Several pests want to enter your home to stay warm. Learn what's lurking, and how to keep the pests out.
Pest #1: Spiders

Why Spiders Enter Your Home: As temperatures drop, spiders seek warm, quiet spaces to shelter from the cold. Your home provides ample hiding spots and a stable environment where spiders can find insects to prey on.
Best Way to Get Rid of Them:
Regular Cleaning: Keep your home clean by vacuuming and dusting, especially in corners, behind furniture, and in basements or attics where spiders often hide.
Natural Deterrents: Use essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, or tea tree oil. Mix a few drops of water in a spray bottle and apply it around doors, windows, and other potential entry points.
Seal Entry Points: Inspect your residence for cracks, gaps, or openings near windows, doors, and the foundation. Use caulk or weather stripping to seal them and prevent spiders from entering.
Pest #2: Rodents (Mice and Rats)
Why They Enter Your Home: As fall approaches, outdoor food sources diminish, prompting rodents to seek warm, food-rich environments indoors. Homes offer shelter and easy access to food, making them prime targets.
Best Way to Get Rid of Them:
Seal Entry Points: This step cannot be ignored. Check the condition of the caulk around the windows. Is it dried up and cracking? Can you feel cold air coming in under a door? Lastly, check all windows to ensure there are not any holes. Use steel wool, caulk, or metal mesh to seal these openings.
Proper Food Storage: Store all food, including pet food, in airtight containers to eliminate potential food sources. Keep your kitchen clean by wiping down counters and promptly clean up crumbs and spills.
Traps and Baits: Set traps along walls and in areas where you’ve noticed rodent activity. Options include snap traps, glue traps, and humane catch-and-release traps. If using baits, be cautious to avoid accidental ingestion by pets or children.
Professional Help: For severe infestations, consider contacting a pest control professional who can safely and effectively manage the situation.
Pest #3: Stink Bugs
Why They Enter Your Home: Stink bugs are outdoor insects, but as the weather cools, they seek out warm places to hibernate, often gathering on the sunny sides of buildings before slipping inside through cracks and crevices.
Best Way to Get Rid of Them:
Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home for gaps around windows, doors, and siding, and seal these with caulk. Repair or replace damaged screens on windows and doors.
Vacuuming: If stink bugs get inside, vacuum them up rather than crushing them, as they release a strong odor when disturbed. Empty the vacuum bag immediately after use.
Preventative Measures: Consider installing door sweeps and using natural insect repellents around potential entry points to keep them out.
Avoid Squashing: Stink bugs emit a foul smell when crushed, so avoid squashing them. Instead, use a vacuum or gently trap them and release them outside.
Pest #4: Boxelder Bugs

Why They Enter Your Home: Boxelder bugs are outdoor insects that congregate on the sunny sides of buildings as the weather cools. They seek warmth and shelter indoors to hibernate through the winter. Once inside, they often gather in attics, wall voids, and other hidden spaces.
Best Way to Get Rid of Them:
Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home for cracks, gaps, and other entry points, particularly around windows, doors, and siding. Use caulk or weather stripping to
seal these areas and prevent boxelder bugs from entering.
Vacuuming: If boxelder bugs get inside, the best way to remove them is by vacuuming. Be sure to empty the vacuum bag or canister promptly to prevent the bugs from escaping back into your home.
Preventative Measures: Install door sweeps and repair any damaged screens. Consider applying insect repellent around potential entry points in the fall.
Outdoor Control: If boxelder trees are present near your home, consider treating them with insecticidal soap or contacting a pest control professional to discuss possible outdoor treatments that can help reduce the bug population.
By taking these proactive steps you can prevent fall pests like spiders, rodents, stink bugs, and boxelder bugs from entering your home.
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