Getting ready for hurricane season means stocking upon supplies and preparing your home to withstand the wind, rain, and flooding. As we go about making these preparations, we can often overlook another problem; the additional risk of pest infestation following the storm and the need for pest control for hurricane season.
Hurricane Effects on Pest Activity
Just like people, pests are getting ready for the coming hurricanes. They look for shelter from the elements and many find our homes to be the perfect place to ride out this difficult weather.
Hiding out the Storms
Are you ready for some pest facts you probably didn’t want to know? Well, get ready because here we go. Rodents are amazing swimmers and will follow flood water to higher and drier ground. This often leads them straight to our homes where they can climb higher to avoid the rising waters.
You might think that at the very least the bad weather would take care of any fire ants around your property. However, these painful ants create rafts to float on top of flood waters and can find their way even closer to you, your family, and your pets. Even snakes like to get in on the action, curling up beneath our homes while waiting out the weather.
The Aftermath
One of the most common pest problems that occurs from hurricanes is an increase in mosquito activity. The added storm water that collects around our homes creates the perfect breeding grounds for these disease spreading insects. As a lot of animals will have left the area prior to a storm the pests that find their way to us have nothing to keep them from infesting our homes before we know it. This can create the perfect storm just after we think we made it through the worst. Then we find ourselves fighting an infestation or two.
Hurricane Pest Control
Unfortunately, this means that you need to add one more task to your hurricane prep list. But the good news is that with the right steps you can help prevent pests from relocating to your home.
Clean Gutters
Cleaning your gutters may seems like an odd task prior to a storm which may leave them filled up again, but this will make a big difference. It will not only help protect your home from water damage caused by overflowing gutters, but it will reduce breeding grounds for mosquitos.
Standing Water
Take this time to address any areas that standing water may collect as well. Old buckets, tarps, low points in our yards can all collect extra storm water and attract mosquitos. Cleaning up around our homes and filling any low points with soil will keep mosquito activity to a minimum.
Seal Access Points
Seal up any access points that pests may have into your home. Any gaps in your siding, around doors or windows, or damaged crawlspace vents or doors are simply invitations for pests. Contacting us prior to hurricane season means that we can come out and make sure that any access points are sealed properly.
Repair Damaged/Rotten Wood
This routine home maintenance task is easy to ignore, but prior to hurricane season is the best time to make these repairs. Check the trim work around your doors and windows for any damaged sections. Replacing and properly sealing these areas will help prevent wood destroying insects like termites from finding these areas.
After the Storm
Although these precautions make a huge difference in avoiding a pest problem there is always the possibility of damage that can allow pests in. Following a storm, it is a good idea to get a jump start on any pests. Take another look at your property for any damage that may have occurred and repair it promptly. Additionally, contacting us to inspect your home for any pest activity and treat if necessary is a great step in keeping your home comfortable and free of any uprooted pests in the area.
Pests are a constant threat to our homes but taking some precautions and contacting the professionals can keep you on track year-round. Let us help you navigate hurricane season and take one of those tasks off of your to-do list with pest control for hurricane season.