This is How Mice Keep Getting Into Your Washington D.C. Home
01/30/2022
It is estimated the more than 20 million homes in the U.S. each year are infiltrated by rodents such as mice and rats. Mice are small rodents that ...
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Unless you've been living under a rock, you are probably aware that this is the season that pests try to get into your home. You may have even read a few articles about all the many bugs and wild animals that do this, like skunks, squirrels, rats and mice, bats, birds, stink bugs, ladybird beetles, and more. In this article, we're going to focus less on which creatures are going to want to get into your Montgomery County home, and more on how these creatures get in--along with some tips on how to keep this from happening.
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Rotted holes. When wood begins to rot, pests lend a hand. If you have gutters that are broken or obstructed and water has been running down your walls, you are in trouble. Soft or rotted wood invites pests to chew. When tiny holes form, bugs can squeeze in. It would startle you to see the size of the hole a mouse can squeeze through. It is said that if a mouse or a rat can slip their head through, they can get the rest of their body through. That means a ¼ of an inch hole will let many mice in and a ½ inch hole will give entry to most rats. If you want to keep overwintering pests out of your home, you need to use a caulking gun and fill in those holes.
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Damaged eaves. If your eaves have a little wear and tear, those birds, bats, squirrels, and bugs will take notice. These creatures use your eaves to gain access to your attic spaces and wall voids. Get a professional to seal those eaves before the cold comes. Sealing these areas in winter can trap insects inside. This will cause them to die in your walls (which attracts pests that eat dead bugs), or come out into your living spaces.
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The garage door. It may seem obvious, but you would be amazed how many people leave their garage door wide open during cold weather. This is a giant entry point that bugs and animals will take advantage of. Keep that door open only as much as you have to when temperatures drop.
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We bring them in. Yep. Some bugs get into our homes in the winter because we carry them in. Bed bugs lay their eggs in our belongings when we take holiday trips and spend the night somewhere. When we come home, those eggs hatch and start an infestation. These aren't technically overwintering pests, but they are definitely a threat this time of year because of holiday travel. This is also the time of year when we do a lot more cooking. That means pantry pests are more likely to be brought in. Always check packaging before you purchase food items to be brought home, so you don't accidentally brings some weevils, beetles, or moths into your pantry.
If you're dealing with any pests in your house this winter, give the Montgomery County pest control pros at American Pest a call. Our team has almost a century of experience protecting homes and businesses from invasive pests. We can help you get them out and keep them out.
