While we have discussed this previously, we feel that it’s always good to review important material. Tis the season for winter pests in Oregon! We’re here to remind you what those pests are, and how you can prevent them from joining you for your holiday gatherings. After all, no one wants Aunt Edna to find a cockroach in the bathroom on New Year’s Eve.
Without further ado, here are the top ten most common winter pests in our beautiful state, in no particular order:
Top 10 Winter Pests In Oregon
- Rodents – Probably the most top of mind when people think of winter pests, rodents are always looking for food, shelter, and warmth – all things that most human homes offer.
- Cockroaches – Gross, dirty, and incredibly difficult to get rid of, it’s no wonder that roaches have a bad reputation.
- Termites – They’ll destroy your home board by board, literally. Preventing termite infestation by pre-treating wood is far easier than getting rid of them once they get in, and is incredibly effective in our humid climate.
- Bed Bugs – While not poisonous or destructive, bed bugs are one of the most notorious pests, due to their behavior and how difficult it is to get rid of them. They hide in dark spaces at night and feast on you while you’re sleeping.
- Ants – In Oregon, we have both home and pantry-invading ants. They collect in the thousands, and can be quite a nuisance.
- Carpenter Ants – Yes, we just mentioned ants above, but carpenter ants get their own number. Like the aforementioned termites, they nest in the wood inside your home. So they’re kind of like an ant/termite hybrid. Because those two things aren’t bad enough on their own…
- Hobo Spiders – Known to be aggressive with a painful bite, hobo spiders like to hide in dark places, including shoes and toys that may be left on the floor.
- Black Widows – They make terrible company, leaving a messy web and a very painful, poisonous bite. Black widows like dark corners and aren’t particularly friendly.
- Ticks – In Oregon you’ll find both the Rocky Mountain wood tick and the black-legged tick, which can carry and transmit Lyme disease. While you’re less likely to find these pests inside the home, they can be carried in by pets and rodents.
- Fleas – If you’ve got pets, you can get fleas. Both house pets and rodents alike can bring fleas into your home. Vacuuming often and pre-treating pets can help keep flea infestations to a minimum.
As you can probably guess, most of the aforementioned bugs are not welcome in most people’s homes. You’ve heard it before, but we will say it again – prevention is key! How can you keep them out? Sanitation and exclusion are the best methods of effective pest control. Contact your favorite Oregon pest control company and have them check your home for possible entry points. Eliminate those entry points and attractants by sealing cracks in walls, windows, and doors, and keeping your home free of attractants. Keep food sealed up, garbage stored properly, and firewood outside until ready for use.
They got in! What now?
We all know that prevention is the optimal choice. Unfortunately, sometimes pests make it in to our spaces. Fortunately, as frustrating as uninvited guests are, there are effective methods for getting them out of your space. At this point, it’s time to call in the pros. Our all-natural pest elimination methods are great for both home and office infestations. Contact us today for a free consultation!
