While many pests die off or migrate during the winter, some are here to stay and make your home their new residency. To escape the Nebraska cold, these pests look for a warm place to stay safe from the elements. Here are a few common pests to look out for in Nebraska homes during the winter:

Rodents

When the weather drops, you can almost always count on rodents to make their way into your home in search of shelter and food. Over time, rodents can cause structural damage to your property and contaminate your food and water, potentially spreading harmful diseases to your family and pets. To prevent a rodent infestation, seal entry points and remove sources of food and water, including leftover food crumbs and trash.

Bed Bugs

Due to holiday travel, bed bugs become a common problem for many people in the winter season. These insects are notorious for being undetected stowaways, often hitching a ride on luggage or clothing. Bed bugs can be found in a number of areas, including near beds, carpet, nightstands, curtains, and baseboards. To prevent these expert travelers from infesting your Nebraska home, inspect luggage when traveling, use mattress protectors and vacuum regularly. 

Ants

Although it’s common for many species of ants to die off in the winter, some still make their ways into peoples homes looking for food. Crumbs left on countertops, open food packages and dirty dishes can attract ants, providing them with an easy meal. Even small spills or forgotten snacks can become a food source if not cleaned up in a timely manner. Store food and leftovers in airtight containers, and regularly wipe down surfaces that may have food particles to avoid attracting ants.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are a common pest in Nebraska homes in general, but can become more of an issue in the winter months. A popular misconception surrounding cockroaches is that they’re attracted to dirt and mess — and if you have an infestation, that means your house is dirty. This is untrue. Cockroaches can thrive in clean environments as well, and often will. This is especially true in the winter months if they can find sources of food and warmth. If your home offers both of these, you may be welcoming a cockroach infestation. Seal entry points, including small cracks and holes, and minimize food sources to prevent these pesky insects.

Spiders

Spiders are active year-round, including in the winter, especially if they’ve made their way into your home. Like any other winter pest, spiders are not only looking for warmth but food as well. Although, their food sources are a bit different from the majority of other winter pests. Spiders eat other insects, and when their food sources move inside, they do too. Similar to protecting your home against other winter pests, preventing spiders consists mainly of sealing entry points. This is not only to stop them from entering, but their food sources as well. You can also try spraying repellents around areas of the home where spiders are likely to hide out.

At Pro-Staff, we understand how troubling dealing with any of these winter pests can be. Our expert pest control process helps you eliminate these infestations and prevent them from occurring again in the future. Make Pro-Staff your Omaha pest control team by giving us a call at (402) 819-7378 or by contacting us online for a free inspection.