How Cooler Weather Affects Pests In Maine
Fall is fast approaching, and the crisp morning air is just a reminder that colder days are coming to Central Maine. With the seasonal shift, it’s not just time to break out the sweaters and pumpkin spice candles – it’s also time to be alert for insects and rodents trying to make their way into your home. Here’s what to watch out for and how to keep your home pest-free this fall and all year long!
Common fall pests in Maine
Mice
As the temperature drops, mice seek shelter that offers warmth, food, and security, and Maine homes offer everything these rodents need.
Rats
These large rodents aren’t particularly fond of winter either, and they will infest crawl spaces, basements, attics, and other areas that offer protection from inclement weather and are near food sources.
Spiders
Fall is prime time for spiders for a few reasons. Their prey (i.e., insects) tend to move indoors to avoid cooler weather, so they’ll follow them in. It’s also mating season for many spider species. Lastly, arachnids aren’t exactly fans of the cold.
Stink bugs
Looking to escape the cold, stink bugs try to make their way into homes every fall. Although they don’t cause damage or reproduce inside, no one wants to share their home with hundreds of bugs.
Keep in mind that the rodents and bugs highlighted above are not the only pests to look out for in the fall, but they certainly are the most common. Ants, ladybugs, and other insects will head inside when prompted by the change in weather, and until the ground freezes, ticks will continue to be a problem in our neck of the woods.
Why insects and rodents head indoors every fall
We already touched on this subject above, but pests are often driven indoors by the cooler weather and stick around because Maine homes offer everything they need to survive the harsh winter—warmth, food, and shelter.
Pests will take advantage of any small opening, and some, like mice and rats, even gnaw through walls or wood to gain access. Insects like stink bugs also seek refuge in the warmth, often hiding in walls or attics until spring.
How to keep pests out this fall
If you’re ready to enjoy the fall weather and don’t want to be sidetracked by nuisance and potentially destructive insects and rodents, we encourage you to implement the following pest prevention tips:
Seal cracks, gaps, and openings on the exterior of the house. Pay close attention to cracks in the foundation, gaps under garage doors, and openings around utility entrances.
Reduce moisture by repairing leaky pipes, fixing dripping spigots, eliminating standing water, and addressing rooms with high humidity and moisture levels.
Keep your kitchen tidy. That means wiping up crumbs or spills on the counters or floor right away, washing dishes after every meal, and storing food in containers with tight-fitting lids.
Take out the trash regularly to discourage pests from foraging for food scraps, and be sure your exterior garbage cans have lids.
Declutter your attic, garage, basement, and other storage areas to remove potential hiding spots. Swap out cardboard boxes for storage containers made of durable plastic with lids.
Trim back tree branches and cut back shrubs that touch the sides and top of your house.
Store firewood several feet away from the house and up off the ground.
Contact Advanced Pest Solutions for help with fall pests
Here at Advanced Pest Solutions, we offer effective home pest control services in Bowdoin, Gardiner, and Boothbay Harbor, as well as throughout our central and coastal Maine service area that stop pests from taking over.
When you sign up for year-round service, our experienced pest control pros will:
Perform two seasonal services.
Treat indoors and around the exterior of the structure.
Return in between service visits if a covered pest problem develops – no charge to you!
Contact us today if you’re ready to keep bugs and rodents out of your home this fall!