January Pest Control Outlook – Bryan and College Station
It is officially winter, but some pests don’t mind that. Inside this blog, we look at common posts that poke up their heads during winter.
Raccoons
For the most part, raccoons build a den and then stay there. They don’t hibernate, but they do stay home on snow days. With the odd weather, it is possible to see raccoons around the yards or on porches. They may even try to build a den under the house. Generally, if you see raccoons, they are out looking for food. It is likely to be just a single animal, as they are quite solitary.
Skunks
Like raccoons, skunks do not hibernate. They also do not venture out much during the winter. This is usually because the females have kits. Baby skunks are called kits. They may also make an appearance if the weather is beautiful. The rainy season is an excellent time to find worms and grubs, and they do a fantastic job of keeping beetle populations under control.
Possum
Opossums are more likely to visit the front porch or garbage areas during the winter than are other larger wildlife. You may not see a lot of them as they stay in their dens for the most part. They do come where food is available and will happily eat pet food.
Rats and Mice
Winter is always a hard time for rodents, and they are one of the most annoying of winter pests. During rainy times, they lose their nests and have to seek out another shelter. That is why it seems as though they are never-ending. You get rid of a few, and more show up in your house.
Rat and mice populations also swell during the winter months as these are two rodents that do a bang-up job of storing food for winter. They also mate and have more litters too.
Black Widow Spiders
They were probably there already, but we tend to notice more black widow spiders during the winter months. One reason is that we are messing around with things that sit idle all year – Holiday decorations – Black widows and brown recluse, for that matter, are very shy. They like to nest in places where there is not a lot of disturbance. For one reason, black widows have very poor eyesight.
As you get things out of the attic or garage, be mindful that those places are where they like to live. The back of the closet is another spot. Be sure to check boots and shoes that are not worn often, as well as clothing. Nobody wants to be bitten by either a black widow or brown recluse spider.
Scorpions
Like the black widow, scorpions like to overwinter in quiet places. You may find them under planters or even in the house or garage.
If you have winter pest control issues, give us a call. We provide comprehensive and affordable pest control services to the Bryan and College Station Communities.
