When thinking about signs of impending temperature change, it’s easy for thoughts of birds flying south or bears hibernating to be conjured in your mind. In California, our weather is typically pleasant, even during the winter months. So, what does our mild winter mean for the pest and rodents around us?
3 Nonseasonal Pest Concerns for Homeowners
While it’s true that many insects and animals hide during the cooler months, many pests do not. Additionally, many pests and insects nesting during the winter may try to make your home their winter refuge. Don’t let your home become a winter wonderland for pests, insects, and bugs.
The following pests use the winter months for nesting and preparing for spring:
Rodents: Mice, rats, and other gnawing mammals will fight to enter your home to seek shelter for their nests this winter. Rodents are natural chewers, so few surfaces in your home are safe from their gnawing. Check your home for signs of gnawing on wooden beams, electrical wiring, and insulation.
Wood-Consuming Insects: Termites and carpenter ants will consume your home from the inside out if left unchecked. Before winter begins, it’s important to check your home for openings. Weatherproofing and winterizing are vital steps to keeping your home protected all season. If you find carpenter ants or termites indoors once winter begins, it’s a sign they have started nesting in the walls and floors of your home. You should also check any decaying wood or piles outside our home.
Dormant Pests: While insects don’t scientifically hibernate, they slow down during the late fall and early winter months. Spiders and other pests may lay their eggs and build their nests in your home, so it’s a good idea to bring in help to search for nests and eggs before they hatch into an infestation.
In California, pests most common to our area pose a year-round nuisance for homeowners. Because of our mild winter, many of the same pests that plague our springs and summers are around in the winter. Because rodents, insects, and termites will always be a problem, you can never let your guard down.