Red Flags That Are Making Your Home A Pest Breeding Ground

When you own a home, you do your best to make it feel as peaceful as possible. This usually means keeping it clean and tidy, updating certain rooms to make them feel aligned with your style, and performing regular maintenance to make sure it’s a safe place for your family to live. But what you don’t realize is that behind all the work you’ve put into your home, there could be a few red flags lurking. 

We’re not talking about a wallpaper choice—we’re talking about breeding grounds for pests. You see, pests are attracted to all sorts of things, and if they find them in your home or yard, you can bet they’ll move right in. Let’s take a look at some of these so-called “red flags” and what they might be signaling to pests looking for food, water, and shelter.

Get to Know Pest Season in Alexandria, MN

Though Minnesota winters make it hard for certain pests to survive, most pest seasons never really end. In Alexandria, the peak pest season typically runs from July through September, with the highest activity often occurring during the summer. However, certain pests like ticks and mosquitoes can emerge as early as March and April when spring thunderstorms begin, and pests like rodents can take refuge in your home during the winter to escape the elements. 

Ticks and mosquitoes are among the most common backyard pests, and unfortunately, the climate and wildlife here allow them to thrive. For example, mosquitoes only need a capful of water to breed, making the post-winter snowmelt and spring and summer storms exactly what they need to expand their populations. Others, like ticks and spiders, also thrive in moist, humid environments, often hiding in tall grasses and dense vegetation. 

What Kind of Red Flags Do You Have on Your Property?

Every property is different, but most have at least a few red flags that will undoubtedly attract a variety of pests. Here are a few common ones we see that you should check your property for before pest season kicks in:

• Standing water anywhere on the property, such as clogged gutters, birdbaths, flowerpots, or low spots in the yard.
• Dense, overgrown vegetation, including thick shrubs and unmowed lawn edges, that provide shelter for mosquitoes, ticks, and spiders.
• Woodpiles stacked against the house attract carpenter ants, spiders, and rodents. We recommend stacking wood at least 20 feet from the home and off the ground.
• Bright, white exterior lighting that draws flying insects, which attract spiders and other predators.
• Foundation cracks and gaps around doors and windows that act as entry points for ants, spiders, and rodents.
• Moisture issues like leaky hoses, poor drainage, and damp crawl spaces attract pests that seek water.
• Pet food left outdoors that attracts ants, rodents, and raccoons

Professional Pest Control That Does More Than Just Apply a Treatment

If you’re not familiar with pests and pest control solutions, it’s normal not to see the red flags on your property. Here at Mosquito Squad Plus, that’s our job, and we do it pretty well (if we do say so ourselves!). Our technicians are trained not only to spot potential hotspots that may attract pests but also to address them appropriately. After all, we wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we just applied a treatment and left.

That’s why our Yard Defender service always starts with an assessment to determine the extent of your pest issue and the correct approach to remedy it. Only then do we begin the actual barrier treatment with our EPA-registered products, which we’ll apply to your perimeter to create a protective barrier around your yard. Throughout the season, we’ll return every three weeks to check our work and reapply it, always making sure to identify additional red flags we can address during our work. 

Searching for pest control near you?

When you’re ready for pest control in Alexandria, call Mosquito Squad Plus. We’ll perform your first treatment within 48 hours, or it’s free, and return every 21 days during the season to reapply it. 

In addition to a great service, we’ll back all of our work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and offer transparent pricing you can trust. 

Worried your Alexandria home has conditions that attract pests? Call Mosquito Squad Plus of NW Minnesota at (320) 289-4101 or contact us online for a free quote.