Pest Control in the Fall and Winter Months for South Texas
Along with the falling temperatures comes the misconception that pest control is not needed during the winter months, nothing could be further from the truth! Your home during the colder months becomes a winter haven for a multitude of pests. Rodents (both rats and mice) along with larger animals, e.g. squirrels, possums, raccoons, feral cats, ring tailed cats, and yes even skunks have been known to make cozy little bungalows in attics and crawlspaces. We see a large increase in spider and ant problems in the fall and winter months also.
To prevent problems before they occur, it is a good idea to inspect the outside of your home or place of business and be on the lookout for any openings larger than a nickel. If you find any they should be stuffed with a stainless steel or brass wool product, make sure you don’t use ordinary steel wool for it will quickly rust and leave stains on your home and need to be replaced. Caulk any wire and pipe openings to prevent easy access for scorpions, centipedes, roaches, etc. For larger openings you can use ¼” galvanized hardware cloth fastened with either screws or staples. Screws are a more permanent fix and usually will last the life of the repair and are less likely to be pulled loose by a determined raccoon. Also look for routs of egress along wires or trees that would allow easy access to either the roof line or attic. Animals and insects alike have been known to use either of these to facilitate entry into structures.
A pest control service by a professional company is specifically suited to performing the inspections and providing the necessary remedies that are needed. The added bonus for keeping your pest control service regular is that when your service technician is performing your service they are always on the lookout for potential problems and providing the necessary solutions before they get out of hand. We are always looking for termites and the damage they can cause. Termites are an ever present threat to your home depending on area and building techniques. The typical home should be inspected at least twice a year! If you are on a regular service program, termites will not have enough time to cause significant damage before they are discovered. Also our regular service customers always enjoy significant discounts for any extra services needed.
So for now, get out there and inspect your home and caulk those holes and do your blocking, and for your sake, do not let your pest control lapse just because winter is coming. You will regret it when you have to pay another initial start up fee with another unknown pest control company because you were ashamed to call your regular guy who warned you about canceling service!
