There’s No Warm Welcome for Common Fall Pests

Lower temperatures provide plenty of reasons to celebrate: the kids heading back to school, fall camping trips and football season are at the top of the list. Warm weather pests may be some of the most annoying (no one likes termites or mosquitos), but cooler temperatures don’t mean your pest woes are over. You still have fall bugs and wildlife to worry about.

Rodents, roaches and stink bugs are increasingly common this time of year. As the weather cools off, they start to head inside to hunker down where it’s nice and warm. The easiest way to deal with a pest infestation is always to prevent it before it starts — and the Arrow experts have a few tips for helping you do just that.

Mice, Rats & Squirrels

We get more calls about wildlife control in fall and winter months than any other time of the year. Rodents like mice, rats and squirrels may look furry and cute, but you definitely don’t want these guys moving into your attic or basement.

Listen for scurrying or scratching noises in your walls and attic, and look for droppings in the pantry and along baseboard for sure signs they’ve found a way in. These pests often bring fleas into your home and can also carry diseases, so it’s important to have them removed from your property ASAP if you find them hanging around.

To keep them out entirely, be sure you’ve sealed any openings from your home to the outside, especially areas where utilities and pipes enter your home. Don’t keep any pet food outside, and clean up all outside cooking and eating areas so they won’t be drawn to your home in the first place. It’s also beneficial to keep an eye on storage areas in your home — rodents will chew through cardboard boxes and like to nest in these undisturbed areas.

Cockroaches

With four common types of cockroaches in the U.S., many homeowners request roach control at one time or another. These bugs have a habit of coming inside when temperatures drop, and before you know it, they’re scurrying under baseboards and behind furniture every time you turn on a light.

They also eat anything — including hair, human and pet food, and sewage — so it’s nearly impossible to take away their food source. And these nasty critters carry all kinds of diseases with them (often tracking them over any surface they scurry across) so you certainly don’t want to keep them around for long.

Keeping a clean home is the best chance you have at warding off a roach infestation. Always clean up the kitchen after cooking, and don’t leave any unsealed food or drinks out for extended periods of time. Dust and vacuum frequently (even under and behind furniture), and wipe down all surfaces in your home where crumbs or food residue are likely to hide.

Stink Bugs

These small brown bugs love fruits and vegetables, and can often be found snacking on any produce you leave on your kitchen counters. In late summer, adult stink bugs begin to gather on and inside homes as the look for a place to spend the long winter.

They come into homes through open windows, doors and cracks in the foundation. Be sure to repair any screen damage on your windows (or have screens added if they aren’t already there) and don’t try to squash these guys if you find them crawling in your produce bowl — they got their names for a reason.

If fall pests have found a way into your home despite your best efforts, just give us a call! We’ll send someone out to rid your property of unwelcome guests and give you additional pointers on how you can protect against future invasions.