In the winter in Northern Virginia there are pests that will invade your home and cause discomfort. Some of the most common winter pests are rats, mice, stink bugs, cockroaches and spiders. It is important to have pest control year-round to make sure pest populations are controlled and don’t get out of hand. Some pests will overwinter, which is similar to hibernation, while other pests will stick around and situate themselves inside your home to make it through the winter.
Rats: Rats are rodents that are known for carrying bacteria, parasites and transmitting viruses and diseases. If you have rats in your home, it is important to have them controlled by a professional pest control company. Rats reproduce quickly and a few can turn into an unmanageable infestation. Rats will eat food from the kitchen, chew holes in materials and the wall and leave droppings everywhere. In the attic space, rats can chew on electrical wiring, which is incredibly dangerous and a fire hazard. Insulation will get ruined by nesting materials, food supplies, droppings and urine. Rats are known for being filthy and it is crucial to have them removed and the area properly cleaned and disinfected.
It can be quite challenging to control rodents like rats because they reproduce so quickly. If you have rats in your yard, there are some things that can be done to keep them away. First and foremost you will want to keep your yard clean, trash stored properly, the garden maintained and avoid leaving food outside. Additionally there are options for exterior bait stations or even wildlife barriers. Bait stations are staked into the ground and filled with rodent bait which the rodents are attracted to, will eat and it will cause them to die.
Wildlife barriers are concrete and wire barriers that are installed under porches, decks, sheds or other areas around the home where animals are trying to get inside. Wildlife or rodent barrier walls are effective for a variety of different wildlife like groundhogs, skunks, foxes, voles and moles and mice. Wildlife barriers are good alternatives or good additions to trapping and baiting rodents and other wildlife.
Mice: Mice, like rats, carry bacteria, parasites and can spread diseases. Additionally, they will chew and gnaw and can cause a lot of damage, especially to your insulation which they will soil with urine and feces. Mice do not hibernate like some other mammals during the winter, so you will be able to hear their activity in your attic or other parts of your home. Mice will oftentimes get into the attic, where they will damage boards, beams, wires and attic insulation. Like rats, mice also reproduce quickly, so the sooner you intervene and have pest control services, the easier it will be to control the population.
Mice much like rats can be difficult to control and it will oftentimes take multiple treatments to manage a mice population. Mice are treated the same way as rats, with traps and bait stations filled with rodenticide. If you need rodent control for mice in your home in Northern Virginia, Summit offers free estimates for pest control services.
Cockroaches: Cockroaches are resilient and can live off of virtually any food source. During the winter, it can be difficult for roaches to find food outside, especially if there is snow on the ground. Roaches will get into homes where they will feed off paper, glue and anything they can find. Cockroaches are challenging to control because they are resistant to many chemicals and traditional pesticides. Something you can do to prevent a roach infestation is to keep your home clean and not leave food and drinks out. Because of the resilient nature of cockroaches, it might take several treatments on a routine basis to take care of the roach problem. It is important to have a professional pest control company to control the roaches on your property. It is most efficient and cost effective to have a professional pest control company like Summit to handle your pest concern.
Spiders: Spiders are pests that are more prevalent in the winter time. Spiders will get into your home and make spider webs. Spiders can either be venomous or non venomous and will bite. Spider bites from venomous spiders can be very dangerous and can lead to health complications. If you think you have been bit by a spider, it is important to seek out immediate medical attention. Summit offers pest control services for spiders and other pests you might have in your home in Alexandria, Arlington, Fredericksburg, Fairfax or other parts of Northern Virginia. Spiders are part of a general pest control contract which covers basic pests like ants. Contact us today to schedule an inspection and free estimate for winter pest control.
It is important to hire a professional pest control company for pest control services. If you try to do your own pest control, you can run into a few different problems. The first problem being that pest control can be dangerous if you don’t understand the chemicals and how and where you should place traps and other materials. In addition to being potentially dangerous, doing your own pest control can be expensive. You might be trying every product on the market to get rid of ants and nothing is working the way you want it to. Trying and buying new products all the time can get to be expensive.
The products will add up over time and it will typically be more cost effective to hire a professional company and maintain a pest control service with them until your pest problem is gone. If you try to do your own pest control, it might not be as effective or as properly done as a professional pest control service. Pest control companies have access to better treatments and have licensed professionals on staff who know about not just how to conduct the treatments but understand the pest and their behaviors. When you attempt to do your own pest control, it might be a lot of trial and error and that can become exhausting. If you need pest control for your home in Northern Virginia, contact Summit Pest Control today to schedule a free estimate.
If you are thinking about doing your own pest control, you should reconsider. There are risks involved with working with chemicals, traps and other pest control methods. Doing your own pest control can also be less effective, because you lack the knowledge and expertise that the professionals have and also don’t have access to the same types of products. Lastly, attempting to do pest control on your own can become expensive if you are trying several types of products. For winter pest control services for your home in Northern Virginia, contact us today to schedule a free estimate.
