While You’re Away – Pest Control for Southwest Ontario

There are a number of things as a homeowner that you must do to keep you property looking great – whether they’re at home or away on holiday. If you’re going away, additional arrangements like, suspension of newspaper delivery and mail pick must be made with friends, or neighbours. In the warmer months, you will also need to have your gardens watered, lawns mowed, and the house should be checked on daily.

However, there is an other area that must be addressed to ensure that your home is not attracting any uninvited guests while you’re away. An ounce of prevention is definitely worth all the trouble of the cure when it comes to keeping your home pest-free.

Pests come in a variety of sizes and species and they can be easily attracted to your home, especially if you are away. Given half a chance, insects, rodents, and larger animals like raccoons and skunks will readily make themselves at home. They can cause serious damage to your property and pose a health threat to you and your pets by spreading bacteria and diseases. By following some common sense measures, you can protect your property.

Carpenter Ants prefer moist areas and will tunnel into wood to build their colonies, building their nests anywhere – walls, ceilings, attics, doors, sills, shingles and insulation. An infestation can cause serious structural damage if left unchecked.

• Eliminate moist conditions by repairing leaks and providing good ventilation
• Isolate wood from direct contact with the soil
• Remove old lumber, logs and stumps from around your property
• Do not store firewood inside your home
• When building, in the case of new construction, only properly treated lumber should be used
• Keep food in sealed containers and clean up all spills or crumbs

Mice are nibblers and are considered to be a major structural pest and health hazard.

• Proper food storage is a must – use tightly sealing glass jars or tins
• All garbage should also be stored in containers with tight fitting lids
• Seal all openings to the outside, especially around doors and windows

Raccoons are invasive and destructive. They are nimble, clever and good climbers

• Keep tree limbs away from roof tops
• Chimneys should be capped
• Repair all holes in walls and the roof
• Keep your property free of lumber, garbage, and other debris
• Don’t leave garbage cans outside, or seal them with tight fitting lids
• Keep shed and garage doors closed at night

Skunks are good burrowers and prefer to live in a den

• They will happily live under your deck or porch, so block any access to these areas – deter them from digging beneath structures by filling in all foundation openings with wire screening, concrete or sheet metal.
• Keep them off your property by burying fencing between 16 and 24 inches into the soil in order to prevent access by digging.

For more information, or professional assistance with an infestation, contact your local pest control expert.

Sandy King

www.sandyking.ca

 

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