How To Protect Your Twin Falls Home From Local Pests
Pests in Twin Falls, Idaho can be a nuisance to your home and family. In addition to leaving a mess, as well as potential health risks, local critters may also cause structural damage to your property if not properly dealt with. The first step to protecting your home is to know what you’re dealing with. Some local pests in the Twin Falls and Boise area include:
- Mice and Rats: Homes in heavily forested areas or near fields, meadows, and woodlands are most vulnerable. Rodents can squeeze through very small openings and easily chew through the insulation to gain access to the warmth inside your home. They will seek out any accessible food source including pet food that may be left around.
- Cockroaches: Urban dwellings seem to be havens for roaches due to an abundance of warm, moist environments where they can nest. Excessive clutter around the house provides both good nesting places for roaches as well as plenty of hiding places. Make sure to reduce humidity in your home if you are dealing with these pests.
- Ants: These bugs are very common in the Boise area, especially during the summer months. They like to feast on sweet foods. If ants are in your home, there is likely a food source somewhere in the house, in some cases, these sources can be very tiny.
- Spiders: spiders are common in Twin Falls homes because they feed primarily on flying insects such as flies, mosquitoes, and other pests. While a spider in the home is not necessarily a sign of an infestation or uncleanliness, it can become a problem if pest control measures are not taken to stop the spiders from interacting with humans.
- Mosquitoes: One of the most common pests found in Boise homes is mosquitoes. They carry harmful diseases like Malaria and Yellow Fever while some varieties can transmit potentially lethal viruses like West Nile Virus and Avian Flu.
- Earwigs: These insects may be present in your home if you find pincers near your house. Earwigs usually want to be left alone and will not attack humans unless they are provoked or feel threatened. The best way to control earwig populations around your home is through exclusion.
Tips For Protecting Your Home From Pests
To prevent pests from entering your home, start by eliminating any areas that have the potential for infestation. Some tips for preventing an infestation include:
- Vacuum regularly and sweep up any dirt piles or accumulations of mulch or gravel near the foundation of your home.
- Keep all surfaces and appliances clean to prevent food residue.
- Put all garbage in covered bags each night before going to bed.
- Seal cracks in the exterior of the house with caulk or sealant so that small creatures cannot find their way inside. Pay special attention to areas around the windows and doors, where cracks are especially likely to form.
- Keep shrubs trimmed back at least three feet away from the house. If possible, cut back vegetation even farther so it doesn’t touch or brush up against the foundation of your home.
If you’re struggling with an infestation or want to take measures to safeguard your home, it’s always best to hire a professional pest control company. If you’re located in Twin Falls, Boise, Meridian, or the surrounding area, contact Vertex Pest Control. They are a locally owned and family-operated pest control company that can handle any general pest, rodent, or mosquito problem you may be facing.