While you may think that cold weather will prevent you from experiencing pest and wildlife invasions over the winter, you may want to think twice. In fact, many pests are extremely resilient, even in sub-zero temperatures. During the holiday season, be sure to watch for some key signs both inside and outside your home.

Raccoon, Squirrel & Skunk Control on Your Property

Fresh food is scarce during the winter months. As a result, small animals such raccoons, skunks and squirrels spend a lot of their time searching for alternative sources of food on days when it is not bitterly cold. Berries, seeds and even garbage on your property may draw these animals to seek shelter nearby. If they find something to eat on your property, they’re likely to return. They may even decide to seek shelter under your porch or in your attic. It is important to consistently monitor the outside of your home for possible entry points and keep food sources away to prevent animal nesting and foraging.

If you notice any of the following signs outside of your home, it may be possible that unwanted guests have taken up residence on your property:
Footprints in the snow around your house, which may indicate deer, rodents or raccoons
Tears in your garbage bags or food pulled out of your bins
Droppings in your backyard
To prevent pest and wildlife from continuing to visit your property during the winter months, make sure to:

• Secure the lid—Buy a garbage can with a lockable lid that won’t blow off when it’s windy.
• Keep it indoors—Consider keeping your garbage can inside for the winter or in a closed garage that is inaccessible to animals, except on collection days.
• Use deterrents—Place strong-smelling mothballs in the bottom of the bin to deter would-be scavengers.

Ant, Cockroach & Rodent Control in the Winter Months

During the summer we often seen an abundance of pests outside our homes, but where do they go when temperatures drop below zero? Many creatures such as butterflies and hummingbirds travel south to escape to warmer climates. On the other hand, many insects go dormant into a state called “diapause” for a deep sleep to avoid the cold and reawaken when temperatures are warmer. Finally, there are also many creatures that instead brave the cold and find shelter away from the cold – sometimes in your home, including the walls and attics.
Spotting the following warning signs early on will help with rodent & pest control before it gets out of hand:

• Bite marks on your kitchen counters or walls
• Small rodent droppings
• Shed wings or carcasses
• Scratching noises in your walls

Prevention

If you’ve spotted a potential invasion in your home during the late fall and winter months, you may consider taking the following steps to keep pests out of your home:

• Clean food off counters and floors.
• Wipe up spills and fix leaks immediately.
• Seal cracks in doors, windows and walls.

For effective rodent control in Toronto and surrounding areas, contact a reputable pest removal company. At ICE Pest Control, we understand the frustration of having wildlife and pests in your home. We will remove them in a humane way and help with preventative measures to ensure they do not come back. If you think you may have rodents, squirrels, raccoons, or any other pest lurking in your home, speak to our pest control specialists in Toronto.
To book an appointment or receive a free quote, contact us today. We offer pest and wildlife removal services to customers in the Greater Toronto Area, including Mississauga, Toronto, Oakville, Brampton and North York.