The Time of Year Pests Are Most Active in Delaware?
Delaware’s climate provides the ideal environment for various pests and wildlife to thrive throughout the year. While some pests are present year-round, others are seasonal, appearing in more significant numbers or causing more problems during specific times.
Understanding when pests are most active can help homeowners and businesses better prepare for infestations, especially concerning common nuisances like bed bugs, rodents such as mice and rats, flying squirrels, and gray squirrels.
In Delaware, pests are active depending on temperature, food availability, and reproductive cycles. Let’s break down the state’s most common pests and wildlife, explore their activity patterns, and discuss practical ways to control them.
Bed Bugs: Year-Round But Surging in Warmer Months
Bed bugs are notorious for being a year-round pest, but they tend to become more problematic during the warmer months. These blood-feeding insects thrive in temperatures between 70°F and 80°F, which means late spring through early fall is the peak period for bed bug infestations in Delaware.
As people travel more during the summer months—whether for vacations or business trips—the likelihood of bringing bed bugs home increases. Bed bugs hitch rides in luggage, clothing, and furniture, allowing them to spread rapidly from hotels, motels, and apartments to private homes. Once inside, they seek out warm, sheltered spaces like mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture where they can hide during the day and come out at night to feed on human blood.
Despite their seasonal surge in summer, bed bugs remain a concern year-round. They reproduce quickly, and once an infestation begins, eliminating it can be challenging without professional intervention. Regular inspections are crucial to controlling bed bugs, particularly after travel, and any signs of infestation should be dealt with immediately.
Mice and Rats: More Active During Fall and Winter
Mice and rats are a common rodent problem in Delaware, particularly during the colder fall and winter months. As temperatures drop, these pests seek warm places with easy access to food and water, often bringing them indoors.
Rodents like the house mouse, deer mouse, and Norway rat are notorious for invading homes, basements, attics, and garages. They are skilled at finding even the smallest entry points, such as cracks in the foundation, gaps around doors, and vents. Once inside, they can reproduce rapidly, with a single pair of mice capable of producing dozens of offspring in just a few months.
While mice and rats may be more active indoors during colder weather, they are still a year-round problem. Warmer months may see them foraging outside, but once fall sets in, the drive for food and shelter increases significantly, leading to a higher incidence of infestations.
Flying Squirrels: Active Year-Round but More Troublesome in Fall and Winter
Flying squirrels, particularly the southern flying squirrel, which is native to the area, are another pest to be aware of in Delaware. These small, nocturnal animals may seem harmless, but when they invade attics and homes for warmth and food, they can cause significant damage and create health risks.
Flying squirrels tend to be more of a nuisance during the colder months as they look for a place to nest and hibernate. They are excellent climbers and can enter homes through roof vents, chimneys, and even gaps in soffits. Once inside, flying squirrels can chew through insulation, wiring, and wooden beams, which may lead to costly repairs and potential fire hazards.
While flying squirrels can be active throughout the year, fall and winter are the peak times for infestations as they prepare for the cold. Early detection and sealing off entry points can help prevent these rodents from becoming a larger issue.
Gray Squirrels: Active Year-Round with Increased Activity in Fall
Gray squirrels are one of the most common wild pests in Delaware and are active throughout the year. However, like flying squirrels, they become more of a problem in the fall as they prepare for winter. During this time, gray squirrels forage for food, including nuts, seeds, and berries, and they may look for sheltered places to nest, such as attics or wall voids.
Gray squirrels can cause significant damage to homes by chewing through wood, siding, and electrical wires. They also create noisy disruptions, especially if they establish a nest in your attic. Once inside, squirrels can be difficult to evict, and professional removal is often necessary to prevent further damage.
While gray squirrels remain active throughout the year, fall and winter tend to bring them closer to human dwellings as they seek warmth and shelter.
Preventing and Controlling Pests
While each pest has its activity patterns, there are common strategies homeowners and businesses can adopt to prevent infestations at any time of year in Delaware.
- Seal Entry Points: Inspect the exterior of your home or business for cracks, gaps, or holes that could allow pests to enter. Rodents and squirrels are especially good at squeezing through tiny openings, so ensure doors, windows, and vents are properly sealed.
- Maintain Cleanliness: Bed bugs, mice, and rats are attracted to clutter and easily accessible food. Vacuum your home regularly, and avoid leaving food out or uncovered. Keep garbage sealed and take it out frequently.
- Trim Trees and Shrubs: Flying squirrels and gray squirrels can use trees and overhanging branches to gain access to your home. Trim any branches that are too close to your roof or windows.
- Regular Inspections: It is necessary to conduct regular inspections of your home after traveling or during peak pest seasons. Look for signs of bed bugs in your bedding, check for rodent droppings in basements and attics, and listen for scratching or other unusual noises that could indicate the presence of squirrels.
- Professional Pest Control: Pests, such as bed bugs, rodents, and squirrels, often require professional treatment for complete eradication. A pest control specialist can help identify the extent of an infestation and recommend the best course of action.
Why Choose Professional Help
Controlling pests can be challenging, especially when dealing with animals that hide in hard-to-reach areas or reproduce quickly. While preventative measures can help, a professional pest control service is most often the best and most effective way to eliminate pests and ensure they don’t return.
Contact Wilkins Wildlife Bedbug 911 for Pest Control Services
If you’re dealing with pests or wildlife in your home or business in Delaware at any time of year, Wilkins Wildlife Bedbug 911 can help. We specialize in removing and controlling a wide range of pests, including bed bugs, rodents, flying squirrels, and gray squirrels.
Our team also provides exclusion services to seal entry points, preventing future infestations, and we repair damage caused by pests.
For more information on the pests and wildlife animals we remove, control, and exclude, please review our full range of services. Contact Wilkins Wildlife Bedbug 911 today to schedule a consultation and reclaim your home from unwanted guests at any time of year.