It’s probably not news that cooler fall weather triggers the need to find shelter in animals of all sizes, from bugs to bats. When that natural need for protection from weather hits, your home looks pretty good to a variety of four to six-legged seasonal visitors.

LOOK OUT FOR INVADING MICE!

Come fall, mice that have been perfectly happy outdoors will look for openings that let them inside where temperatures are moderate and there might even be food available. Start with two invading mice, or even just a single pregnant female, add a little nesting material and some food crumbs and by Christmas you could have a regular mouse community living in your home. See How Can We Keep Mice From Getting Into Our House?

LOOK OUT FOR “HIBERNATING” INSECTS!

Late summer into fall is also when certain so-called “overwintering insects” look for shelter and often end up under siding or hiding in attics or wall voids, sometimes in large numbers. Most of these fall-invading insects are plant feeders so they won’t be feeding or reproducing in your home, but they can be annoying when warm winter weather finally wakes them up. Once they’re inside, finding them and controlling them isn’t easy so it’s best to prevent the entry of stink bugs, lady beetles, seed bugs, and others in the first place by sealing openings and treating around the outside perimeter. See Why Are There Plant Bugs in My House?

LOOK OUT FOR WINTERING BATS!

Your attic may have been home to a colony of bats this past summer. The young are now able to fend for themselves and come and go at will. But, the bats that spent the summer in your attic, or other protected bats, may try to return to your attic when the weather gets cold. Late summer/early fall is the time of year when state laws allow us to exclude any remaining bats from attics and seal up openings that they are using to get inside. Now is the time to call Colonial to take advantage of the narrow window of time remaining to block bats’ access to your home. See Early Fall is the Time to Exclude Bats From Your Home.

LOOK OUT FOR ATTIC-NESTING SQUIRRELS!

Squirrels, or raccoons, or other large animals may also be considering your attic or chimney as a winter retreat. If you have places around your roofline that are deteriorating, rotting, or need repair, these are the first places that these animals will explore as a route inside. If squirrels can find an edge to gnaw on, they can quickly create an entrance hole. And if they can get in, they will make a mess in your attic. Before that happens, have Colonial inspect your home and reinforce susceptible areas. See Squirrels Are Unwelcome Winter Guests in Attics.

STOP THEM ALL WITH OUR PEST EXCLUSION SERVICES!

You may have heard the terms “pest-proofing” or “pest exclusion.” These are preventive steps that are taken to keep pests of all sizes out of your home. Pest exclusion practices are generally pesticide-free and can be permanent solutions to many pest problems.

At Colonial, we have technicians who know how pests think and what attracts them to a site. Our techs will inspect your home for the kinds of entry points that appeal to pests and that allow them inside. We also have wildlife removal experts on staff who can safely and humanely remove any animals already present.

Pest exclusion can mean anything from screening vents, to adding door sweeps, to reinforcing edges, to caulking around conduits and other openings, and much more. We use only quality, heavy-duty materials that are guaranteed to keep pests out.

If our pest exclusion services keep pests out of your home, then you’ll have no need to invite us in later on! Give Colonial a call today before pests begin to move inside!