As the autumn rolls in, many can breathe a deep sigh of relief in Arizona that the pests you’ve battled with all spring and summer long are starting to disappear. However, you shouldn’t get too happy. Their disappearance means that most will be hibernating or going into a state of torpor until spring, but a few will find a hiding place on your property.
Now, you will face a new battle to keep invaders like rodents, bats, racoons and even birds out of your home.
To keep your home from becoming a 5-star hotel open all fall and winter long to destructive, disease-carrying critters, you’ll need to do your best to keep them at bay. Here’s how.
Sealing Them Out
One of the easiest ways pests enter your home is because you let them in. Yes, you are inadvertently letting pests enter your space by not sealing cracks and openings in your home. When temperatures start to drop outside in Arizona, pests such as rodents, racoons and other wildlife are actively looking for warm shelter. This shelter will most likely be your home.
Many will try the direct approach of getting in by entering through open doors or open windows and setting up shop somewhere in your home. However, the vast majority enter by indirect means, through cracks in the foundation, doors, or windows, and through pipes.
To keep pests out of your home during the cold season, it is ideal to inspect areas of the home where they are most likely to enter. Check utility rooms, the attic, the foundation, and parts of the house where pipes are. If you notice cracks of 1/16 inches are larger, the smallest of pests and critters will be able to squeeze through. Caulk and weatherstrip these openings to keep pests out.
A thorough inspection conducted by a wildlife removal service is worth considering. They have the equipment and knowledge to properly secure your property from various wildlife.
Removing Food and Water Sources
Pests may come to your home initially for shelter and warmth, but they typically stick around when you provide them with the sustenance they need in the form of food and water. Food that you leave out for your cat, dog, or even your bird may be their meal ticket to remain in your home.
Crumbs and trash left in garbage bins for days on-in may become a smorgasbord for pests to feast on daily. Take the trash out regularly and clean up spills promptly to keep pests from dining in your home.
In addition to food crumbs, thirsty pests will also be attracted to water leaks that may be present in your home. Seal these leaks as soon as possible to avoid pests and potential water damage.
Cardboard may also be a tasty treat for cockroaches and silverfish, and a haven for other pests. Therefore, if you have an abundance of boxes lying around, you should discard them if possible.
Yard Maintenance
One more way to keep pests out of your home this season is to start outdoors. Clutter that may be collecting outdoors may provide shelter to critters both large and small. Piles of fallen leaves, firewood, and other yard debris are where plenty of these pests may reside until they can find a way to enter your home.
Clear all of this debris as soon as possible. Also, trim away any limbs that may be touching your home, as this can act as a bridge allowing pests to gain access through upstairs windows and the attic.
When to Call Scottsdale’s Wildlife Removal Experts
Even when you do all that you can to keep pests at bay, there comes a time when proactive measures aren’t enough. Sometimes bats, opossums, mice, rats, and snakes may end up on your property, and you need a professional to humanely get rid of them.
Experienced professionals like Critter Evictors in Scottsdale possess specialized tools and know- how to locate and eliminate hidden nests that are inaccessible to even the most observant homeowner. They also know which treatments to apply around the perimeter of your home to keep pests at bay. If you’re still seeing pests or signs of their presence in or around your home, it is time to call out an expert wildlife removal service. Call today!