Winter Pests to Watch For

Discover which pests are the most problematic come winter in Canada

In winter, most pests are looking for two things, a place to keep warm and a food source. The bad news is that your home can provide both of these, and that makes it vulnerable to infestation. The good news is that you can take some actions to minimize the chance of unwelcome visitors in the colder months. Keep reading to find out what they are. 

Mice

In Canada, one of the most common pest infestations in the winter is mice. The big problem with these tiny rodents is that they can quickly get into your home via even the smallest of holes. That is why it’s so important to take the time to spot and seal any holes and cracks with steel wool or caulk. 

Oh, and just in case you were thinking that you wouldn’t mind sharing your living space with these little furry rodents, remember that as well as making short work of your drywall with their teeth, mice also spread diseases like salmonella and can even cause electric fires by chewing through your wiring.

Rats

Like their smaller cousins, rats will also want to find a way into your home in winter when the temperature begins to drop. Unfortunately, like mice, rats are not visitors that you will want to encourage, as they remain active in the winter and carry all sorts of nasty diseases such as Leptospirosis and Lymphocytic choriomeningitis. 

The good news is you can make your property less appealing to rats by doing several things. First of all, remove all items that could offer shelter to rats that are positioned close to your home. For example, keeping your woodpile away from your property can help discourage them from finding their way inside. Additionally, cutting off any food and water supply will make your home look like much less of an enticing prospect. To that end, make sure you have lids on compost piles, and garbage cans and that pet food is stored off the ground and packed away wherever possible.  

Squirrels 

The last winter pests that you need to be mindful of during the winter in Canada is squirrels. There are two reasons that you could find a squirrel in your home as the weather cools. The first is that they have previously stored food there and are coming back to access it. While the second is that they may be nesting and preparing to have babies there when spring comes around. 

Of course, either situation isn’t good news, and you will want to do everything you can to prevent them from accessing your property and get rid of them once they have taken residence. After all, those teeth aren’t just good for opening up nuts but will rip through your shingles, siding, wires, and insulation with no problem at all. 

Similar to mice and rats, you can help deter squirrels from your home by patching up any entry holes, no matter how small to your attic. However, if you find that squirrels are already infesting your property, recruiting the help of a pest control professional is the best course of action. 

For residents of while there is a lot you can do to avoid suffering from a winter pest infection, as you can read about in the post below, when you find yourself in a situation where they are already invading your home and space, the best course of action is to call a professional. 

That is where our expert team at Pest Detective can help. Just call 1-800-709-6469 or fill in our quick form to get a great value quote today!