Most Common Cold-Weather Pests in the UK to be aware of this winter
Dealing with Pests during Winter It’s a common assumption that animals and insects go to hibernation during the cold months of the year. While it might be mostly true, as most of them are more active during summer, some pests may continue bothering your home life even when it gets cold outside. The secret to dealing with winter pests depends on the type of pest itself so with the kind help of Archers Pest Control we’ve compiled a list of the most common cold-weather pests in London and the UK and some tips on how to prevent them from infesting your house.
MICE & RATS
Mice and rats do not hibernate during the winter. They just find places where they can hide from the cold weather. Of course, the perfect places are where people store their food or spaces with low traffic such as the attic or storage rooms.
How to avoid mice and rat infestations during the winter: Make sure to check up all the possible entry points to your home by the end of the summer. Possible entrances can be cracks on the walls, vents, window gaps, plumbing etc. Make sure to store your food securely in tightly closed jars and packaging which won’t be easy for a rodent to break. Have in mind that their teeth are extremely strong and can even chew through bricks.
As cute and fluffy they may seem, squirrels can cause huge havoc in a house, especially when winter is coming and they start storing food in their nests. Imagine this nest to be your attic - be sure that all your stored items even walls, cables and logs that hold your house’s roof will be gnawn.
How to avoid squirrel infestations during the winter:
SQUIRRELS
First, keep in mind that squirrels can be very aggressive if you try to remove them from your place. The second - if a red squirrel chose to nest in your attic, know that they are endangered species and it’s forbidden to kill them and even destroy their shelter. The best choice here would be to call a professional pest control company and let them deal with the issue. To avoid any squirrel infestation, make sure to close all the windows, gaps and cracks to prevent them from entering. Then do a thorough checkup of your place to make sure there isn’t any refugee already hidden somewhere.
FLIES & COCKROACHES
It’s true that you won’t see those outside in cold weather because flies and cockroaches love warmth. So, when winter approaches, they will do anything to fly into a warm and cosy shelter with lots of food. The most common place they choose to infest is the kitchen of both homes and restaurants and when settled once they start increasing their numbers rapidly.
How to avoid flies and cockroaches infestations during the winter: No matter the season, flies and cockroaches love to hide in places with lots of food and warmth so make sure you keep your kitchen clean and all food stored properly. Have in mind that those little insects can be dangerous as they can carry infectious diseases. If you face a cockroach infestation, the best solution would be to contact a local pest exterminator as they would know exactly how to get rid of them safely with no risks for your, your family’s and pets’ health.
In contrary of the popular belief that they are not winter pests, wasps and hornet queens do not die like the drones, when autumn comes. They do hibernate though thus they need to find a safe, warm and dry places to do so. When spring comes, the queen usually will wake up and start building her nest in the place where she spent the winter.
WASPS & HORNETS
How to avoid wasp and hornets infestations during the winter: Have in mind that it would be difficult to find a small insect queen in a large space such as the attic before it’s too late. So, make sure you pay attention to your surroundings in warm months. If you notice wasps flying around your home too often, then there may be a hive somewhere near which is a prerequisite for a future hive under your own roof. You may consider a preventative pest treatment by a professional in order to keep the queens away from your place and avoid finding a fully grown hive when spring comes.
General Tips to Keep Winter Pests Out The most universal advice is to check up your home’s interior and exterior for any cracks and holes. Additionally, have your vents checked yearly and don’t forget the plumbing for any leaks. You will be surprised of how small a hole would let a pest inside the house. Make sure to store your food safely and in properly closed packaging, and most importantly, keep your food waste in tightly closed bins and take the garbage out regularly. And remember, if your place gets invaded by unwanted roomies despite all your efforts, you can always rely on a local pest control company which has the right means to deal with any pest infestations and protect you, your family and your home.