800-901-1102Decorating for the holidays is great fun, but make sure to take a few moments to inspect holiday decorations for signs of pests before bringing the
m indoors. No one wants to deal with a pest infestation-especially during the holidays.
Boxes of stored decorations, firewood and greenery – including those hand-cut Christmas trees – can
hide rodents, ants, spiders and even spider eggs.
The following tips are provided to help you keep pest free this
holiday season:
- Shake off trees, wreaths and garlands and carefully inspect them for pests or eggs that may be hiding in the branches before bringing them inside.
- If copying a DIY natural decoration from Pinterest or other craft site, thoroughly inspect all foliage and greenery outside the home before beginning projects.
- Store firewood on a raised structure that is located at least 20 feet away from the home and brush off wood before bringing it indoors.
- After pulling decorations out of storage, unpack them outdoors to check for pests, such as mice. Look inside boxes for rodent droppings or gnaw marks, especially on strings of lights to e
nsure the wiring is fully intact. - When storing decorations after the holiday season, use durable, sealed containers that pests can’t chew through instead of cardboard boxes or plastic bags.
The National Pest Management Association(NPMA) encourages homeowners to examine holiday décor for signs of pests before decking the halls.
Following these pest prevention tips will go a long way in protecting against unwanted intruders this winter. If you suspect an infestation, a qualified pest professional can evaluate the problem and recommend an action plan.
Hi, I think we forget that the Christmas trees we bring into our homes have been out in the wilderness. It makes perfect sense that there might be spiders in the branches. The east coast has been finding ticks in some of their Xmas trees. I’m usually concerned with the sap getting on stuff but now I will certainly check the tree for bugs . Thanks, K