How Do You Keep Mice and Overwintering Pests Out of Brainerd Vacation Homes?

To help keep mice and overwintering pests out of Brainerd vacation homes, take preventive steps before closing the property for the season. Overwintering pests will seek access through garages, attic spaces, and small gaps and cracks in order to gain access to food, shelter and water.

The slow season for vacation homes can lead to extended periods where pests can establish their homes during quiet and undisturbed periods of time. To reduce this, it can be beneficial for residents to take preventative measures and seek the support of professional Brainerd pest control services.

Do a Pre-Closing Exterior Inspection

When conducting a simple property inspection, take special notes of the areas that can provide pest entry. Foundation areas, basements, and areas underneath porch decks can create small opportunities for pests to enter quiet areas around your home.

Damaged rooflines, attic soffits, and torn vent screens can create opportunities for pests to enter your attic spaces, while gaps around pipes and utility penetrations can provide access to wall voids. Check the areas around doorways and windows for gaps or tears within screens, and consider conducting repairs or utilizing sealing methods before departure.

Remove Food and Nesting Opportunities Indoors

For the indoor areas of your vacation home in Brainerd, it can be beneficial to reduce the conditions that can attract and sustain pest activity.

In storage areas, ensure that bird and pet food are in properly sealed containers and stored in out of reach areas. Reduce access to fabrics, cardboard boxes, and empty containers where pests can nest and breed undisturbed. Secure food pantry items, ensure trash has been properly disposed of and sealed, and eliminate access to paper goods or other products that can be shredded or used as nesting material.

Prepare Garages, Sheds, and Storage Areas

Pests in Brainerd are drawn to areas where protected structures provide quiet areas to nest and breed away from predators or detection. To get ahead of this, take a moment to address any garage, shed, or storage areas before departing your vacation home in Brainerd.

Reduce clutter, unmoved boxes, and containers that can sit without being used. Remove cushions or soft materials from easily accessible areas, and consider removing any outdoor items that sit without use for extended periods of time. Inspect underneath stored vehicles, around large storage equipment, and inside cabinets or drawers that aren’t commonly used. This can help you identify any early signs of pest activity in order to begin taking pest control measures before your departure. 

What to Check When You Return

When returning to your vacation property in Brainerd, it’s important to conduct a quick inspection for signs of pest activity or damage. Inspect the exterior of your property for areas where gaps, cracks, and damage might invite pest activity into the home, and consider using a flashlight to illuminate areas that may be easily hidden by shadows. 

Take note of areas where droppings, insect accumulations, and spider webs seem to be increasingly present. Also, take note of areas where disturbed insulation or boxes, odors, and gnaw marks are found. This can help you begin to identify areas where pests may have been active, and can be helpful when working with professional pest control companies.

Get Pest Control Help for a Brainerd Vacation Home

If you’re looking to defend your vacation home during the off-seasons, it can be beneficial to work with a professional pest control company. Our team at Mosquito Squad of North Central Minnesota is committed to providing Brainerd residents with comprehensive pest control options.

Each plan begins with a thorough property inspection to learn the layout, inspect areas of pest activity, and note areas of concern in order to create a tailored plan that suits your home and needs. With this, we can help to reduce and control pests through barrier treatments, exclusion methods, and monitoring throughout the duration of your plan.

Call (218) 304-7704 or request a free quote online to learn more.