As winter approaches, we all find ourselves retreating inside our homes that little bit more often, taking advantage of the warmth, comfort, and protection from the elements they provide.
Unfortunately, everything that makes your home attractive to you during the colder months also makes it attractive to certain pest species, and it is not unusual to find yourself with one or two extra unwanted visitors at this time of year.
In the weeks and months prior, therefore, it is a good idea to take a few simple precautions against the pest species that are most commonly found in domestic homes during the winter.
Follow this top guide to 5 of the most common winter pests that are found in the UK and the things that you should be doing to help avoid a residential pest control Liverpool infestation in your own property.
Rats
Probably the pest that most people would least like to discover in their homes, and not without reason. These rodents are disease ridden and carry all sorts of disgusting and dangerous bacteria that can make you extremely ill.
They will also use their large teeth to gnaw their way through anything you can possibly imagine from food packaging to structural beams and even electrical wiring. This last less than tasty snack is particularly worrisome as it can lead to fires starting if the wire sparks upon impact.
Rats can squeeze through pretty small gaps, but not quite as small as their mouse counterparts meaning it is possible to seal your home against them. Fill in any visible cracks in the exterior of your home with caulk to reduce the number of potential entry points and make sure all your food is stored properly.
Grey squirrels
Less despised as rats or mice but still no fun to have roaming about inside your attic.
Squirrels can do untold damage when allowed to roam freely inside your home and will be incredibly aggressive if you try to remove them. It is also important to note that it is actually against the law to catch and release grey squirrels in the UK.
To avoid putting yourself in physical and legal difficulties, contact a local pest control firm if you here scratching or scuttling sounds in your loft or any of the other common signs of squirrel activity.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are more common in the UK than you might like to think and will seek the warmth of human inhabited buildings during the winter when many species would not survive in the outside world.
Cockroaches are one of the most filthy and disease ridden pests it is possible to find and swift action must be taken to deal with any infestation.
This is true in both domestic and commercial settings but particularly in restaurants and food preparation factories. If you run a business and your customers see a cockroach or any other insect pest running around, you probably won’t be in business much longer unless fast action is taken.