How to Prevent Winter Pest and Wildlife Bookings
The Midwestern winter landscape can be so still and silent, it would be easy to think of it as a temporary reprieve from the work of keeping residential and commercial buildings free of insect and wildlife intruders.
Unfortunately, however, that glittery Christmas card landscape does not reflect the busy travel plans of many a creature seeking a cozy place to overwinter.
You may not have listed them on AirbnBat & Raccoon, but your buildings likely include many of the amenities a wide range of creatures and insects are searching for.
Without a year-round strategy for discouraging pests and nuisance wildlife, you can unintentionally end up as a winter “Superhost” for everything from spiders to squirrels, bats and opossums.
Criteria that Earn a 5-Star Review from Multi-Legged Seasonal Guests
Winter pests have a unique set of criteria when selecting winter accommodations. Here’s an overview of the features and conditions that deliver high ratings for creature comfort.
- Cleanliness: Does the building meet the appropriate standards of (un)cleanliness? For mice, rats and insects, including spiders and stink bugs, damp, dark and cluttered is the gold standard. Extra points for complimentary dining packages, including crumbs, morsels of pet food and unsecured garbage.
- Access: Does your building exterior convey “welcome!” to creatures passing through? Here are a few pro tips that separate the 5-star properties from the ones that pests and wildlife avoid:
- Let trees grow up against the building to provide scenic access to rooftops and chimneys.
- Let debris accumulate in the landscaping as a good source of nesting material.
- Leave access points like chimneys, crawlspaces and pet doors unobstructed for easy entry by opossums, raccoons, squirrels and bats.
- Nothing says “Raccoon Family Friendly” like accessible garbage cans.
- Check-in Experience: Avoid exclusion devices that make the check-in process tedious. Chimney caps, vent covers, soffit gap closures and other structural reinforcements leave potential wildlife guests frustrated and likely to move on.
- Location: Attics with unsealed openings are the Ritz-Carlton of winter get-aways for bats: warm, dry and plenty of privacy for undisturbed hibernation. Raccoons will also be comfortable here and will rate you even higher if there is plenty of wiring and insulation to gnaw on.
- Ambience: The key to a great winter experience for many wildlife species is to be left undisturbed. Dark, quiet spaces where your insect and creature guests can chew, forage, graze, shred your insulation and reproduce in peace will keep them coming back – and spreading the word about your hospitality! Avoid regular inspections by experienced wildlife and pest control professionals likely to eliminate access points and drive winter guests away.
Tank Your Rating on AirbnBug with Professional Help for Winter Pest Prevention & Eviction
Don’t let your home or building fall victim to unintentional wildlife and pest hospitality this season. That silence coming from your crawl space could be the sound of bats hibernating or six and eight-legged crawlers colonizing the wall space. Don’t overlook the signs of cold-weather intrusions that can rapidly grow. A program of regular inspection and treatment can provide you with the right kind of peace and quiet in the winter.
At Rusty’s Animal Control, we provide property and building managers and homeowners with a reliable and professional defense against a wide range of wildlife, rodents and insect pests that includes thorough assessment, customized solutions and diligent follow-up.
To learn more about our services, contact a member of our team.