Protect Your Home From Rodents This Fall

Rodents enter homes in Everett and Marysville WA in the fall - Western Exterminator, formerly Pratt PestPest infestations are more common than you think in the fall. Rodents are one of the most common offenders. Just like other pests, rodents will seek out warmth, shelter, and food inside your home. Rats and mice inside aren’t just a nuisance, they can be dangerous as well. Not only are rodents destructive, they can spread germs and disease too. The team at Western Exterminator, formerly Pratt Pest knows how important it is to keep your family safe from rodents. We also know you want to feel comfortable in your home and enjoy the fall season without worrying about an infestation in your house. Keep reading to learn our top tips to protect your home from rodents this fall and all year long.

Why do Rats Get Indoors in the Fall?

If you’re hearing rustling in the walls or gnawing noises, chances are you may have a rodent problem. When they get inside, rats and mice will take shelter in the attic, basement, and garage. They also will infest kitchens, laundry rooms, and are highly likely to invade your trash cans if given the chance. A rat or mouse problem often begins when the rodents get in through your chimney, pipes, air vents, and more. With incisors that never stop growing, their chewing habits can be destructive. They also are known carriers of germs and bacteria that can cause disease. For these reasons, it’s crucial to learn how to keep them out.

Tips to Protect Your Home From Rodents

No one wants rats or mice inside their home. Unfortunately, they can get in easier than you want to think. Some of the best ways to prevent a fall rodent problem is to keep them outside. Try out the following tips:

  1. Cover all vents. Install mesh screens on your vents. Also consider installing screens on doors and windows.
  2. Use a tight-fitting lid on your trash cans. Rodents love to rummage in the garbage! If possible, keep your trash cans sealed and stored.
  3. Protect your eaves. Fix any damaged roofing and use wire mesh to seal gaps in your eaves.
  4. Store food and items properly. Securely store food in tight-fitting containers with lids.
  5. Seal cracks and crevices. Use caulk or wire wool to cover up gaps and openings near pipes.

Year-Round Rodent Prevention

Rodents aren’t just bothersome in the fall. To keep your Washington property protected all year long, the team at Western can help. Our rodent exterminators will customize a rodent control plan suited to the unique needs of your property. Contact us today!

How to Identify Dangerous Fall Spiders

Spiders are more common in the fall in Marysville Washington - Western Exterminator, formerly Pratt PestHere in Washington, we are used to dealing with spiders. Especially in the late summer and early fall months, spiders seem to be out in full force! After hatching in the spring, spider populations boom in August and September. Most of the spiders you come across in your garden or home are harmless (even if they look scary). However, our region is home to a couple of the more dangerous spider species: black widows and hobo spiders. No one wants spiders in their property—especially the more dangerous ones. The team at Western Exterminator, formerly Pratt Pest is here to share info on identifying and preventing dangerous fall spiders.

Black Widows & Hobo Spiders

No one wants to get close enough to a spider to identify it! That said, it’s important to know about black widows and hobo spiders. Both of these spiders can bite when they leave threatened, which can be dangerous. Here’s how to identify these spiders:

  • Black widows
    • These spiders have a characteristic red hourglass shape on its body.
    • They build sticky, tangled cobwebs in garages, sheds, and near the ground.
    • They can bite when they feel threatened.
  • Hobo spiders
    • These spiders are light to medium brown in color
    • They build and live in funnel webs.
    • Can bite in defense. Their bites can cause mild pain and redness.

Keeping Fall Spiders Out of Your Property

No matter whether they’re dangerous or not—no one wants to deal with spiders in their home or business. Because they will gladly take up residence in your home, it’s important to learn how to keep them out in the first place. Our best spider prevention tips include:

  1. Ensuring your lawn is trimmed and neat. Overgrown bushes, shrubs, piles of wood, and more can attract spiders to your property and eventually indoors.
  2. Cleaning your home on a regular basis. Doing so can prevent insects that spiders like to prey on and eliminate hiding spots for pests.
  3. Sealing cracks and crevices. Inspect the inside and outside of your property for tiny spots that may be inviting spiders in, and seal properly.
  4. Installing/repairing screens on doors and windows. Tight-fitting screens are the key to keeping insects, spiders included, out.
  5. Inspecting boxes and used furniture prior to bringing them inside. Adult spiders or their egg sacs could be hiding inside.

Spider Infestations in the Fall

In the Pacific Northwest, spiders are a common occurrence outdoors. That said, spiders can be a nuisance when they get inside your property, and they can be dangerous when you’re dealing with more aggressive species! At Western, our spider exterminators will work to control current infestations as well as prevent future ones.