10 Tips to Tackle Your Pest Control Issues Before Winter

10 Tips to Tackle Your Pest Control Issues Before Winter

Winter is coming – and the last thing any Ottawa homeowner wants to deal with is a pest infestation during the frosty winter months. Rodents like mice, rats, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and groundhogs are crafty creatures. Smaller rodents can squeeze into your home through a crack smaller than the size of a dime, and larger rodents still find a way in through the basement, roof, or walls.

Pest Control in Ottawa

In-laws are bad enough – you don’t want any other uninvited guests cramping your holiday style. Here are ten easy tips to tackle any pest control issues in Ottawa before winter sets in. Pests rely on three things to survive – water, food, and an hospitable habitat. Take away what they need to survive in your home, and you can force the rodents away from your home.

  1. Water pooling around your home’s foundation isn’t just a threat to your basement and foundation – it serves as an oasis for rodents. Have a roof inspection to make sure there are no leaks and that your gutter and downspout system is unclogged and in good working order to prevent basement leaks or pooling water.
  2. Rodents use bushes and branches as roadways to climb onto your home’s roof and seek a way in. Trim bushes around your home and prune trees to ensure there is at least one foot of distance between the bush/tree and the home at all times.
  3. Rodents can easily gnaw through cardboard boxes and get to the items inside. Use sealed plastic boxes and containers to store your belongings, especially in the basement, attic, and kitchen.
  4. What’s garbage to us is food to rodents. Do not leave food garbage anywhere except for the kitchen. Regularly dispose of your kitchen garbage and compost in a sealed bin outside. Keep all your food in airtight containers.
  5. If you have pets, do not leave their food out in the open all day long. Train your pets to eat on a set schedule, and keep their food tucked safely away in an air-tight container at all other times.
  6. If you haven’t already, make sure to install screens around your chimney and other open vents around the home. If you already did this in previous seasons, check to make sure the vents are still secure with no holes or signs of wear.
  7. Firewood and other wooden materials should not be stacked or stored against the foundation of your home. Not only does stacked firewood provide food for pests like termites, it can capture water for other pests. Firewood should be stored off the ground, at least 20 feet from the home.
  8. Make sure any small cracks or holes are completely sealed. Remember, mice can enter your home through a hole as small as a dime, so don’t take risks.
  9. Inspect insulation, wires, and other materials for signs of gnaw marks. If you find evidence of a rodent infestation, contact a pest control company right away.
  10. Contact a pest control company if you see rodent droppings, hear the sounds of rodents scurrying, or notice any signs of infestation (like a nest).

Do you have any other pest control tips that have worked for you?

 

Author

Born and raised in Ottawa, Ann is a writer and amateur wine expert. She loves trying out the latest pubs and restaurants around town, unless "The Bachelor" is on. Don't bug her when "The Bachelor" is on.

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