Holiday Horrors: Common Pests to Watch Out for During the Holidays

‘Tis the season, and for most of us, that means enjoying the holidays with family, friends, and neighbors. However, if you’re not careful, you might also get some unwanted guests. Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands, firewood, and even holiday decorations can all bring insects, bugs, and other pests into your home—and if you’re not careful, you could soon have a major infestation on your hands. Here are some common holiday pests to watch out for:

• Spiders: Whether you’re afraid of them or not, you don’t want spiders in your home. Though most aren’t dangerous to humans, they’re unsightly, unhygienic, and reproduce quickly. Unfortunately, they can easily hitch a ride on Christmas trees and other festive greenery, as well as in firewood and boxes of decorations.
• Ants: While you might find ants in trees and greenery, you’re most likely to find them in firewood where they might have built entire nests. Ants can potential cause a lot of damage to your home and possessions. They’ll spread out through your home searching for food, and some types of ants such as the carpenter ant will wreak havoc on any kind of wood, whether that’s wooden flooring, kitchen cabinets, or furniture. 
• Ticks: With winters becoming milder, it’s tick season for longer. Ticks can enter your home via Christmas trees or wreaths, making them a danger to your family, your pets, and yourself. A tick bite can infect you with Lyme disease, a serious illness that can make you sick for a long time. Ticks are also carriers of several other parasites, viruses, and bacteria that can cause serious illnesses.  
• Mice: If you’ve kept your decorations in a storage area that wasn’t protected by pest control, there’s a chance that mice have decided to use them as nesting material. This frequently happens when you use cardboard boxes, or even if a plastic crate hasn’t been properly sealed. In addition to many of your decorations likely being damaged, you’ll likely find mice droppings (which are unhygienic and can make you sick) in the boxes. In the worst-case scenario, the mice will hide in the boxes and enter your home that way. Note that mice can reproduce very quickly and if you’re not careful, you can have an infestation within weeks. 

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to minimize the chances of pests entering your home. Always inspect your tree and greenery-based decorations carefully. Shake them out vigorously to get rid of any creepy crawlies, and remove any visible cobwebs and nests. Do not treat them with insect spray, since this is flammable and dangerous in combination with lights. Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home, and inspect it before bringing it inside. If you’re bringing in boxes of decorations, unpack them outside and inspect them carefully for signs of mice and spiders. Don’t bring anything inside that’s been affected by pests; instead, invest in new decorations and be sure to store them in sealed plastic containers at the end of the season.

Finally, remember that if you do run into any problems before, during, or after with holiday pests, it’s best to call a BOZ Pest Control. Because the sooner you take appropriate action, the sooner your home will be pest-free again.

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