With winter now officially upon us, it’s important to be aware of active pests throughout the season.
Pests are seasonal creatures and some are more present at different times of the year. In this post, we look at the top winter pests active during winter and how to get rid of them before they cause a big issue around your home or business.
- Rodents and Mice
Rats and mice are the top winter pest. During winter, they seek out food and shelter in and around homes and business premises. One can become dozens as they breed up during this time. These pests are well-known for being extremely unhygienic and causing costly damage to a home.
Rodents will attempt to gain entry to a home via the roof space or other openings. Once inside, they can be heard scratching in the ceiling and in walls. It’s important to take fast action if you hear these noises as they can eat through gyprock walls and chew on electrical cables. Rodents have been responsible for causing house fires as a result of this activity.
Signs of rodents
- Scratching sounds as mentioned above.
- Small droppings outside in the yard area, near BBQs, hot water tanks.
- Dark greasy rub marks on walls, posts outside the home.
We can apply treatment methods such as bait stations around the home to get rid of these pests.
- Cockroaches
Cockroaches are active all year round. While more so in the summer months, they can still be found during winter.
They can be seen during the day and often more so at night, scurrying around on floors and walls inside homes. These pests are also very unhygienic and can breed up in high numbers fast.
Signs of cockroaches
- Visibly seeing them running inside the home.
- Seeing them outside the home in entertainment areas, near garbage bins.
- Seen in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, storage areas and sheds.
We can provide effective cockroach treatments that will stop these pests from entering the home and outside areas.
- Ants
Similar to cockroaches, ants can also be found during winter. While more of a summer pest, they are active during the winter season as well.
They will come inside a home for more favourable conditions, in search of shelter and food. They will look for a place to hide inside a home such as bathrooms, kitchens and inside cupboards.
Some ants can cause issues for people by inflicting a nasty bite. They can also contaminate food stored in kitchen cupboards.
What attracts ants indoors
- Crumbs and waste from food preparation.
- Food in pet bowls.
- Food debris in kitchen appliances – toasters, grills.
- Food debris in living areas, lounge rooms and bedrooms.
If you’re noticing ants in your home, you can arrange an effective treatment to remove them before their numbers grow.
- Termites
While termites are also more active during summer, they are also present during winter. They silently migrate deeper underground to protect themselves from the colder temperatures.
If termites find a home around your home such as stored goods, stored timber, they can go in search of more places to nest in and around the home.
It’s an industry standard to have your home inspected for termites at least once a year. This is the best protection you can get for your home. These pests are well known for causing significant damage to a property that is typically not covered under home insurance.
If you’re concerned about winter pests this year, contact us today
Leave a Reply