Pest Control Tips for a Pest-Free Holiday Season

The Holidays are a time for family and home. We take care to decorate for the festivities and gather ‘round the table for family recipes and treats. However, author Clement Clarke Moore got it wrong when he wrote the famous line, “Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse,” in his famous poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” The truth is that many of our beloved holiday traditions are also beloved by household pests. Here are pest control tips that will help you avoid sharing your home with unwanted guests this Holiday Season.

In nature, trees are the homes of spiders and other pests. Christmas trees are no exception and can often be crawling with spiders. Like any pest, spiders want to get into warm homes, come winter. Even if you’ve been careful to seal any cracks and other openings that might allow pests into your home, a lush evergreen tree can become a Trojan horse.

The best way to avoid this is to use an artificial tree. If you prefer a fresh tree, remember that the types of spiders commonly found in Christmas trees are typically harmless to humans. They are also beneficial. Spiders are natures pest control professionals, capturing and consuming insects that are common house pests.

Spiders reproduce in great quantities, however. This means even harmless house spiders can become pests, if their numbers grow too large. In these instances, it can be tempting to use chemical pesticides. These, however, are ineffective against spiders, due to the anatomy of arachnids. A spider’s eight legs keep its body elevated off the ground, meaning such poisons typically only make contact with the tips of the spider’s legs. Web-spinning spiders spend most of their time in their webs and, therefore, do not often come in contact with chemicals sprayed on surfaces.

This means that effectively dealing with a serious spider problem requires the experience and knowledge of trained professionals. Learn more about spiders, here, and request a quote, if you notice an excessive number of spiders this winter.

While spiders feed on insects, leftover holiday foods and crumbs from sweets can provide a feast for rodents. Whoever invented the gingerbread house clearly was not a pest control technician. The same is true for popcorn garlands!

Because rodents carry fleas, problems with mice and rats can turn into compounded pest control issues. Do-it-yourself removals of rodent nests can expose families to fleas, as well as kick up disease-causing airborne bacteria. Like spiders, these pest are best left to the professionals. Learn more about pest control problems related to rodents, here.

Simple precautionary measures, however, can prevent rodent infestations and keep your nutcracker from having to battle the Mouse King. Make sure to properly store all leftover, cookies, chocolates, and other holiday favorites in airtight containers. If your house has a fireplace or wood-burning stove, do not pile firewood near the home. Such wood piles are attractive homes for rodents, and will eventually cause them to move into yours.

A pest infestation is no way to end the year and begin the new one. Educating yourself on pest control matters unique to the holiday season will help you and your family take the precautions necessary for a pest-free winter. Masters Pest Control wishes you a happy, healthy, and safe holiday!