While the weather in Florida doesn’t change too much when fall season arrives, we do have to deal with fall pests. Pests that emerge during the fall are often seeking refuge in homes to escape the cooler weather and search for a food source for survival. Check out our list of common fall pests found in Florida and how you can prevent them from invading your home.
Fall Pests: Rodents
The house mouse, Norway rat, and roof rat all look to our homes for comfort and food. While these rodents all have different characteristics, they all need a warm place to inhabit and food to survive. These wildlife creatures will often invade our attics, basements, crawlspaces, and kitchens. Preventing rodents from entering your home starts with placing certain rodent prevention measures inside and outside of the home. Consider these rodent prevention tips:
- Inspect your roof for any damage, including broken titles or gaps under eaves that allow rodents to enter in from and repair them immediately.
- Declutter your home by removing any old newspapers, magazines, and cardboard boxes.
- Consider utilizing plastic storage bins with tight lids to store items in your basement, attics, or garages.
- Check your utility pipes for gaps, repairing any openings with caulk or steel wool.
Fall Pests: Ants
Sneaky, small, and a major nuisance if they find their way inside your home, ants can often go undetected and grow in numbers if not treated as soon as possible. These pests are looking to your home for warmth, food, and water. You’ll often find ants in your bathrooms, kitchens, and food pantries. To prevent ants from invading your home, prevent them by:
- Sealing any gaps or cracks around your home; look for these openings closely around the doors and windows.
- Cleaning up any leftover food, crumbs on the floor, and spills.
- If you have a pet, consider placing their leftover food in a sealed plastic container rather than the paper bags they come in.
- Trying to keep the tree branches and other shrubbery in your yard well-trimmed and diverted away from the home’s structure.
Fall Pests: Cockroaches
Roaches are very adaptable and can survive in the harshest cold and hottest weather. These pests are known to rapidly reproduce and will infest into homes in numbers if not treated. Additionally, they can bring diseases into your home and trigger allergies and asthma attacks. These creatures are scavengers and will eat just about anything they find in your home. Check out these tips on avoiding roaches from entering your home:
- Keep your counters, sinks, floors, and tables clean and crumb-free.
- Don’t leave your dirty dishes in the sink overnight; instead, clean them and put them away or place them in your dishwasher.
- Check for any openings or gaps around your window and doors, sealing them with weatherstripping.
- Consider utilizing a dehumidifier in your crawlspace and basement to help eliminate any excess moisture.
If you’ve noticed an influx of common fall pests in your Florida home, consider reaching out to your local pest control company for help. These professionals will be able to provide you with a treatment and preventative plan to avoid a pest infestation in the future.
