When you think of Halloween, you may imagine costumes, candy, and scary decorations. It’s a fun and scary time of year. Not many homeowners have pest control on their mind. However, the creepy spiders and rats that you decorate your yard with this time of year could become reality if you’re not careful.
Shorter days and cooler temperatures bring insects and wildlife animals closer to your home. You may notice an increase in insects, rodents, squirrels, and other wildlife around the house. You may be able to avoid witches, ghosts, and goblins this time of year, but not bugs and critters. Avoid a real Halloween nightmare by learning more about the various pests that could invade your home this time of year and how you can stay pest-free.
Common Halloween Pests
Some common pests you can expect this time of year include:
- Spiders. While most spiders are not dangerous, some can be venomous. Spiders tend to build webs in dark, abandoned houses, which is why they are a favorite Halloween decoration. You probably don’t want to welcome them into your home though. Spiders will try to build nests in your home to stay dry and warm during the cold winter months.
- Cockroaches. Plastic cockroaches are often used as scary Halloween decor because of their association with the dead. Their image comes from their abilities to spread disease and live in unsanitary conditions. There’s also a specific type of cockroach, called the death’s head cockroach, that has an eerie skull-like marking on its head.
- Rats. Rats are also linked to both Halloween and death because of the fact that rats once carried the deadly plague from one town to another. Even today, rats are still known to spread disease and destroy property. While plastic rats make a great Halloween gag, real ones are a different story. Barbecues, standing water, and trash all attract rats. Call Armis Pest Management to help remove rats and other Halloween pests from your home.
How to Have a Pest-Free Halloween
You can keep pests from ruining your Halloween by following these tips:
- Wait to carve your pumpkins. It’s tempting to want to carve your pumpkin as soon as possible, but once you do, the pests start coming out. Spiders and mice are attracted to pumpkins, so your best bet is to wait until just a few days before Halloween.
- Check your decorations. You only use your Halloween decorations for maybe a month out of the year. In the other 11 months of the year, insects may be breeding in your bin of decorations. You probably keep them in your attic or basement, which are known for attracting creepy guests. Avoid using cardboard boxes to store your decorations. Instead, use plastic containers, which repel pests.
- Check your costumes. Dressing up is a lot of fun, but it’s not uncommon for costumes to hide bugs. If you’re using a previous costume, it may have turned into a hiding place for insects. If you’ve purchased a brand-new costume, it could still be infested with bed bugs. And these bugs can hitch a ride home with you, so it’s a good idea to wash your costume as soon as you get home.
- Don’t leave candy outside. Just like your kids, bugs also like to go trick or treating. The smell of candy is alluring, so don’t leave any candy out for too long. Bring it in at night. Once the bowl is empty, you’ll need to wash it out promptly to remove any lingering scent. Place any leftover candy in a tightly sealed plastic container to keep bugs out.
- Rake up and remove leaves. Jumping into piles of leaves can be a fun activity, but leaves attract insects who want to hide and nest. After you’ve had your fun with the leaves, rake them up and toss them to avoid pest infestations.
- Move wood piles. Insects like to hide in wood piles. Keep wood around your home so insects are less likely to enter.
Contact Us Today
Despite your best efforts, pests can still invade the indoor and outdoor areas of your home around Halloween. This may make the holiday even scarier than you can even imagine.
Contact Armis Pest Management for help getting rid of the creepy crawlies around your home. Our pest control experts can help eradicate spiders, cockroaches, rats, and other pests from your home. Request a free quote today by calling (208) 650-7378 or filling out the online form.
