Pest Control Blog | San Joaquin Pest Control

How Pest Problems Change in the Winter in Bakersfield

Written by Stephanie Morgan | Nov 26, 2015 1:00:00 PM

I have a serious question: what the heck happened to autumn? It seems like we went from summer to winter overnight. One day we’re dealing with 90-degree heat in October and then suddenly, things got real cold, real fast. I wasn’t quite ready to be dealing with 40-degree temperatures at night, especially without some sort of transition period.

And even though the world slows down a bit as the weather drops, especially among animals, pest problems never end. Sure, pests won’t be as active as they are in the summer, but that doesn’t mean you have a chance to rest.

  • For Starters: Remove All Standing Water From Your Property

Whether it’s a small bird bath or a large in-ground pool, this is not a good time to leave water sitting around. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in water during the cold months, which then lay dormant until spring. That’s when all those mosquitoes hatch, and if you leave your pool full, it could suddenly be home to a million mosquitoes. That is not a typo. So just drain that pool, huh?

  • Beware of Pests Already Indoors

Pests don’t want to be outside in the cold any more than you do, and if they can hole up inside your home for the duration, they will. So although you’re unlikely to experience new pest problems, it’s possible for pests to hide out in your home early on in the season. So be vigilant now for the appearance of cockroaches or rodents, among other pests. Ending an infestation early always makes the extermination process easier.

  • Take Safety Precautions Outdoors

People seem to forget that pests have to infiltrate your home from the outdoors, which means that your yard is the frontline of the battlefield. If you have a fireplace, never leave the firewood outdoors for long: termites would gladly feast upon it, and if they set up a nest in your yard, that’s quite dangerous. Eventually, they could easily find their way to your home.

Also be sure to trim branches from trees that hang over your home or close to windows or walls. When inclement weather comes, those branches could snap and damage your house. Additionally, they can give critters like rats and raccoons access to your roof, where they can wreak all sorts of havoc or even find a way inside.