Hindsight may be 20/20, but when it comes to pests, Springer Home Professional Services is looking ahead to help homeowners proactively defend their homes against pest infestation.

At Springer Home Professional Services, we have utilized our field experiences, company data and examined trends, to determine the following six pest issues. Along with these predictions, we are offering homeowners preventative tips to help you keep your home pest-free in 2020.

Mice

Mouse populations have exploded over the past several years. Blame warming winters for allowing more mice to survive and breed. As warmer temperatures are already being experienced this winter, mice will continue to surge. That’s bad news for homeowners because mice invade homes year-round looking for food and safe places to nest.

Homeowner Tips: Rodent-proof your home by sealing small cracks and crevices with a silicone-based caulk. Exterior gaps of ¼-inch or larger can be filled with copper mesh, hardware cloth or metal flashing. Since mice can squeeze through small openings, gaps under door frames, garage doors, windows, or pipes and cables that access your home are prime entry spots for mice.

Stinging Pests

Shifting climates can have a ripple effect throughout the pest world, and with warmer weather, experts are seeing more yellow jackets and hornet nests. Even in freezing temperatures, female yellow jackets and hornets can successfully overwinter in homes and structures. As soon as temperatures are warm enough in the spring, stinging insects will emerge from their hiding places, ready to start populations earlier in the year.

Homeowner Tips: As yellow jackets and hornets overwinter near homes and structures, they may be out and about at the first sign of warm weather. Keep your eyes open for stinging pests, utilizing a professional pest control service as soon as you spot activity.

Ticks

With the popularity of outdoor activities like hiking and camping on the rise, warming winters, and the geographic range of many ticks continue to expand, humans and their pets can expect to come into contact with ticks more frequently. Ticks of special concern include the American dog tick, the deer tick or black-legged tick, and the Lone Star tick. In 2018, there were nearly 50,000 cases of human tick-borne diseases such as Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever reported. Pets can also contract some of these diseases.

Homeowner Tips: When spending time outdoors, wear long-sleeve shirts, pants and socks and an EPA-approved insect repellent. To avoid ticks, walk in the center of trails and avoid walking through tall bushes or other vegetation. During and after outdoor activity, check for ticks on yourself and any family members, including your pets.

Mosquitoes

If the mosquito season seemed awful this year, it wasn’t your imagination. Experts believe that the pattern could repeat in 2020. If we have a warm, wet winter and spring, the conditions will be ideal for mosquito populations to explode in some areas in late spring and early summer. Areas of the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest are predicted to have above-average rainfall, while most of the U.S. is predicted to be warmer than average this winter.

Homeowner Tips: The risk of mosquito-borne diseases, such as the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) can increase with rising populations. To prevent mosquitoes from breeding on your property, dispose of standing water and always wear an EPA-approved insect repellent when spending time outside.

Termites

Termites are the most destructive pests in North America, causing $6 billion in property damage each year. According to experts, the two main weather factors that affect termite populations are temperature and rainfall. With warmer and wetter weather predicted for spring, the termite swarming season will be ramping up soon.

Homeowner Tips: To deter termites, eliminate earth to wood contact and avoid moisture accumulation near your home or structures’ foundation. Because termites can cause such extensive damage, raising homeowner awareness around the need for proactive protection for their homes is critical to prevent costly repairs.

The experts at Springer Home Professional Services agree that a proactive approach is the first step any homeowner can take to prevent pest issues. With these 2020 pest predictions in mind, take time to evaluate your current pest control plan and ensure that you have the protection you need to protect yourself and your family from pests in 2020.