A Thanksgiving-to-Winter Pest Prevention Checklist for Okemos Homeowners

As holidays approach, homeowners are going to have an increasing number of chores to complete. Prepping the house for guests, Thanksgiving dinners, and winter parties might knock yard maintenance down a couple of places on your priority list. This could mean changing pest behavior takes you by surprise. Mosquito Squad Plus of Greater Lansing is ready to help manage Okemos, MI pest control services for the changing fall and winter seasons.

Thanksgiving Week: Start Outside

1. Inspect Entrances: Windows and doors should have intact weather stripping and door sweeps to help limit access to the house. Degraded materials or ripped window screens from summer heat or kids playing around could leave small gaps for pests to squeeze through.
2. Clear leaves near the house: Rake fallen leaves regularly. If leaf litter is allowed to build up, micro-ecosystems comfortable for spiders, ticks, and beetles can develop in the shade and retained moisture of leaves.
3. Trim vegetation away from buildings: Dense landscaping provides shelter to spiders and the insects they feed on, even covering rodents' movement around the foundation. By cutting back branches touching the house, it reduces natural “bridges” for spiders, ants, and similar pests to access the house.

Early December: Close Hidden Entry Points

1. Repair utility openings and foundation gaps: Gaps in the foundation, especially where siding meets concrete or cable lines run into the house, can provide enough space for rodents to squeeze through. Other household pests may take advantage of degraded caulking to move indoors as the weather continues to drop.
2. Check the attic, vents, and garage: Inspect vents into the attic or crawl spaces and make sure they have suitable covers on them where possible. Rodents are not the most subtle pests, leaving droppings, chew marks, and even evidence of nesting materials to indicate a possible problem.
3. Organize food and holiday decor: Mice, roaches, and ants are drawn to crumbs or sugary spills, especially when trying to find reliable shelter for winter months. Store food items in sealed containers and don’t leave pet food out for long periods of time. When bringing out holiday decor, check for webs, shed skins, and other signs pests may have gotten inside.

Before Winter Settles In: Review and Maintain

1. Reposition outdoor storage: Densely stacked items, like firewood, flower pots, or building materials, may attract rodents or other pests to shelter from colder weather. If you leave these items close to the house, they provide cover when looking for entry points into the house.
2. Handle indoor visitors carefully. Don't automatically squish any bugs you see exploring inside. Boxelder bugs or stink bugs like to gather on exterior walls and near sunny windows for warmth. Vacuum these pests up instead of squishing them- they may release a foul odor or stain fabrics.
3. Do a final walk-through! After the first freeze, recheck entry points and storage areas. Signs of new activity can mean more repairs need to be made, or calling in professional pest control.

Plan Ahead With Okemos, MI Pest Control

Keep your checklist handy! Remember, if there is a sustained warm spell or thaw, it's worth going over it again. Call (517) 798-8681 for a free quote over the phone or contact Mosquito Squad Plus of Greater Lansing to put together the right professional pest control plan for your home.