Pests Want to Escape the Cold, Wet Outside Too

Who would want to be outside when it is cold and wet?  You certainly would not – would you?  Your furry friends on the outside will not want to be out there either.  Make sure you do not offer them an inviting place to hang their hats.  There are plenty of things you can do to keep them outside in the cold where they belong.  Keep reading for a few tips.

You may want to keep your firewood as close to your home as possible so you do not have to travel far to bring some back into the house.  However, creatures like ants and cockroaches love to stay in stacks of wood and may decide to enter your home if they are right beside it anyway.  You can make it harder for these insects to access the wood by keeping it stored up off the ground.  Before you bring any wood into your home, make sure you check it.

If you have a chimney it will provide an easy way for pests to enter your home and escape the cold.  This is quite common with squirrels, bats, and raccoons.  You can keep this from happening by installing a chimney cap.  A cap will also keep embers and sparks from igniting a fire on your roof.

Pests can easily escape the cold if there are suitable openings on the exterior of your home.  They can easily get into the openings beside pipes or vents if they are not sealed properly.  You need to go around your home and inspect it thoroughly.  Make sure you seal up any openings you find.  Plug up the opening with a material which cannot be chewed through easily.

You will want to keep potential food sources limited as much as possible.  This means keeping your garbage can sealed tightly.  On the inside, you will need to keep food stored in airtight containers and clean up any crumbs in the cabinets and pantry.  It is also a good idea to avoid leaving any dirty dishes in the sink for long periods of time.

Homeowners should also ensure their yard is not cluttered.  If pests are unable to find a way into your home, debris in your yard will be the next best thing. 

Humans are not the only creatures who do not like cold, wet weather.  Avoid letting pests enter your home in order to escape cold weather.  Seal any potential openings and never provide a source of food for them.