As temperatures begin to drop in the evenings around the St. Louis Metro Area, there’s an increase in pest and wildlife activity.
Squirrels, raccoons, mice, stink bugs, spiders, and centipedes start looking for water, food sources, and a warm place to spend the winter. However, with a little bit of pest control prevention, you can keep these invaders from invading your home this fall season. Titan Pest & Wildlife can help!
At Titan Pest & Wildlife Solutions, our team has over 35 years of experience as professional exterminators, removing pests for our clients.
Pest Prevention is Key
Keeping insects out of your home in the first place is more than half the battle. As a homeowner, there are several things you can do to prevent insects and wildlife from getting into your home, garage, attic, or basement.
First, check for cracks and gaps around doors, windows, and other entry points in and around your house. Fill these in with caulk or another appropriate sealant. Second, remove any excess moisture inside and out. Moisture often accumulates in basements, bathrooms, attics, and garages. Check these areas and fix leaks or other water issues. Third, remove all garbage and place it in proper receptacles, as far away from your house as possible. Fourth, store all food in air-tight containers and avoid leaving food out overnight.
However, these methods won’t guarantee your home is safe from pests. It’s impossible to find all the possible entry points or remove every food source.
Common Fall Pest Issues
As the temperatures begin and continue to drop, there are specific pests to look out for. Some of these pests include:
- Squirrels – These critters can be a problem when they choose your attic, crawl space, or garage to call home. They can damage wires, destroy structural materials, and leave behind urine and feces.
- Raccoons – They are destructive by nature and can destroy almost anything. They will tear up insulation, chew on wires, rip apart air ducts, chew through roofing materials, and anything else they feel like destroying. In addition to all the destruction, they urinate and poop everywhere, which is a biohazard.
- Mice – They are mammals, so they look for warm places to live, especially when it’s cold outside. They also require food, which is harder to find during the harsh winter months. They may find both of these in your house. Like other wildlife, they are destructive and leave droppings.
- Stink bugs – When temperatures begin to drop, stink bugs look for a warm place to spend the winter. They aren’t dangerous, but they leave an obnoxious odor and often have hundreds of friends in your home.
- Spiders – They are one of the most common pests around a home. The inside of your home has everything spiders need – food, water, hiding places, and the perfect moisture content. Many people hate spiders, but no one loves having spiders in their home, whether you fear them or not.
- House centipedes – They are not dangerous to humans, and they eat many of the other unwanted pests in your home. However, they are one of the creepiest bugs you can find creeping around your house. They prefer humid, damp areas like basements, attics, bathrooms, closets, and garages. They lay their eggs in the same damp places, behind baseboards, and under wood piles.
How Pest Control Maintenance Can Help
Some people take a reactive approach to pest control and call for services when they see bugs. However, it’s typically better to take a proactive approach and schedule ongoing pest treatments. This way, you never have to learn the hard way.
At Titan Pest & Wildlife Solutions, we can help identify the source of your pest problem. We can locate the gaps and cracks and any water leaks and fix them for you or suggest the correct remedy.
