How to Keep Pests Out of Your Attic

Although we don’t experience the cold winters many parts of the country do, winter pest problems are nonetheless a problem for homeowners in Las Vegas. Certain insects and pests often try to make their way indoors in the fall and winter to wait out the cooler months ahead. This can be a major nuisance for property owners, as no one wants to deal with an infestation this time of year. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to prevent these pests from getting inside in the first place. Keep reading for top tips from the team at Rentokil.

What Pests Are Common in the Winter?

With less drastic temperature changes, many pests are a year-round problem for homeowners in the Las Vegas area. That said, it’s important to know which ones may be looking to get inside your home this time of year. The most common culprits include:

  1. House mice: These mice prefer secluded areas and will look to nest in your attic using insulation and other stored items.
  2. Roof rats: Just as their name suggests, roof rats can squeeze their way indoors and up to the attic in your home.
  3. Spiders: House spiders are typically harmless, but black widows are known to get indoors this time of year.
  4. German cockroaches: As one of the most common roaches, they are known to be especially troublesome in the winter.

Preventing Winter Pest Problems

The key to avoiding overwintering pests is to deny them access inside in the first place. Trim overhanging tree branches, overgrown bushes, and vines away from your home to limit roof access to pests. In addition, secure your chimney with a chimney cap, and install wire mesh over any vents or roof openings. If you keep your garbage cans outdoors, make sure to keep them secure with tight-fitting lids. Lastly, keep everything organized in plastic bins in your attic. Look for gaps or openings and seal them with steel wool or caulk. A combination of these efforts should effectively keep all pests out of your attic and home through the winter months.

Attic Pests in Las Vegas

If you’re hearing odd noises in your attic, there’s a good chance you have unwelcome guests up there. Always call a professional pest control expert before investigating, as attic pest problems can be dangerous and hazardous to get rid of on your own. Contact the team at Rentokil today for more information!

Can I Get a Termite Infestation in the Fall or Winter?

Here in Las Vegas, we are used to dealing with all types of pests all year long. As much as we might wish termites were only a seasonal pest problem, they are active throughout the entire year. Termites famously swarm in the spring and summer, but can actually swarm all the way through October. Regardless of whether you see them swarming or not, termites are hard at work every month of the year. Colonies can grow at a constant rate, and damage from an infestation usually takes a year or two to actually show up in your property. Discovering termites in your property can happen any month of the year, which is why it’s so important to constantly protect your property from them.

Fall Termite Problems in Las Vegas

The queen termite will reproduce and lay eggs all year long, allowing the colony to grow at a constant rate. The more mature a colony is, the more damage can be made to your home. If you have an infestation festering in your property for more than two years, it is very likely to begin to notice the signs of damage, even in the fall and winter months.

If and when we have cold winter weather, termites will simply burrow further underground to stay warm. This is why it’s unlikely to see termites this time of year. However, it’s crucial to always be on the lookout for these wood-destroying pests and the damage they may be causing.

How Do You Look For Termites in Your Home?

Termites are infamous for being difficult to detect until you have a serious infestation. After a year or two of their activity, you will start to see some of the following signs of termites and their damage:

  • Mud tubes
  • Discarded swarmer wings
  • Termite frass (feces)
  • Drywall discoloration
  • Loose tiles or buckling floors
  • Bubbling or uneven paint on walls
  • Holes in drywall
  • Hollow-sounding or crumbling wood

Preventing Fall Termite Infestations

Preventing termites means being proactive about safeguarding your home against them all year long. This is best done with a professional termite exterminator such as Western Exterminator. We have a number of termite treatment options designed to keep you safe from an infestation ever starting in the first place. Contact us today to learn more!

8-Step Checklist for Rodent Control

Compared to most of the states in the country, Las Vegas experiences pretty mild winters. However, that doesn’t mean that residents don’t experience winter pest problems all the same! Rodents are a common problem throughout the entire year, but infestations are especially common in the colder months. As temperatures drop, rats and mice will seek out warmth and shelter inside of homes. Once indoors, they can cause a lot of damage, making it important to know how to prevent them from getting in in the first place! Keep reading for expert tips from Rentokil on rodent control this winter.

Can Rats & Mice Survive the Cold?

Although many types of animals hibernate during the winter, the same cannot be said for rats and mice. In fact, they seem more active than ever with how common infestations are this time of year. In fact, The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has reported that 21 million homes in the U.S. are invaded by rodents each winter!

Mice are infamous for being able to squeeze their bodies through the tiniest holes, which is why it’s crucial to seal your home properly.

Rodent Control Checklist

Rodent control checklist for your Las Vegas or Henderson NV home this winter - Western Exterminator of Las Vegas

Inspecting your property is a great way to lessen the risk of a rodent infestation. Locating and fixing anything that is in need of repair can effectively keep rats and mice outdoors. There are eight areas in particular to inspect to prevent rodents:

  1. Roof: Replace and repair shingles or any other roof damage
  2. Vents: Cover all vents securely
  3. Screens: Fix or replace any damaged window, door, or porch screens
  4. Vegetation: Keep a tidy yard and cut tree limbs back away from your home
  5. Gutters: Clean debris from gutters and downspouts
  6. Outside: Securely seal trash cans and keep a clean yard
  7. Garage: Make sure your garage closes flush to the ground
  8. Foundation: Seal any cracks or crevices larger than a dime

Year-Round Rodent Prevention

If you’ve done all you can to prevent rats or mice and still have noticed the signs of an infestation, it’s time to call the rodent exterminators at Rentokil. Our team specializes in preventing pest problems before they begin, making us your local leaders in rodent control and removal. To learn more about keeping rats and mice out of your home during the winter and all year long, call us!

5 Ways to Prevent Winter Pests

Rodents infest Las Vegas NV homes to escape dropping temperatures in the winter - Western Exterminator of Las VegasLas Vegas may not have the extreme temperatures during the winter that some parts of the country do, but that doesn’t mean we don’t deal with winter pest problems all the same! Changes in the weather cause rodents, insects, and other pests to squeeze their way inside your homes in search of shelter and warmth.

For this reason, it’s important to learn how to protect your home from pests in the wintertime. The experts at Rentokil have compiled their top tips on how to prevent winter pests in your Las Vegas home!

What are the most common winter bugs?

During the wintertime, there are many bugs and pests that look to enter homes. Some of the pest problems you may face during this time of year include infestations from:

  • Argentine ants. These fast breeding ants start to produce eggs in the late winter, which is why it’s important to prevent them.
  • Rats & mice. House mice and Norway rats in particular are known to squeeze their way indoors during the cold months.
  • Spiders. House spiders are typically harmless, but black widows are known to get indoors this time of year.
  • German cockroaches. One of the most popular cockroach species, they are known to be especially troublesome in the winter.

Prevent Winter Pests in 5 Steps

Keeping pests out of your home in the winter months requires many of the same efforts of preventing pests year-round. Five ways you can prevent winter pests include:

  1. Seal cracks and crevices outside your property to keep pests from making their way inside.
  2. Place screens over vents and chimneys to eliminate entry points inside the property.
  3. Store firewood away from the home and eliminate clutter in your yard to discourage nesting.
  4. Eliminate sources of excess moisture by promptly fixing leaking pipes and clogged drains.
  5. Promptly clean up spills, dispose of garbage regularly, and avoid excess clutter.

Professional Winter Pest Control

To avoid the frustration of a pest infestation during the winter, you need to learn how to protect your property against pests. Rodents, cockroaches, and spiders are common pest infestations in Las Vegas winters, which is why it’s so important to implement winter pest control into your home maintenance routine. If you need help or want to learn more about how to prevent winter pests, give the experts at Rentokil a call today!