It’s easy to think that once winter comes and the insects you see outside your home dwindle, it’s no longer necessary to continue your pest control services. However, year-round pest control is necessary to tackle the insects and animals that enter your home to come in from the cold, as well as to prevent the emergence of pests in the spring.

Here are seven reasons why you should maintain pest control through the winter.

1. Cold weather makes pests seek refuge.

People don’t like being outdoors in the cold, and neither do pests. As the temperature drops, bugs and rodents will move closer to your heated home, and if possible, make their way inside. Your warm, insulated walls and attic become a cozy place for mice, squirrels and insects to escape the cold.

2. Structural integrity weakens in winter.

Harsh winter weather can affect your home’s integrity, opening up possible entry points or weakening the building’s defenses. Decreased temperatures and increased moisture can both affect a home’s foundation, and wind and snow may damage siding or your roof, creating vulnerabilities where pests can enter. Water expanding into ice can open up tiny crevices that are just large enough for pests to find their way inside.

3. Food supplies dry up.

During the winter, plants, flowers and fruits are no longer plentiful, meaning food that pests like to eat is scarce. They may come inside to take advantage of the food in your pantry, your pet’s food dish or any scraps left behind in your kitchen. Reduced food supplies may also mean that insects are conserving energy, meaning you may not notice that they’re there if there is little activity.

4. Just because you don’t see them, doesn’t mean they’re not there.

Cold temperatures make cold-blooded insects slow down, but it isn’t necessarily cold enough to kill them. Bugs don’t fly south for the winter, but instead, go into a form of hibernation called overwintering. That means that pests may be taking refuge in your home without notice, only to emerge in the spring.

5. It prepares your home for spring.

In addition to treating any overwintering bugs in your home or on your property, winter pest control involves removing spider webs, egg cases and nests, which reduces the population that will emerge when the weather warms up. Winter is also the best time to create a protective barrier for your home.

6. The holidays attract pests.

Christmas trees, firewood, leaf piles, pumpkins and Thanksgiving leftovers are all things that may give pests a very happy holiday. These items may attract pests into your home, or transport them inside.

7. Pests that live inside don’t know it’s winter.

The pests you find inside your home year-round don’t know that it’s cold outside. Spiders, termites, flies, cockroaches, carpenter ants, silverfish, moths and other indoor pests can visit you anytime if the conditions are right.

No matter the weather, it’s important to maintain your pest control through all four seasons. If you’re looking for a year-round contract, preventative maintenance, or treatment of an infestation, call us today at (704) 847-3468.