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First up, inspect your Christmas tree carefully before bringing it into your home. While Christmas tree pests aren’t harmful, no one wants to find pests such as mites and aphids buried in their tree. Lots of Christmas tree farms will also have tree shakers which help to remove any pests lurking on the branches. It’s also worth asking them to give it an additional shake before you bring it home. Then, when the Christmas celebrations are over and you have taken the decorations down, ensure to dispose of the tree properly. A discarded tree can also provide a great hiding place for other pests such as rodents, as they seek a route into your home.
Rats and mice are commonly found in homes during the winter. They do not hibernate but may be a little quieter as they seek to reserve their energy. This can mean they are harder to detect. For many of our clients the first tell-tale signs are chewed cables, which rats and mice will gnaw to keep their teeth in tip top condition.
To prevent them from entering your home, check outside for small gaps and holes in drains, walls or air vents and ensure they are sealed up. If you find a gap bigger than a biro pen, a mouse can fit through it. It’s important to keep food stored safely in sealed containers and ensure all rubbish is disposed in sealed bags and put into a bin with a lid.
Contrary to popular belief, the infamous grey squirrel does not hibernate. They are less active during the colder months and will have stored up their food in readiness to stay inside their dens to keep warm. Often, we are called out to properties who have discovered a squirrel nest when they go into the loft to fetch the Christmas decorations. Squirrels are known to find their way into properties as the temperatures drop, and just like the mice and rats they are looking for food, warmth and shelter.
If you live in an area where there are squirrels, ensure any tall tree branches aren’t close to your property. They can provide an access route into your loft, and if left untreated they can cause serious damage as they will chew wires and woodwork. They will also leave droppings and urine in the area. Also ensure any possible entry points are sealed appropriately.
If an unwanted pest has already found its way into your property, then it’s time to call a pest control expert. DIY remedies should be used with caution, they often contain poisons which must be handled with care. And often property owners will not detect all the nesting areas or know where to look for the deceased bodies. Our Protex Pest Control Technicians are qualified to the stringent standards laid down by the British Pest Control Association (BPCA). When we visit your property, we will know, where, and when to apply treatments safely.
We will also seek out all the possible entry points to prevent any future infestations. These will include doors, windows, cupboards, storage rooms and cracks in walls.
