4 Common Pests That Move In During the Winter Months

With the cold weather of the winter season upon us, it is that time of year when winter pests begin setting up their habitat in the warmth of your home. It is essential to manage any home pest problems no matter what time of the year, as a simple problem can turn into a much more complicated situation when left untreated.

Rodents

Rodents are a common pest problem during the winter months due to the fact that mice and rats will have fewer food resources outside and will enter your home in search of sustenance. While we typically notice rodents by finding their droppings in our cupboards and sheds and garages, they can also be detected by making noise in our attics at night, chewing up boxes, and darting out from behind our TV’s. Rodents quickly get out of hand and rodent control efforts should be started as soon as you suspect a problem.

Bed Bugs

The bed bug population has become quite well established again, and they can now be found in our winter get-a-way resorts, single family homes, apartment buildings, planes, trains and offices. They easily hitch a ride on clothing and luggage and hide in hard to see spots such as electrical outlets and joints in our bed frames. Since bedbugs live in warm places in the home, they do not go dormant as many other insect pests do. Bed bug nymphs can be smaller than an apple seed and the eggs are even smaller, but a detailed inspection will reveal their presence.

Ants

Ants in the winter? Yup – pharaoh ants are a tropical species of ant that has been a very prolific  pest inside buildings in the Northern Hemishpere for many decades now. They are tiny yellowish or reddish ants which are actually seen indoors more in the winter, and they are very common inside apartment style buildings. Odourous house ants are also sometimes active all year, especially in homes with radiant floor heating. Even carpenter ants, which typically go dormant in September, sometimes wake up in mid-January and start foraging around inside on sunny winter days. All ants are social insects so regardless which type you see, if you see one or two there are always more!

Cockroaches

The cockroach’s ability to inhabit and survive almost anywhere makes it a significant problem in your home if an infestation occurs. Cockroaches not only carry disease spreading pathogens but also can affect people with allergies. The german cockroach is a smaller species than the big ones people see on holiday in the tropics, but its small size lets it easily get into small cracks and crevices the bigger bugs cant. This cockroach species is very common in all types of buildings throughout Canada and even around the world.  Cockroaches tend to move around more at night, so noticing them in the day could mean you have a significant problem on your hands. You may also notice the signs before you see them such as droppings and egg sacs in the corners or dark areas of your kitchen or bathroom.

Contact Assured Environmental Today

If you need help evicting any unwanted guests this winter, give us a call (as long as it is just insect and rodent guests you need help with). Assured Environmental can assist you with any pest control problem or bed bug heat treatment in the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley area. Contact Assured Environmental today!