Even though most of the country is facing record low’s this season, the pests in Florida do not hibernate throughout the winter like they do up north. Because we have a relatively moderate winter climate, several pests have adapted to moving into our homes order to survive the cold. During this cold snap, some homeowners begin to see activity of pests inside the home.

Rodents are the most common to make an appearance when the temperatures get low. You may start to hear scratching, scurrying, or see mice or rats and their droppings in your home. Rodents pose dangerous health risks as they scatter urine and feces around your home, and they can spread diseases to humans. Also, these droppings may begin to smell and cause respiratory issues, especially in people with severe allergies or asthma.   

Properly sealing the entrance points that they are accessing your home from is key to correcting this issue. Also making sure that your trash cans are sealed property, removing any clutter and eliminating any leaf piles can help prevent infestations. If you have fruit trees, make sure you discard of any fallen or rotting fruit on the ground and if you have a bird feeder, stop feeding them until the situation is corrected. 

It is also common to see an appearance of wildlife when we get a cold front. Florida is full of a vast variety of wildlife and they also want to get warm!  Raccoons, Opossum, Armadillos, and Squirrels are the some of the animals that can try to make our homes their own by accessing attics, roofs, lanais, and from under the home. Wildlife can also cause damage to our homes and aggressive wildlife can be a health risk. If you believe you have a pest issue in your home, contact us for a free inspection and we can help to eliminate these unwanted visitors!