Many pests will attempt to find warmth inside over the autumn and winter months. Mice, rats and in some cases wasps may cause a variety of problems when they get into your house searching for heat and food. Herein, we discuss why pest infestations happen, where they can commonly be found and some steps you can take to prevent them occurring
It's getting later in the year, it's frosty out in the open and we're hiding inside for heat. But we're certainly not the only ones. Bugs and pests are more readily associated with the warmer weather of spring and summer, but it's when it gets cold that a lot of the problems start. Mice, rats and even some insects need to stay warm and your nice, comfortable, centrally heated flat is just the kind of place to find it.
Rodent infestations increase dramatically during the autumn and winter months, and contrary to popular belief they can occur in both towns and the countryside. Rats and mice are drawn to sources of food just as much as heat and the enormous quantities of rubbish found in urban centers such as London mean there is plenty on offer for them there. So, a simple strategy to decrease the chances of infestation is to make sure your trash isn't left out for days on end or otherwise is placed in a secure bin. If not, the rats will find it, start multiplying and you'll very quickly find a rodent infestation on your hands.
Rodents possess a sense of smell many times as strong as a human's. Like many animals, odours are crucial to their survival, since they use their pee to mark out territory, objects and pathways. You therefore deter rodents by laying down strong odours. Mothballs are a popular and effective option, however the potent aroma may well end up being unpleasant for we humans .Hence it's a method most appropriate to out-of-the way locations which are liable to infestation, such as attics, cellars and garden sheds as well as caravans and campers which might be left uninhabited in the winter months.
Wasps are typically a summer problem, but the recent hot weather means many wasps are staying active much later than is normally the case. Those nests that remain outside will be unlikely to survive the first frost, but those inside - hidden away in attics, garden sheds or barns - might make it through into late October and early November. The new queen will normally have left the nest at the end of the summer, but those wasps left behind continue to look for food. Like most of us, they can end up getting a little bit tipsy as Christmas draws near, as often the only food available is fruit which has fallen from a tree and has begun to ferment. Alas, many wasps are also at their most dangerous at this time of the year; since the search for food becomes a lot more difficult, the insects will become progressively more aggressive. As with rodents you can minimise your chances of attracting wasps by not leaving food out for longer than is necessary. If there are only one or two wasps about, a trap may very well be sufficient to deal with them, but the best strategy is to simply wait for them to fly away.
Winter brings its very own difficulties when it comes to pests, but to be informed is to be prepared. One can find many small, preventative measures you can take to reduce the chances of pest infestations, but remember that treating an established nest directly is a problem that should be left to the professionals. And remember, it might not just be you who's keeping warm in your home this winter.
Author Resource:-
Skilled, polite and reliable pest control for mice infestations is provided by the London-based firm Terminex, a fully certified member of the British Pest Control Association. They provide numerous commercial and domestic services for dealing with unwanted infestations all year long.
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