Everything You Need To Know About Winter Pest Control

In Florida, the warm seasons provide a fertile breeding ground for mosquitos, fleas, and plenty of other pests. However, Florida pest problems don’t go away in the winter months! The colder months bring heavy rains and cold weather that will drive winter pests into homes and businesses all season long.

Most winter pests gain access to your home through tiny entry points, like gaps below doors, masonry cracks, and attic vents. Unfortunately, due to high reproduction rates, it doesn’t take long for a full-blown pest infestation to develop. When that happens, there’s only so much that you can do on your own –– the best way to keep your home pest-free during the winter months is to schedule regular preventative pest control with a local pest control expert.

What Is Winter Pest Control?

Winter pest control in Boca Raton, FL is all about dealing with the most common South Florida winter pests. Some pests, like fleas, may make their way into your home during any time of the year. However, other pests largely depend on the season. 

For example, rodents are a far more common issue during the cooler winter months. Even though South Florida winters are mild, rats and mice are more likely to seek warmth and shelter inside your home or garage during the winter. 

There are several pests that are more prominent in the winter. Each pest requires its own approach for treatment, and that's what winter pest control is about. 

Furthermore, winter pest control also helps prepare your home for the approaching spring season. Spring is well-known for many insects and other pests, so winter preparation is key for a pest-free spring as well. 

Top Winter Pests In Florida

Florida is known as a haven for many troublesome pests, but what are Florida’s most infamous wintertime critters?

1. Rats/Rodents/Mice
2. Roaches
3. Fleas
4. Ants
5. Moths, Silverfish, and Other Pantry Pests

Rats/Rodents/Mice

Rats, mice, and other small rodents are some of the most notorious wintertime pests in Florida. These critters can quickly multiply and damage the wiring, insulation, walls, and wood inside your home. Florida is known for having large numbers of palm rats, wood rats, Norway rats, and house mice –– and each type of rodent behaves differently and requires different solutions. 

Rats and mice can enter your home via tiny holes in exterior walls and roofs, and they can survive easily off of food scraps, birdseed in your yard, or unattended pet food. These animals are even tough enough to survive off of the water from a leaky faucet or the condensation from pipes in the walls!

The winter rains and harsh winds of the colder months will drive many of these rodents indoors, where a warm, undisturbed attic can serve as a comfy place to settle down. The best way to prevent pest infestations from rats and mice is with rodent exclusion and regular inspections. If rodents do find their way into your home, it’s important to contact a pest control expert for professional rodent removal as soon as possible! 

Oriental Roaches + German Roaches

Roaches are another pest nuisance common to Florida in the winter months. These insects can feed on just about anything, and the heavy rains of the winter months often drive them indoors.

Cockroaches are small and hardy. They can enter your home through foundation cracks, gaps around pipes, exposed vents, or even a door left open to allow the cool winter air inside. Once they make it inside, they’re able to survive on crumbs and small droplets of water. In fact, adult cockroaches can survive for days at a time without access to water, and even longer if they have water, but no food.

Cockroaches usually hide inside appliances, cabinets, drawers, boxes, and furniture, and venture out at night in search of water and food. Since Florida has such mild winters, cockroach populations thrive throughout the winter months. The best way to prevent a roach infestation is by cleaning up food scraps, crumbs, and leftover pet food from all cooking and dining areas every day, and with regular preventative maintenance from a local pest control service.

Fleas

In the northern US, fleas often have trouble surviving during winter. Florida’s mild winters allow fleas to survive year-round –– during the harshest period of the Florida winter, fleas may go briefly dormant, but they will return in great force at the first sign of spring. 

Fleas thrive in tall grass, but they can easily make a home in carpet, bedding, and upholstery. Fortunately, preventing flea infestations is fairly simple as long as you continue lawn and garden maintenance even during the winter months, apply regular flea treatments to your pets, and deep clean the interior of your home each month. 

If after all of that, you still have flea trouble in Florida, reach out to a local pest control expert to discuss flea extermination and prevention.

Ants

Florida is known for providing a comfortable home for several species of ants. While some ants, like fire ants, prefer to build nests outdoors, others, like carpenter ants, love to inhabit the walls and attics of people’s homes. 

Often, sudden winter rains will drive ants into your home, where they will quickly build nests in walls near sources of water and food. Ants are often very destructive and will chew their way through wooden framing and baseboards, and sometimes they’ll even bite, so it’s important to deal with infestations quickly.

Different species of ants are attracted to different types of bait, so before buying ant traps and baits at your local hardware store, it’s a good idea to contact a local pest control service for advice on how to get rid of ants. 

Pantry Pests And Other Bugs

Depending on what part of Florida you’re in you might encounter pantry pests and other bugs like moths, silverfish, cluster flies, boxelder bugs, or even stink bugs (an invasive species). 

Moths and silverfish are known for being destructive, especially if they inhabit dark, humid storage areas like attics and closets. The best way to deal with these pests is to reduce the humidity of your home with either a central HVAC system or dehumidifiers. 

Cedar hangers and paneling can deter infestations, along with specialized insect repellants. Fortunately, these pests pose little threat to humans and pets, as they typically don’t bite or spread disease –– however, they will target starchy materials like cardboard, paper, and fabric, so it’s best to prevent inhabitation.

Winter Pest Control In Boca Raton, FL

Even during Florida’s mild winters, harsh rains and cold nights drive many pests into homes and businesses throughout the season. Rodents, insects, and other pests can easily through tiny access points and multiply quickly, so it’s important to stay ahead of them.

The best way to prevent winter pests from entering your home is to schedule regular preventative pest control for winter pests. A qualified pest control expert can monitor your home’s exterior for entry points you might not notice, provide pest exclusion services, and, when necessary, quickly eliminate a wintertime pest infestation.

For quality winter pest control services you can count on, turn to Native Pest Management. We offer comprehensive pest control services in the South Florida area, including Boca Raton, FL, and the surrounding areas. Some of our winter pest control services include:

• Termite Control
• Pantry Pests
• Ants
• Flea Control
• Rodent Control (rats and mice)
• And more!

If you are experiencing a pest problem, our dedicated team is here to help with our many pest control services. We offer year-round extermination to help you control seasonal pests and enjoy a happy, healthy home environment. 

Whether you are currently facing a pest infestation or want to prevent any from making their way into your home, we can help with our pet-safe pest control services. 

Learn more about Native Pest Management can help with your winter pest control needs today. Request your free quote below!