With the weather cooling, pests begin searching for warmth, shelter, and food – all of which typically lead them straight into your home or business. Fall is a critical time for pest prevention in Southern Oregon. At A-One Exterminators, we have been helping Grants Pass residents battle rodent invasions and termite swarms, among others, for over ten years. Here is what you need to know about the pests to watch out for this fall and how to protect your home and property.
Rodents (Mice & Rats)
When the temperatures begin to drop, rodents look for warm hiding places in walls, attics, or basements. In Grants Pass, field mice and Norway rats are particularly abundant during the fall season.
Prevention Tip: Sealing cracks around doors and windows, keeping food in rodent-proof containers, and ensuring an inspection before ‘the big sleep’ of winter is a must.
Spiders
The fall is, in fact, the mating season for many species of spiders, and it will be quite obvious why this season has so many of them in or around your house. Most spiders in Grants Pass are harmless, but no one likes those unexpected visitors in the shower or basement.
Prevention Tip: Reduce clutter in garages and basements; vacuum often, and other pests (their food source) will be less likely to join them in your not-so-inviting home.
Ants
Carpenter ants are a year-round hassle in Grants Pass, and fall weather drives them indoors. This is when they search for food and moisture to survive. If left unchecked, carpenter ants can weaken wooden structures in much the same way that termites do.
Prevention Tip: Repair leaky pipes and wipe down counters. Don’t leave firewood stacked around your house.
Termites
Termites are generally more active during the warm months. Fall is, therefore, the time when many homeowners discover the damage they’ve silently been causing over the summer. Subterranean termites are quite common in Southern Oregon and are known to silently eat away at a home’s structure.
Prevention Tip: Have an inspection performed in the fall specifically for termites. The sooner they are detected, the less you will spend on repairs.
Wasps & Yellow Jackets
Wasps are very active in the autumn and tend to prepare their colonies for winter. Nests built in the summer quickly become a big problem if located near doors, decks, or children’s play areas.
Prevention Tip: Do not leave any food or sugary drinks outside your home, and do not try to remove the nest yourself; professional removal is the safest option.
Why Fall Pest Control Matters in Grants Pass
Pests do not magically disappear at the end of the summer; many, in fact, just become more aggressive to find shelter come fall. Fall is the right season to have your home inspected professionally. Addressing pests now can prevent infestations from getting any worse over the winter.
Protect Your Home With A-One Exterminators
A-One Exterminators delivers year-round protection for homes and businesses in Grants Pass and Southern Oregon. We have the experience to keep your property safe no matter what pests might be threatening to invade, whether it is rodents, termites, spiders, or just seasonal pests.
Call A-One Exterminators today to schedule your fall inspection, and enjoy a totally pest-free season.
