What Pests Come Out in Winter?

Most pests dread the coming of winter, and so they immediately go into hibernation, while some seek warmth and shelter in people’s homes. We’re talking about pests like mice, raccoons, rats, cockroaches, and spiders.

Unless you want them as co-owners or pets, you’ll need your A-game to keep them off your home this winter. Here are some of the pests that come out in winter you should know.

  1. Ants

If you see ants, there are probably more, and they will make their way to your kitchen to get a bite of the crumbs. These nasty creatures are colonizers, and they could even inject you from your home if care isn't taken. When winter comes, they creep into your homes through tiny holes and cracks in search of food.

  1. Ladybug

Though cute, they can sometimes seek shelter in your homes during the winter. They don’t come to any harm, but the foul smell they leave behind makes them unwelcome. If you have a garden, you’d have to take some necessary measures to keep ladybugs at bay.

  1. Ticks

Some specific kinds of ticks are considered winter insects, and they make their way to your home without a need for an invitation. They bite, so keep an eye for them around the house, and make sure your pets didn’t come home with one after a walk.

  1. Cockroaches

The most annoying thing about cockroaches is the awful smell they emit. Not to forget their frightening presence, especially when they begin to fly. Since they cannot survive in colder environments, they seek refuge in your home during the winter. 

  1. Spider

Spiders are year-round insects, and the least of your favorite visitors during the winter. During this time of the year, they are seeking a warm and dark place to hide, such as your basement and dark corners.

  1. Beetles

During winter, they are searching for warmth from the cold, and they are likely to see your home as a suitable domain. You’ll find them near the water heater, or the clothes dryer due to the warmth they provide. Though they cause no harm, they can infest your home.

How to get rid of winter bug infestation

Once these nasty creatures discover a food source and heat, getting rid of them becomes World War III. Although they are numerous insecticides you can spray, they are often not suitable indoors.

To get rid of these pests, you have to get rid of food sources. Not acting fast can lead to an infestation, and that is the last thing you need. To get a better handle, you can let the professionals take care of it for you. Feel free to give us a call or fill the contact form.

Common Pest Rodents In NY

When it comes to rodents, there is no shortage of it in New York. We aren’t referring to cute little hamsters or bunnies, rather ones fond of infesting the home and causing all sorts of problems. We are talking about mice, rats, squirrels, Norway rats, roof rats, and even house mice.

Here are some pest rodents you’re most likely to find in New York.

  1. Deer Mouse

This creature has a slender body that weighs 10 to 24 grams, with prominent whiskers and a little fur covering them. They are known to invade homes and businesses, causing immense damage. No thanks to their ever-growing incisors, they just would never stop chewing.

They will chew on your woods, insulation, plastic, electrical wires, and even your books. The most annoying, no doubt is their feces and urine which they usually litter around the home.

  1. A Roof Rat

The roof rat also has a slender body - a little smaller than the Norway rat, measuring about 13 to 18 inches and weighing up to 9 ounces. They often build their nest in woodpiles and debris and sometimes get into attics and build their nest there.

Once they are in your home, they pose the same risk as other rodents in New York. They will chew through every wooden structure in your home till everything is destroyed. Wherever they go, they litter with feces and urine, spreading diseases and contaminating your food.

  1. Squirrel

Squirrels are a common sight in New York, and they are less likely to make their way to your home compared to the house mice and roof rats. But when they do decide to make your home a place of residence, they can make quite a mess.

They will dig up the insulation, littering everywhere with urine and feces which inevitably attract mites, ticks, fleas, worms, or lice. If not taken care of immediately, they could make your home uncomfortable.

  1. Norway Rat

This rodent originated in Asia and is commonly smaller compared to the roof rat. They are also referred to as brown rats, wharf rats, and sewer rats. They are quite sticky and can weigh about 1 pound. Unlike roof rats that live in roofs, Norway rats love close association with people.

You’re most likely to find them in cellars, stores, slaughterhouses, sewers, and warehouses. When they populate in your home, it becomes hard to get rid of them without professional help.

  1. House Mouse

They are wild animals, but strangely enough, prefer to live exclusively with humans. It is the house mouse that has been domesticated into what is called a pet or fancy mouse. When you notice that your home has been invaded, the best you can do is call the right experts. Feel free to give us a call or perhaps fill our contact form.

What Do Mice Eat?

If you’ve ever thought about what mice eat, you’re not alone. These creatures are voracious when there is an opportunity to eat. They can eat a bunch of things from your home and will do anything to have it.

To make your home inhabitable to these creatures, you need to understand what they like and eat. Mice typically nest in warm places, often in the attic, kitchen, and around wall cavities. They need uninterrupted access to food and will do anything to have it.

What they eat

Just like you, the mice family have diverse tastes and cravings. They will eat just about anything you leave out in your home, like rice, meats, grains, oats, corn, fruits, cereal, and even seeds. But what about cheese? Most movies depict the mouse as a lover of cheese. But that is not true. Mice prefer foods loaded with carbs.

Their tiny body requires energy fast to aid in movement, hence going for peanut butter instead of cheese. Chances are, the mice in your home will give the cheese a hard pass over other sweet things like chocolate, 

The Damages

The most fearful thing about the mice is their ever-growing teeth that can chew into anything. They aren't shy to munch on anything - your furniture, walls, and a variety of materials. They might also bite through your wires, causing a potential fire hazard.

Once mice get into your home, it becomes a nightmare. You might not know this, but your home is a mouse’s favorite buffet. When a female and male get into your home, rest assured you’ve got a co-house owner.

It is advised to seek a professional assistant immediately if you suspect there are rodents around your home. They can cause immense damage very quickly, and produce pretty quickly too.

Getting rid of mice

Immediately you suspect a mouse problem, the first thing you need to do is keep foods out of reach, coupled with traps. You can bait with peanut butter, as they love it so much, or other sweet things like chocolate.

If you waste time, you risk compounding the problem. Mice reproduce quickly, and a female mouse can deliver up to six babies every three weeks. They probably will throw you out of the house if you waste further time.

You don’t need to deal with this process alone. You’re the best at working with licensed and experienced pest and rodent control professionals. If you think you have a mouse problem, feel free to give us a call, or fill our contact form.

Get rid of mice in your home with natural mouse repellants

image via Pinterest

Mice can be a nuisance. Not only do they pee and poop around your house and in your walls, but they can contaminate your food, causing your family to become sick. The "new wave" in mouse control is the humane removal or annihilation of the little critters, causing them as little suffering as possible in the course of their removal.

They aren't easy to remove on your own, and sometimes the help of a professional is needed, but here are your best bets for DIY methods of mouse removal and prevention.

Keep your home clean

Mice enter the home not only looking for a warm place to sleep and breed, but a place where they can find food and water as well. By keeping your home clean and free of these things, you will reduce the chances of mice finding their way in.

Make sure to clean up spills and dropped food right away, not letting it linger over night or longer. When there is nothing for them to munch on, you'll find they're less likely to ever enter in the first place.

Keep your food sealed tight

A determined mouse is able to chew right through packaging to create a food source for themselves right in your pantry. This not only keeps them alive and well, but can become a health risk to you and your family if not noticed before consuming the food.

Placing food in containers will keep mice away and prevent existing food from becoming contaminated. Mice like to go after cereals, fruit, grains, pasta, and seeds. Be sure to keep an extra tight eye on these areas.

Seal entry points

Here's a little lesson in mouse anatomy:

Their bodies are made of nothing but soft cartilage. They are able to bend and deform their shape to enter the tiniest gaps and spaces.

Take some time to check your house for any small gaps or openings. Gaps in the walls, roof tiles, and plumbing are all potential entry points for invaders.

You can seal up these spaces using caulk or other sealants you can find at your local hardware store. This will cut off their entry and make it far less likely.

Aside from that, you can use steel wool to block pipes while still letting water get through. Steel wool can't be chewed through and works well being mixed with caulk. Copper wool is a slightly more expensive option but will last longer because it doesn't rust.

Essential oils*

Essential oils are not just good for entering your moment of "zen."

You can also repel pests with them. Mice and most other pests (and animals) have a strong sense of smell. Certain essential oils like peppermint and citrus are especially good at repelling them.

***Be careful if you have pets!

This might not be a good option if you have cats and dogs or other pets around. They share that heightened sense of smell and won't enjoy the use of these oils.

Ultrasonic repellers*

Similar to the way a "silent whistle" works for training your dog, you can get an ultrasonic emitter that will drive mice away.

An ultrasonic repeller emits a sound so high pitch that it is inaudible to humans, but mice and other animals find unbearable.

***This is another product that you're probably best staying away from if you have animals.

Other household items*

There are a couple of things you might already have laying around your house that are good for repelling mice.

Dryer sheets are heavily scented and not attractive to mice and other rodents. Pop a few of them in spaces where you think mice might frequent - cabinets, closets, and trash cans are good places to start.

Ammonia is also a good tool for repelling mice. Fill a water bottle cap up with it and place it in corners of the room or places where you think mice might be entering. It will repel them.

***ammonia can be harmful to pets and children so make sure to use this method with extreme caution!

Mouse Traps

One of the first ever invented ways to get rid of mice, and now considered one of the MOST HUMANE!

A mouse trap is a simple and effective way of annihilating your little home invaders. They come in various different types, but the humane and quick way to go about it is the snap trap.

Glue traps are now known to cause too much suffering for our little furry friends.

Of course, the downside here is having to dispose of them later.

Get a house cat

You shouldn't adopt a pet just to become your personal killing machine, but if you're considering getting a pet, a cat might be a good move for you.

Cats will kill mice wandering around the home and keep new ones from entering at the same time very quickly.

Sometimes they'll even bring it to you as a gift!

Call a specialist

If you try some or all of these options to no avail, you can always call us.

Mice can cause disease and cost you money in contaminated food. They're not pests you can have hanging around with no side-effects.

Contact a certified pest control specialist like ours at Annihilator eX-Termination. Our staff is trained in pest prevention, detection, and elimination.