Old man winter has arrived! Why do we call him an old man anyway? He’s ornery. Sure. He’s fickle. Yeah, he can be. He’s unpredictable. Maybe, at times. What’s also true is just like grandpa, the winter season comes around when it says it’s gonna, and there is nothing we all can do about it.  

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Recently, Buffalo, New York saw 72, yes, I said it, seven and a two, inches of snow, in November! Like grandpa’s overalls, whether we like it or not, winter is here! This begs the question. Where do all our pesky pests go now?

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We could talk about the raccoons and squirrels that make nests in your home’s attic. We could talk about the not-so-friendly furry mice and rats that crawl through open holes and eat through the fresh loaf of bread. We could also talk about bats and birds. They are all our pesky pests and this winter, let’s discuss a few DIY options- prevention that should happen before the 72- yes, the 72 inches of snow. (But if you live in Southern California, good for you, although we envy you this time of year.)

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Mice and rats are so tiny that they fit through every small crack you can think of, or not. The basics are simple. Sweep and vacuum often. Don't leave open food out for them to feast and do not leave pet food out overnight. They love the stuff and your dug Rufus will absolutely not like this. What about sealing openings? You can do this before the season hits. Seal holes around pipes with caulk or expanding foam. Cover air vents with wire mesh so the fury guys can’t get inside. They are looking for warmth.  Did you know that cracks in your roof tiles can be the culprit too? No one thinks about these pests making it all the way up to their roof, and then inside the house. Replace broken roof tiles and fill in any cracks in the roofing cements. 

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If you walked into your garage or even in your basement and saw a bird and better yet a bat flying around, what would you do? What I’d do is for another blog on another day. But you should ask yourself how they got in. Your chimney is probably the culprit. Seal chimneys with chimney caps.  Inspect the home’s exterior. Seal any openings with steel wool or foam rubber. Squirrels and raccoons take the same route as the flying pests. For these guys, we know they love shrubbery, so keep shrubbery trimmed away from the house and cut down overhanging limbs. 

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Every house pest has its place- outside your home. Do what it takes early on, to keep them in their natural homes and out of yours.