Pest Management Tips For the Winter Season

Living beings need four things: air, food, water, and warmth. In winter, at least three of those can be in short supply. Water sources freeze up, food becomes scarce, and the temperature drops. That can drive them in search of a safe place to hole up. When it comes to pests, that might mean your facility. Here are five tips for protecting your assets against pests this winter:

1. Know your enemy.

What pests are native or naturalized to where you live? In New York City, this might mean rats and cockroaches. On Long Island, you could face termites, drain flies, field mice, bats, or more. The more you know about the pests you need to control, the better you can do it. For example, are you mostly going to be facing pests that walk or slither, or ones that fly? How large are they? What do they eat? What areas are going to be the most attractive to them?

2. Think like a pest.

You might walk through your building and think everything looks pretty good, but this doesn't tell you much. To thwart a pest, you need to think like one. Once you've determined what kind of animals you're facing, get on their level. Move low to the ground, eyeing all of the places humans typically miss. Go inside of cabinets and into crawlspaces. Poke around all of the places you wouldn't normally think to go. Look up high, where flying pests may take refuge. Go into attics, under overhangs, and anywhere else a flying creature might decide to hang out. While you're there, keep your eyes open for any place where two materials meet.

This means corners, electrical outlets, and spaces where pipes pass through walls. Pay particular attention to exterior walls. Any gap is a potential doorway for pests, especially insects. Seal off all of the spaces you find with caulk or expanding foam. If rodents are a problem, use metal mesh. They're less likely to try to chew through it. Do the same thing for the exterior of your building. Again, you'll want to pay particular attention to any area where two materials meet. Seal off all cracks, gaps, or other spaces.

3. Inspect the outdoors.

Your building isn't the only area vulnerable to pests. Your landscaping may also harbor all kinds of unwanted critters, including dangerous invasives. Keep an eye out for pests overwintering in your plants or mulch. Overwintering is akin to hibernation -- bagworms, for example, spend winters in little bags that they hang from twigs. Some overwinter as eggs or larvae, emerging in spring to mate. Unfortunately, winters are getting warmer, which means that greater numbers of pests are surviving to invade buildings and landscaping. You're also going to want to remove anything that might serve as a bridge for pests to enter your facility. Overhanging branches can be a highway for rodents or bugs, as can overgrown vegetation. Make sure any exterior trash cans, eating areas, and dumpsters are clean and well-maintained since the smell of spilled food or rotting trash can attract pests over long distances.

4. Know what your pests are after.

You've identified the pests your facility is most likely to encounter, and you've sealed off all of their ways in. While this goes a long way toward keeping unwanted creatures out of your buildings, it isn't foolproof -- people still need to get in and out, and, if there are doors and windows, pests can still sneak in. The next step, then, is to know what your particular pests are looking for in your facility. Mice and rats want food, water, and bedding. Cockroaches will eat just about anything (including glue and cardboard) so they're mostly after water.

If you can make sure that leaks are repaired, you can limit pests' access to water. Keep food sources sealed away, and any pests that do sneak in aren't likely to remain for very long. Be sure that any food sources are kept in pest-proof containers. Rodents and roaches, especially, have well-deserved reputations for getting into things. Anything held in paper, cardboard, or thin plastic can easily be gotten to by a determined chewer. Metal or glass are much safer bets, especially containers with gaskets that block odors.

5. Contact a professional.

If you find yourself with some tiny, unwanted tenants even after all of your pest prevention, don't worry. Qualified pest professionals can not only make sure they leave and stay gone, they can help you determine what you can do to better prepare for next time. They'll also give you supplies and tips for monitoring the presence of pests. If you spot signs of pests (like droppings or holes), the sooner you call a pest professional, the better. You take great pains to make your facility comfortable for your guests, tenants, and employees, and this can make it attractive to pests, too. With these simple tips, you can safeguard your buildings from any bug, reptile, rodent, or other creature that might decide to move in.

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