A lot of pests in Tinton Falls may use your cozy home as an escape from the cold. Sadly, your home provides these unwanted visitors with what they need to survive including food, heat, and moisture. Knowledge of these pests may help you take preventive measures to protect your home from potential invasions in the winter. You can work with a pest control team at alliancepestservices.com to eliminate active infestations and prevent future ones. Below are common pests that head indoors as temperatures dip:
Rodents
House mice and Norway rats in Tinton Falls are active in late fall and early winter. They find their way inside through gaps as small as a dime. They nest behind walls, inside attics, or near stored boxes in basements.
Rodents look for steady food sources, so they may target pantries, trash bins, and pet food bowls. Once inside, they gnaw through insulation, electrical wiring, and wooden beams. This creates property damage and raises fire risks. Plus, rodents carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces. You can discourage them by sealing cracks around your foundation and windows and storing food in airtight containers. Also, you must inspect hidden areas for droppings or shredded material.
Spiders
Spiders follow invasive insects indoors looking for prey. Common species like cellar spiders and house spiders thrive in basements, attics, and storage rooms. Most spiders in Tinton Falls are harmless, but their presence can indicate another pest-related issue. Cobwebs under furniture or in window frames may be the first signs they have moved in. Regular cleaning, vacuuming, and decluttering can keep spider populations down. A quick inspection around foundation gaps and vents helps prevent entry during the fall season.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches look for the nearest heat source when temperatures fall. This may lead them straight into homes and apartments. German cockroaches are especially an issue indoors. They thrive in kitchens and bathrooms due to the presence of warmth and humidity. American cockroaches prefer basements and crawl spaces. These pests can slip through floor drains or ride in grocery bags and cardboard boxes. Cockroaches may lose interest in your home if you regularly wipe surfaces and fix leaky pipes. Also, you need to keep garbage bins tightly sealed up.
Ants
Ants in Tinton Falls may disappear from sight in winter, but they do not vanish completely. Many colonies go dormant outdoors, yet some species move inside when cold weather hits. They enter through foundation cracks or under doors, settling inside wall voids and under floorboards. To control their access, keep kitchen surfaces free of crumbs and mop floors regularly. A perimeter check each fall can reveal tiny openings you can seal with silicone caulk or weatherstripping.
Silverfish and Firebrats
Silverfish might not seem like winter pests, but they may be more noticeable once they escape cold basements and move toward warmer rooms. They favor dark, humid areas such as bathrooms, attics, and laundry rooms.
Firebrats are close relatives of silverfish. They prefer higher temperatures and nest near furnaces, boilers, or hot water pipes. Both pests feed on paper, glue, and fabric. Thus, stored clothes, books, and wallpaper can fall victim to their feeding habits. Reduce humidity with dehumidifiers and seal cracks around baseboards and plumbing lines to limit their hiding spots.
Stink Bugs
Brown marmorated stink bugs are familiar to many Tinton Falls residents. These shield-shaped insects swarm around homes in early fall as they prepare for overwintering. They stay dormant until spring.
Although stink bugs don’t bite or cause damage, their odor can be a nuisance once they emerge indoors during warm spells. Use window screens and door sweeps to prevent them from getting inside.
