When one first thinks about it, logic seems to dictate that the hot, humid dog days of summer would spur pests to be both more destructive and a bigger nuisance. In reality, this is mostly true, but there are exceptions. For homeowners, the onset of fall with its cool temperatures and winter with its cold can drive certain insects and small rodents to seek the warmth and comfort of human habitation. For farmers and others who make their livings from one form of agriculture or another, the cool weather can mean a whole new cast of characters to place their crops at increased risk.



When it's Cold, Rainy or Snowy, Mice Like to Check In

Rodents, like most warm-blooded creatures definitely prefer the climate inside people's houses or anywhere else far from inclement weather and food shortages. What better place is there to fulfill those requirements than a nearby house that's warm, dry and well supplied with crumbs of food that mice love? These uninvited guests, while cute to children, also are the bearers of extremely unpleasant diseases that can be obtained by humans from their urine, droppings and even dead bodies in mousetraps. The Field Mouse variety is particularly abundant in rural areas where they regularly take up residence in homes, barns and outbuildings of every kind. Mouse proofing your home during the late summer months is an excellent idea to deter the annual visit mice make to neighborhood homes. Much information on how to accomplish this is readily available on the Internet without cost.

Ants and Spiders Get the Same Idea

There is a variety of insect life that prefers to frolic in the great indoors when the air outside is crisp and precipitation is occurring on a regular basis. In fall, it's not unusual to find that the ant colonies in the soil beneath your home seem to visit more frequently and you may notice occasional spiders have taken up residence. Termites, if already there, will remain so, using their mud tubes to transit back and forth to the colony's nest for moisture. Destruction of wooden beams and rafters continues from these pests on a year-round basis. Other insects like Silverfish and Roaches become more active indoors as well.

A Tale of Bats and Birds

Bat colonies, not conveniently encased somewhere, are not above using a small hole or crack near an attic ventilation system or chimney to take up residence in attics. From there, one or two may find their way to the lower levels and appear in the house proper to terrorize those who don't appreciate their presence. For the most part, however, you probably will never know they are in your attic unless you pay it a visit. Some birds will do the same thing if they don't fly south each year and have been less than successful in locating a winter abode in some nearby tree that shelters them from the elements. Both creatures, even if never seen, leave an unappreciated assortment of droppings that end up being an unpleasant cleaning job for you come spring.

Farmers Face Many Cool Weather Problems Too

Farmers raising crops that are harvested in the fall months and people who harvest various fruits from their orchards in mid to late fall have to deal with a wide variety of insect pests and fungus infestations that thrive in their trees in wet, cool weather. This, of course, is in addition to the early frosts that bring out the smudge pots and cause losses in the millions to fruit growers everywhere in the United States. Birds, too, are well aware that Corn and other agricultural products ripen for harvest as the cool weather arrives and can do extensive damage to crops in their zeal for full bellies. Many a Crow or Raven has met his demise from a shotgun-bearing farmer anxious to preserve his cornfields until the harvest is completed.

Other pests to deal with

People who live in the country and even some city dwellers have been paid regular nighttime visits from Raccoons determined to open their garbage cans no matter how securely they are closed. In the mountains, bears about to hibernate will frequently visit towns to forage for food that will put on those extra pounds prior to their long winter hibernation. Chipmunks and Squirrels also sometimes become brave and enter homes through cracks and holes in their never-ending search for pre-winter nourishment.

On the bottom line, while we may be free of mosquitoes, gnats, flies and other summer pests once the weather turns cool, there are others that prefer joining us in our homes at this time of the year. We're all part of nature and nature will always be a part of us in any season of the year.