May in Ohio and Michigan is a great time of the year. We are starting to have much longer and warmer days, the sun is shining, flowers are blooming, and we can officially begin to enjoy the outdoors much more often than we did for the last 6 months. While you and your family may love this time of the year and embrace the outdoors, pests and rodents can still find a way into your home, and many are more active now than they have been for months. Is your home ready to keep out summer pests and rodents? Let’s review.
Common Summer Pests
Before you can determine if your home is ready to keep out summer pests and rodents, you are probably wondering what you are trying to protect against in the first place. While pests like bed bugs, cockroaches, termites, and others can be visitors all year round, there are some pests and rodents that are more prominent in the spring and summer months. Some of the most active Ohio and Michigan spring and summer pests are below.
- Mosquitoes
- Ants
- Fleas
- Ticks
- Flies
- Stinging Insects
- Mice
- Rats
Like us, when the weather becomes warmer, the pests and rodents above, tend to want to move around and explore more, making them more noticeable and putting your home and business at risk of an infestation.
Is Your Home Ready to Keep Out Summer Pests and Rodents?
As mentioned above, pests and rodents are very active during the summer months. Pests and rodents are creative, and if they want to come inside your home, they will find a way, it doesn’t matter what season it is.
There are things that you can do to protect your home and business from pests and rodents this summer and beyond. As we know, pests and rodents are drawn to our dwellings because they are in search of food, water, and shelter, and our homes and businesses typically have plenty of those things; thus, while you can’t make your home less appealing to these unwanted guests, there are some things you can do to make it harder for them to get in or want to.
- Limit the amount of moisture in and around your home or business. One of the main reasons pests find their way inside during the warmer months of the year, is that, with the warmth, comes humidity and more moisture. Pests and rodents thrive in moist environments and seek water for their survival. Keep in mind, some months of the summer lack frequent precipitation, and if your home has water and moisture from the humidity or other sources, pests will move inside to get the water they need. If you notice sitting water or have water sources (i.e. bird bath, pet bowls, etc.) around your home, you should try and get rid of them if possible. When it comes to a pet’s water dish, only put it out when it is being actively used, and store it when it’s not.
- Keep it clean and eliminate easy to access food sources. Pests and rodents love easy to access food and are typically drawn into sweet smells. Be sure to keep all counters cleaned and wiped down, cover food when it is out, store food and pet food in sealed containers, and keep your garbage containers closed. Pests and rodents will sniff out even the smallest crumb and find a way to get to it. Cleanliness is critical for the prevention and control of any pest. Most pests and rodents feed on sugar and foods, so wiping up spills, not having dirty dishes laying around, and keeping food in airtight containers can help to keep them away.
- Utilize screens on windows and doors. If you don’t have screens on your windows or doors, you are openly inviting these critters into your home or business. One of the best ways to get your home ready to keep out summer pests and rodents is to inspect all screens to ensure there are no flaws or access points in them. Keep windows and doors closed as much as possible. Check your screens regularly for holes and tears and repair or replace them as needed. Also, check around doors and windows for gaps and replace weather stripping as needed.
- Don’t forget about maintaining the outside of your home. Certain landscaping can really draw pests and rodents to your home and give them access to get inside. As flowers and bushes begin to bloom, be sure to keep them manicured so they aren’t touching the outside of your home or business. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed with at least 1 foot between the branches and the walls of your home. Overgrown shrubbery and tree branches that are in contact with the side of your home can provide a clear pathway for pests. Mow your lawn regularly in the spring and summer so pests have less places to hide.
Is your home ready to keep out summer pests and rodents? Your home is your space, and while your home is attractive to pests in the summer months and all year round, you can prevent them from coming inside. At Delving Pest Control we can help with your pest control in Ohio and SE Michigan. We are experts at preventing and eliminating pests like spiders, bees, wasps, hornets, moths, flies, ants, fleas, roaches, Sasquatch, occasional invaders, and more.
To help prevent pests in or around your home or place of business, Delving Pest Control offers ongoing treatment programs. Each plan is tailored to specific needs that can be bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
