When the weather gets cool here in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, mice and certain outdoor insects move into buildings in an attempt to escape the cold (see Outdoor Insects Are Getting Ready to Move Inside!). Customers who are dealing with an influx of these pests for the first time are appalled, “I can’t understand how these insects got in here. I’m always very careful.”

Sometimes it’s nothing you did, or didn’t do. A perfect storm of circumstances can cause pests to migrate when, at other times, they would be perfectly content to stay outdoors where they are. Other times, you have made it easier for pests to move in without realizing you were doing so.

Some of the Things That Attract Pests to a Home

• Warmth from a heated home, or the warmth of bricks or siding on the sunny, south-facing wall of a structure
• Bird feeders with scattered bird seed
• Pet food and water left outside
• Spilled garbage or garbage cans without lids
• Standing water around the foundation
• Heavy shrubbery, ground covers, or mulch around the foundation
• Stacks of firewood, stones, leaves, or debris around the foundation
• Outdoor lighting or bright lights near windows and doors
• Food odors from kitchens, garbage cans, dumpsters, pet bowls

Conditions That Allow Pests to Get Into a Home

• Unscreened windows and vents
• Doors with loose or missing sweeps or thresholds
• Openings around utility lines that enter buildings
• Cracks around the foundation
• Rotting or damaged soffits or fascia boards along the roof line
• Pests can also be carried in on pets, people, plants, food, or other items

Take a look around your home and see if any of the above situations apply to you. Pest-proofing your home may be the number one way to avoid a pest invasion and we provide that service at Colonial Pest (see Pest-Proofing Doors to Keep Pests Out) for an example. Give us a call.