Preventative maintenance is key when trying to protect a home from insect and rodent infestations, since certain animals will try to push their way into people’s attics and basements at the same time each year. A good exterminator doesn’t just get rid of the pests that are in your home right now, explains Critter and Pest Defense owner Carl Shaw, he prevents those pests from coming back in the future as well.
Although most homeowners need animal removal in Orlando year-around, there are certain times of the year when rodents and pests are most likely to appear. To better prepare for the year ahead, Shaw put together this helpful guide for when the most common pests and rodents are most likely to make an appearance.
Raccoons
The high season for raccoon problems starts in January and February, says Shaw, because that is when most raccoons will start having their babies. Unfortunately, it typically takes homeowners a couple of months to catch on to what is going on in their attics, which is why the most popular time for homeowners to call about their raccoon infestation problems doesn’t happen until March, April, and May. “Sometimes it can take even longer than that, because the homeowner might not ever figure out that something is going on until a neighbor tells him that he spotted a raccoon coming out of his roof.”
As a general rule of thumb, Shaw says that people should start watching out for raccoon problems beginning in January and continuing through the springtime months. “And the bigger the house, the longer it can take before you realize something is wrong,” he says. “So be careful with that, too.”
Squirrels
The spring and fall seasons have become the most popular time for homeowners in Orlando to call animal removal specialists about their squirrel infestation problems, and Shaw says there is a very simple explanation for this semi-annual phenomenon. “Each spring and fall, the squirrels go into mating. So they start pushing their way into houses at this same time as well,” he says.
Homeowners who are concerned that they might have a squirrel problem should not hesitate in calling an exterminator, since squirrels are known to be among the most destructive animals around. Not only are they known to gnaw on wood, but squirrels can also disrupt electrical wiring and pose a potential fire hazard.
Rats
The high season for rat problems is in the winter—November or December through March. “Once the temperatures start getting low, rats will totally start pushing their way into homes,” Shaw says.
Not only can rodents create problems with the insulation and wiring in a home, but rats have been known to spread disease as well. That is why Shaw recommends that homeowners in Orlando call an animal removal expert as soon as they begin to suspect that rats have gotten onto their properties.
Possums
Possums tend to become a problem for homeowners in the springtime. “That is the season when possums have their babies, so that is when we tend to get the most calls from people having problems with them,” he says. Like rats, possums will push their way into homes when they want to, and an exterminator will be necessary in order to get them out.
Fleas
Fleas are usually seen as pests that are only a major problem during the summer months. However, due to Florida’s year-round warm weather, they have become a nearly constant problem for homeowners in Orlando, explains Shaw. “Fleas are pretty much the worst in the summer, but since it always stays above freezing here in Florida, they tend to never really go away completely,” he says.
Overall, Shaw recommends that people keep a watchful eye out on their homes and stay on constant alert for new pest or animal infestations. “Some infestations are going to happen in the late fall and some things are going to happen in the early spring,” he says. “So generally, I would say those are the two times of the year when the most pests and rodents are trying to push into the house. Those would be the best times to call an exterminator and have him check things out just in case, even if you haven’t identified any animals on your own just yet.”
