How to Handle Pests and Wildlife Around Summer Houses
An outdoor summer house provides the perfect space for relaxation and rejuvenation, opening to fresh breezes while offering shelter from direct sun or rain.
Prevention is key when it comes to protecting your vacation home from pest infestations, so be sure to take measures prior to leaving for the season in order to secure it from rodents, ants and other potential intruders.
Keep Trash and Debris Away
Owning a vacation home can be an incredible pleasure, whether it’s a beach house, mountain cabin, lakefront getaway or another type of seasonal retreat. Unfortunately, these vacation properties also present unique pest challenges when left vacant for extended periods. From termites and rodents to pesticides that damage furniture, termite infestation and rodent invasion are a constant risk. Modern Pest founder Bill Dowd recommends following three simple tips to protect summer houses against unwanted critters and insects between visits.
Initial steps include keeping all doors and windows shut when not in use; even small holes provide entryways for pests into your summer house. It may be worthwhile installing screens at all openings as an added precaution, ensuring they remain undamaged without holes or tears.
Before closing up your summer house, be sure to remove trash regularly and empty all garbage cans of debris, such as food scraps. Wipe down cans regularly as this will reduce odors that attract pests.
Finally, dispose of any wood piles or any other locations where rotting debris collects as this provides ideal nesting spots and hiding spots for pests such as mice, squirrels and voles. If storing wood near your house it must be at least 20 feet away; for an alternative way of disposing of this waste consider burning materials with a firepit rather than leaving them to decay naturally.
Clutter and mess can attract pests into your summer house. Make sure storage areas are clear of boxes, papers and piles of clothing before organizing storage areas to rid yourself of clutter and mess. Also ensure that attic and basement spaces are well ventilated and dry as pests thrive in humid environments. Finally, store all pet food, bird seed and food items in airtight resealable containers as these attract pests as a source of protein, sugar or bacteria-infested environments – so beware!
Seal Up Leaks
An idyllic summer house can add the perfect oasis to any property, offering you a peaceful place to escape daily life and unwind in complete seclusion. However, while taking advantage of your time off it’s important to properly secure and lock up the summer house to prevent pests from entering and becoming an issue.
Seal every crack and crevice around windows, doors and vents on the outside of your cabin and around windows and doors to keep pests at bay. Make sure plumbing or wires don’t pass through walls without first sealing them with caulking or sealant to keep pests at bay – caulking or sealing utility openings is especially crucial as pest activity tends to peak during warmer months.
Within your home, remove any rotting wood from your cabin or shed and store it safely in your garage or shed to ward off pests that may try to chew their way in. Also ensure any bird feeders have been taken down and pet food stored in animal-proof containers for storage purposes. Clean up food debris as best you can before placing items into resealable plastic or metal containers to deter rodents and other pests from making a meal of them!
Maintain your yard with trees and bushes that do not touch your house by trimming trees and trimming bushes accordingly, clearing gutters of standing water that attract mosquitoes, voles, mice and other nuisance pests, not piling wood but creating a wood chip or gravel barrier at least 20 feet from it – these all serve to deter mosquitoes, voles and mice from congregating around your house.
As part of closing up your summer house for another season, it is also wise to remove any bird feeders and sources of food from your property. Outdoor lights should also be turned off; fireplace dampers should also be sealed off; any temperature-regulating outlets must use fire retardant or insect-resistant cords and plugs; finally, wash all linens and bedding and store in protective containers so as to ward off moths and spiders that might otherwise come calling.
Keep Your Home Clean
Home away from home can be a welcome respite from life’s stresses, whether that means coastal retreat, mountain cabin or lake house. But if you plan to leave it unattended for extended periods, preventing pest infestation is of utmost importance to ensure an enjoyable vacation experience. From rodents and termites, to insects of various varieties that invade seasonal homes quickly. Bill Dowd of Skedaddle provides some tips that may help you avoid such issues this summer.
Cleanliness around a vacation home is of utmost importance, as debris, trash and overgrown vegetation offer ideal shelter for pests to nest. Mowing the lawn regularly and trimming overgrown bushes can make spotting pests in your yard easier, decreasing their chance of hiding inside your vacation home.
Interior storage areas must remain organized. Clutter can attract pests, and food left out for long periods provides an easy meal for rodents, insects and birds alike. Food should always be stored in airtight resealable containers that seal tight – including pet food! – to prevent these creatures from making a home behind furniture. Ensure regular vacuuming of this space under and behind furniture as this may also help.
As part of your pest-proofing strategy, it’s also a smart move to seal any cracks or crevices that might attract pests into your home. Most insects swarm during spring and summer; by eliminating small entry points for these unwanted visitors, sealing up these openings could make your home less inviting to them.
Hire a professional pest control technician to evaluate and protect your vacation home from pest infestation. A four-season program from a reliable company will guarantee that it stays pest-free all year round.
Keep Your Yard Clean
Cabins that remain vacant often become breeding grounds for rodents, termites and other wood-destroying pests that spread disease and parasites into the area. Being aware of which pests pose the greatest threats and taking necessary preventative steps is key when renting seasonal homes.
Pests can enter homes at any time of year, but summer tends to be especially problematic due to certain insects and critters being most active during this warm period, like termites that begin swarming in late spring and quickly spread throughout your yard and home if left unchecked.
As long as you follow these preventive tips, your vacation home should remain pest-free. Start by thoroughly cleaning its interior before leaving; wipe down appliances and sweep and vacuum floors before storing pet food in airtight containers and clearing away bird feeders away from the house. Also eliminate wood piles or sources of moisture on the property to lower risk.
Finally, inspect the outside of your house for signs of damage caused by large animals such as squirrels and raccoons. If there are chewing marks or holes on its exterior walls, treat these areas with anti-chewing spray immediately. In addition, make sure that grills and smokers are stored away safely in a shed or garage and all remaining bagged pet food is placed in animal-proof containers.