble on any food source available to them throughout the day. So, unless you're using it for a mousetrap, make sure you eliminate that.
 

when to call an exterminator for mice

Thompson Brothers Exterminating has been serving the Carolinas since 1957 and has deep roots in the local South Carolina and North Carolina communities. If you are seeing evidence of some winter visitors in your home, give our office a call and we will determine a winter pest control plan for your property.

Thompson Brothers Exterminating and Waterproofing–Your Winter Pest Control Expert

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Definitions

*Fascia board: the board that runs along the lower edge of the roof, supporting the roof tiles and carrying the guttering.

**Soffit: the underside of the roof's eave (or arch) that connects the roof to the exterior wall of your house.