Pest Control For The Fall Season: Why It’s Important to Schedule an Inspection Now

As summer comes to a close in Idaho Falls, many homeowners breathe a sigh of relief, thinking the warm weather pests are gone for good. However, as the season shifts to fall, new pest problems can arise, and if you're not prepared, those little critters could end up making your home their cozy winter retreat. This is why fall pest control should be at the top of your seasonal to-do list. Scheduling a pest inspection now with Prominent Pest Solutions can help ensure your home remains pest-free through the colder months. In this post, we’ll dive into why fall is such a critical time for pest control, which pests you need to watch out for, and how a professional inspection can save you time, money, and stress down the road.

Why Fall Pest Control is Crucial

Idaho Falls experiences fairly dramatic seasonal changes, with warm summers and cold winters. As temperatures begin to drop in the fall, pests start looking for shelter—and your home is the perfect place for them to escape the cold. Unlike summer, when most pests are busy outdoors, fall is when many pests try to move indoors for warmth, food, and shelter. If they find a way in, you could be dealing with them all winter long.

Here are a few reasons why fall pest control is essential:

Pests Seek Warmth Indoors
As the weather cools, many pests that are typically found outdoors—like rodents, spiders, and insects—will be looking for ways to enter your home to escape the cold. Even the tiniest crack in your foundation, gaps around doors and windows, or an open vent can provide an easy entry point for pests.

Prevention Is Easier Than Removal
It’s much easier (and less expensive) to prevent pests from entering your home in the first place than it is to remove them once they’ve settled in. Fall is the ideal time to take preventive measures because pests are actively searching for places to hunker down for the winter. A thorough inspection will allow you to seal entry points and address issues before they become infestations.

Overwintering Pests Can Be a Long-Term Problem
Some pests, like spiders and boxelder bugs, are considered "overwintering pests." This means they enter your home in the fall, stay dormant through the winter, and then re-emerge in the spring. If these pests find their way into your home in the fall, they could stick around for months, causing long-term annoyance and potential damage.

Rodents Are Especially Problematic in the Fall

Rodents, particularly mice, are notorious for seeking shelter indoors as the weather cools. These critters can cause a lot of damage, from chewing through wires and insulation to contaminating food and spreading disease. Another rodent that can tear up your lawn during the fall is voles. If you are noticing holes in your yard and you aren't sure what they are -give us a call! A fall pest inspection can identify rodent activity early and help prevent them from establishing a nest in your home.

Common Fall Pests in Idaho Falls

In Idaho Falls, we have our fair share of pests, and while many of them are active during the summer, others become a bigger problem in the fall. Here are a few pests you’re likely to encounter as the season changes:

Rodents (Mice and Voles)

Rodents are the ultimate fall invaders. They can squeeze through the smallest cracks and crevices to enter your home in search of food and warmth. Once inside, they can reproduce quickly, turning a small problem into a major infestation. Beyond the damage they can cause to your home, they also pose a health risk by spreading diseases through their droppings and urine. As mentioned above, the voles start to terrorize our yards and can be taken care of if a proactive approach is taken!

Spiders

While many Idaho Falls residents are used to seeing spiders in and around their homes, spider activity tends to increase in the fall as they seek indoor shelter. Most spiders are harmless, but no one wants them weaving webs in their home, especially if you're dealing with species like the hobo spider, which can bite. Spiders will lay eggs up in your eaves and when they hatch they make make a run for the attic to nest in your walls. Our service will make sure to remove any of those nesting sites!

Boxelder Bugs

Boxelder bugs are a common fall pest in Idaho Falls. These black and red bugs tend to congregate on the sunny sides of homes, seeking warmth. While they’re mostly a nuisance, they can enter homes through cracks and crevices in large numbers, becoming a bigger problem as they look for a place to overwinter.

Wasps

While wasps are active throughout the summer, they tend to become more aggressive in the fall as their natural food sources dwindle. Wasps, especially yellow jackets, are attracted to sugary foods and drinks, making them a nuisance at outdoor gatherings and around garbage cans. In the fall, their colonies are at their largest, and worker wasps are more likely to sting if they feel threatened. They often seek shelter in eaves, attics, or other small openings in your home as temperatures drop, which can be dangerous if they establish a nest. A fall inspection can help identify wasp nests around your property and take steps to remove them before they become a problem. Wasps are not just a nuisance; they can pose a safety risk, especially for those allergic to their stings. Taking steps to prevent wasps from building nests near your home and treating any existing nests can make your property much safer during the fall.

What to Expect During a Fall Pest Inspection

Now that you know which pests to watch out for, let’s talk about what happens during a fall pest inspection and why it’s such a valuable service.

Thorough Property Inspection
We will conduct a thorough inspection of both the interior and exterior of your home, looking for signs of pest activity and potential entry points. This includes checking around windows, doors, the foundation, attics, and basements. We will also inspect common hiding places for pests, such as under sinks, in cabinets, and behind appliances. We have lived in the area long enough that we know where pests like to hide ;)

Identification of Problem Areas
During the inspection, we will point out any areas that could be vulnerable to pest invaders, such as gaps around doors and windows, cracks in the foundation, or areas where moisture is collecting (which attracts pests). Identifying these problem areas allows you to address them before pests can take advantage. We can also suggest treatment needed to prevent problems going forward.

Tailored Pest Control Plan
After the inspection, we will craft a customized pest control plan based on the findings. This plan might include sealing entry points, setting traps for rodents, or applying treatments to prevent overwintering pests from settling in.

Bonus Recommendations
Finally, we love to help educate our customers and will provide you with tips and recommendations for keeping your home pest-free through the winter. This might include advice on how to store firewood, manage yard debris, or address moisture issues that attract pests.

To Sum It Up

Fall is a beautiful time of year in Idaho Falls, but it’s also a time when pests are extremely active and seeking to settle down for the winter.  Here at Prominent Pest Solutions we are committed to delivering excellent pest control solutions for our customers during all seasons! Scheduling an inspection now can save you a lot of headaches next spring/summer. With the right prevention and pest control plan, you can enjoy the season without fending off un-wanted pests. Give us a call anytime!