With fall right around the corner, we can start to prepare for one of the most beautiful times of year in South Portland. As the weather begins to cool, the atmosphere in South Portland becomes cheery! It truly is a wonderful season filled with colorful leaves and corn stalks, pumpkin spice coffee, apple pie, fuzzy blankets, and socks. What isn’t there to like about fall?
The arrival of the fall season does bring one problem, however: new pest pressures! While we start to spend more time inside staying warm and cozy, pests will begin seeking out a warm, cozy place to remain during the colder months as well! Unfortunately, this means that those seasonal pests will start scoping out your warm home to utilize as shelter during the fall and winter months. In this article, we’re going to focus on the major seasonal invaders that you’ll likely encounter as we “fall” into fall.
Bed Bugs
Unfortunately for us, bed bugs don’t die off or hibernate when the weather gets colder. These pests commonly get brought into homes on luggage, furniture, or even on the clothes we wear. They can be also be found in many public places such as hotels, public transportation, or clothing stores. Bed bugs feed on human blood and leave itchy welts on your skin when they bite.
Rodents
In South Portland, we have to worry about lots of different furry animals sneaking into homes, especially during the fall. Rodents can squeeze through very small holes and will do so to gain access to our warm, cozy homes. These pests will begin to seek out warmth once the days start getting colder. Mice, rats, and squirrels are among some of the rodents to keep an eye out for this fall. If they get inside, these pests will cause damage to your home due to their chewing and nest-building behaviors. Rodents are also a health hazard as they often leave trails of feces around your home and have the potential to contaminate the food sources in your home. In addition, these pests can make annoying scratching sounds inside your walls which is enough to drive anyone crazy!
Stink Bugs, Earwigs, and Silverfish
Stink bugs, earwigs, and silverfish are all considered nuisance pests. They will enter your home during the fall to seek shelter for the cold months to come. Since all three of these pests are fairly small, they can find their way inside through any cracks or holes in the exterior of your home. These pests will stow away in unwanted places all over your home and re-emerge when the weather warms back up in the spring.
Ultimately, all of these pests are seeking the same thing: shelter and protection during the winter. It’s important to start preparing your home now to prevent pest problems further into the season. Here are a few helpful tips:
- Seal any cracks found in the exterior of your home.
- Replace any damaged or torn screens in your windows and doors.
- Store all food items in the refrigerator or in tightly-sealed containers.
- Take out the trash on a regular basis and store it in trash bins with tight-fitting lids.
- Clean up any yard debris or leaf piles around your property.
- Keep wood piles stacked a distance away from the house.
Keeping pests from entering your home during the fall can be a very difficult task. To help prevent seasonal invaders from taking up residence inside your home, we recommend contacting a pest control professional! Here at Big Blue Bug Solutions, our highly-trained technicians can eliminate any current pest problems that you are experiencing as well as help pest-proof your home for the fall! Every season in Maine brings its own set of pest problems. Our year-round pest control plan may be just what you need to keep the pests away all year long! Contact us at Big Blue Bug Solutions today for more information.