A Pest for All Seasons

Autumn in Vancouver is beautiful. Look outside your window and you’re bound to see trees full of color and lawns still vibrant and green. Behind the scenes, though, many pests are working overtime in preparation for the winter. There’s a reason why you may be seeing an influx of beetles, wasps, and spiders around your home. Below we share four of the most common pests that are active in the fall.

Mice & Rats

Mice and rats are among the most common fall pests in Vancouver because they search for the same warmth and food to survive the winter that humans do. Unfortunately, a functional furnace and well-stocked pantry often make homes and businesses a vacation home for them. Rodents will not want to leave once they have established a nest. A problem further compounded by their ability to quickly reproduce and turn a small group of mice or rats into a much larger problem.

Raccoons

Raccoon populations inside towns and cities are at their peak during fall and competition for shelter intensifies. This competition ultimately drives raccoons out of the cold and into cosy attics where they are capable of causing considerable damage.

It is important to evict and control raccoons before they have the chance to establish themselves inside the home. The longer raccoons are allowed to live inside an attic the more damage they can inflict and the more difficult it can be to keep them out.

Squirrels

Short days and cold temperatures in autumn signal to squirrels that seeds, acorns and walnuts will soon be in short supply. As with raccoons, squirrel competition for a limited number of winter den sites intensifies during fall. This is the time of year when every squirrel will be intent on securing multiple den sites to help them survive winter. Squirrels nest inside roofs and attics to avoid predators and shelter themselves from the elements. Once inside, their powerful teeth can cause damage to your home.

The best way to keep pests out of your home is to make them feel unwanted. They are looking for moist dark places with food and water sources nearby. Don't let them find what they're looking for. The goal of exclusion is to make your home comfortable for you, but uncomfortable for pests.

Exclusion Methods for Fall Pests

• Keep indoor and exterior trash in sealed trash cans. This is a food source and a breeding site for pests.
• Don't leave pet food sitting. Lay it down during mealtime and then store it in the fridge between feedings.
• Keep things clean and uncluttered.
• Replace outside lights with yellow insect-resistant lighting and keep shades closed at night. Light attracts flying insects and spiders think flying insects are scrumptious.
• If you have dryer exhaust being pumped under your deck, patio, or staircase, channel it out into the open air. This way, wildlife won't find a nice heated place to nest.
• Check all your screens, door sweeps and weather stripping to make sure everything is in good working order.
• Use a caulking gun to seal up holes and cracks in your foundation and exterior walls.

If you do happen to find a mouse, rat or squirrel in your home, you’re going to need pest control assistance to remove them.

How Pestcheck Pest Control Can Help

In spite of the warnings and advice, every single year we see a surge of pest activity in fall. Here at Pestcheck, there’s nothing we haven’t seen before. We’ll deal with your pest control problem efficiently and effectively. Our experienced technicians use the best equipment available. By applying our unique treatment plans, we guarantee we’ll remove any pests you find in your home this fall.