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W hen winter winds blow or storms rage outside, most of us are glad to have a nice warm house, with doors and windows that close tight, keep the cold out and the heat inside. We insulate, cover vents and caulk all the cracks to seal out the cold as much as we can. This effort to seal even the tiniest openings has the added benefit of keeping outdoor pests from coming indoors. We call this exclusion, and it is an important part of an effective Integrated PestManagement (IPM) strategy for our homes. On the other hand, any pests that were already inside, or that we bring in after we have "sealed up the house for winter," will also be sealed in with us. They will be protected, too, from those natural fluctuations in temperature and humidity (moisture) that might have affected them and helped keep their populations in check before. Examples of the kinds of pests which may have already been inside your home may include ladybug beetles, flies, carpet beetles, certain bugs or small rodents which came in before you "winterized" the house. Some which may have been brought in later could include clothes moths, silverfish and any of several stored products pests. If you have problems with any such "Shut-In" winter pests, we can help you identify, survey for and control them using an Integrated Pest Management approach.
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