PART 2: Thanksgiving Leftovers Aren't the Only Things Moving In!

The Feast Is Over, But Pest Season Isn't!

The turkey has been carved, the dishes are finally washed, and the leftovers are stacked in the refrigerator. Thanksgiving may be winding down, but for many pests around Modesto, the search for food and shelter is just getting started.

As November brings cooler mornings and chilly evenings to the Central Valley, some insects become less active outdoors while others seek protected places to survive the changing season.

And what better place than your warm, comfortable home?

Before you break out the Christmas decorations, let's look at a few pests that might be hoping to spend the holidays with you.

🕷️ 1. Spiders: Decorating for the Holidays a Little Early?

You may be taking down the fall decorations, but spiders might still be hanging up their own!

Spiders are commonly found around garages, storage areas, eaves, and other quiet spaces. As outdoor conditions change, homeowners may notice them in sheltered areas around the home.

Although most spiders are beneficial predators that feed on other insects, finding them inside your holiday decorations isn't exactly festive.

Reduce spider activity by:

• Removing webs from eaves, patios, and garage corners.
• Keeping storage areas organized and reducing clutter.
• Sealing gaps around doors and windows.
• Reducing insect activity that provides spiders with a food source.
• Checking stored decorations before bringing them indoors.

A spider ornament might be cute for Halloween, but a real spider crawling out of your Christmas decorations? Not so much!

🪲 2. Earwigs and Other Moisture-Loving Insects

Cooler temperatures and seasonal moisture can create favorable conditions for pests such as earwigs, sowbugs, and pillbugs.

These insects often live beneath landscaping materials, flowerpots, fallen leaves, and other damp areas around the home. They may occasionally wander indoors, particularly where moisture and accessible entry points are present.

Make your home less inviting:

• Remove piles of damp leaves and yard debris.
• Keep mulch and other organic materials away from direct contact with the foundation when practical.
• Repair leaking irrigation lines and plumbing.
• Make sure exterior doors have properly fitted weatherstripping.
• Reduce excessive moisture near the home.

While many of these insects are primarily nuisance pests, nobody wants to discover them wandancing across the bathroom floor when holiday guests arrive!

🪳 3. Cockroaches: Still Looking for a Holiday Hideaway

Think cockroaches disappear when summer ends? Think again!

Although outdoor cockroach activity often slows as temperatures drop, these pests can continue surviving in protected locations such as irrigation boxes, garages, drains, and sheltered landscaping.

Indoor German cockroaches can remain active year-round in heated homes. As holiday gatherings bring extra cooking, trash, and food scraps, these conditions can provide additional opportunities for cockroaches to find resources.

Keep your home protected by:

• Cleaning behind and beneath kitchen appliances.
• Keeping garbage containers tightly closed.
• Avoiding excessive cardboard storage and clutter.
• Addressing plumbing leaks and moisture issues.
• Having persistent cockroach activity professionally evaluated.

A little holiday mess is understandable, but don't let it become an invitation for pests to settle in.

🐀 4. Don't Forget About Rodents!

Although our Thanksgiving series focuses on insects, there's another unwanted holiday guest worth mentioning: rodents.

As temperatures drop, mice and rats may search for shelter in attics, garages, crawlspaces, and other protected areas. Small openings around utility lines, rooflines, vents, and exterior walls can provide access.

Watch for warning signs such as droppings, scratching noises, gnaw marks, or disturbed insulation.

Unlike that relative who overstays their welcome, rodents won't leave just because Thanksgiving dinner is over!

Holiday Pest Prevention Starts Outside

One of the best ways to reduce pest activity inside your home is to pay attention to what's happening outside.

Fall is a great time to inspect exterior doors, windows, foundation openings, landscaping, and areas where utilities enter the structure.

Keep vegetation trimmed away from the home where practical, eliminate unnecessary moisture, and avoid allowing leaves or debris to accumulate against the foundation. Taking these steps now can help make your home less attractive to pests throughout the cooler months.