As temperatures fall across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, mice, rats, squirrels, and other pests may look for food, shelter, and a warm place to spend the colder months. A few practical steps can help make your home less inviting and help you catch problems early.

Use this step-by-step guide to check your home, close common entry points, and reduce the conditions that attract pests.

Step 1: Inspect your home for signs of pest activity

Start with a slow walk through your home and around its exterior. Check basements, attics, kitchens, garages, utility rooms, and storage areas, along with spaces near doors and foundations.

Look for droppings, gnaw marks, damaged food packaging, nesting material, unusual odors, or scratching sounds in walls or ceilings. Outside, check for gaps around the foundation, damaged screens, loose vents, and openings where pipes or wires enter the house.

Make a note of anything you find. If you see signs of rodents or wildlife, avoid touching droppings, nests, or animals directly.

Step 2: Seal gaps and repair exterior openings

Pests can enter through small gaps, so inspect the areas where different materials meet. Look around doors, windows, vents, utility lines, the foundation, and roofline. Repair damaged screens and replace worn door sweeps.

Use appropriate materials to seal openings, but don’t close a hole if you suspect an animal may be inside. An animal trapped in a wall, attic, or crawl space can create further problems. For suspected wildlife entry, consider professional help with removal and exclusion.

Step 3: Remove food and water sources

Store pantry food and pet food in sealed containers. Clean up crumbs and spills, take out trash regularly, and use bins with secure lids. Avoid leaving pet food out overnight.

Check under sinks and around appliances for leaks. Empty standing water from containers outside, and keep gutters and downspouts clear so water drains away from your home.

Step 4: Tidy up the yard and storage areas

Trim shrubs and branches so they don’t touch the house, and clear fallen leaves and debris near the foundation. Move firewood away from the home and raise it off the ground where practical.

Keep garage and basement storage organized, and use sealed containers instead of cardboard boxes when possible. Clutter can provide pests with quiet places to hide or nest.

Step 5: Check attics, chimneys, and rooflines for wildlife access

Before cold weather settles in, look for damaged soffits, loose roof vents, gaps around chimneys, or other openings near the roof. Listen for movement in the attic, especially if you notice scratching or other unusual sounds.

If you suspect bats, squirrels, or another wild animal has entered, don’t try to handle it yourself. Wildlife removal can require careful inspection and exclusion. Learn more about wildlife removal services.

Step 6: Use traps and pesticides carefully

If you choose a DIY product, follow the label exactly and place it where children and pets cannot reach it. Avoid using products in a way the label does not allow, and don’t rely on a single trap or treatment if signs of activity continue.

For droppings or nesting material, avoid stirring up dust. If the area is large, the infestation is active, or you’re unsure how to clean it safely, contact a pest professional for guidance.

Step 7: Monitor your home through the season

Repeat your inspection after storms, home repairs, or changes in weather. Pay attention to new noises, droppings, damaged packaging, or gaps that may have appeared since your last check.

If you spot signs of mice or rats, act promptly. Environmental Pest Control provides mice and rodent control, including inspection and entry-point prevention services.

When to call a pest control professional

DIY prevention can help reduce the chance of pests getting inside, but recurring activity may need a closer inspection and a tailored plan. Contact a professional if you keep finding signs of rodents, hear animals in walls or the attic, or discover a possible wildlife entry point you can’t safely address.

Environmental Pest Control serves homeowners in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. You can request a free estimate or schedule a free inspection to discuss your home’s pest concerns.