Winterize Your Home Against Invading Bugs and Nuisance Wildlife

Keep Uninvited Guests at Bay - Arrow Exterminating Details How

LYNBROOK, N.Y., Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Insects and nuisance wildlife arebad enough in the summer months when they're outdoors but become a nightmarein the winter months if they migrate indoors to take up winter residence inhomes. Seeking refuge from dropping temperatures and searching for food, thesecreepy crawlies, rodents, squirrels and raccoons can cause extensive damageand make scary housemates.

"Squirrels and raccoons can tear up insulation to form nests, creatingcold spots. They can damage electric wires and roofing material. Like rats,squirrels need to constantly chew and they can chew through anything,including metal and wire," said Mike Deutsch, certified entomologist at ArrowExterminating, New York Magazine's #1 ranked pest control company in 2007.Raccoon damage is even more pervasive due to their tremendous claws. They areas strong as a large dog and can tear holes in roofs.

Invading insects commonly lay low inside their adopted winter homes in astate of semi-hibernation until spring's arrival. Homeowners aren't awarethey're playing host until their visitors are abuzz, searching for an exitafter their winter stasis. "The sight of a multitude of bugs swarming aroundthe house, as in the case of the Western Conifer Seed bug, Box Elder bugs --or even just a single large queen wasp trying to get outside to establish anew nest -- is frightening," Deutsch said. "We get so many calls each springfrom terrified homeowners for just this reason. If they had taken the propersteps to winterize their homes the prior season, chances are they wouldn'thave to worry about these invaders." Below is a list of key ways towinterize your home:

Top Tips for Winterizing Your Home Against Bugs and Nuisance Wildlife:

-- Remove outdoor food sources, such as the remains of the summer garden

and seasonal plants.

-- Seal openings where pipes, cables and wires enter the house. Bugs and

rodents use these as conduits into structures.

-- Make sure mulch is not directly up against the outside of house.

Insects love warm, moist, rich mulch, which also provides easy access

to entry ways into the house.

-- Trim trees and shrubs so that they don't hang over or touch the house.

It's an invitation to enter the home.

-- Remove heavy weeds from around the house and shed, even if they are

dying off as the seasons change. Weeds provide rodent cover and once