Michigan’s Spring Pest Invasion: How to Fortify Your Home

They're coming! Spiders, centipedes, stink bugs, mice, rats, flies, earwigs, and more. Michigan is about to experience its annual spring pest invasion and the best offense against these creepy crawlers, is a solid defense.

Related: The Deadly 7: Michigan's Most Venomous and Poisonous Threats

There are several ways that you can prevent becoming a home base for a full-blown Michigan ant colony. Let's take a look at three ways to fortify your home against the Mitten State's spring bugs and rodents.

Fortifying Your Michigan Home Against the State's Spring Pest Invasion: Step 1

Step 1 in fighting bugs and rodents: CLEAN. Spring cleaning is your most effective tool to keep the pests outside. These crawlers enter your home looking for food, so taking the time to cleanse surfaces that gather food particles properly is a way to say to Michigan's pests "Nothing to eat here, move along". Michigan Pest Control recommends making these areas Spring Cleaning priorities

• Basements
• Attics
• Crawlspaces
• Pantry
• Kitchen
• Dining Room
• Cupboards
• Under Sinks

When was the last time you cleaned under your sink? I'm not sure about you, but there could be an entire settlement of unknown creatures lurking behind the scouring powder under my sink. I don't like to think about it.

Fortifying Your Michigan Home Against the State's Spring Pest Invasion: Step 2

Step 2: Seal it up. All those tiny cracks and crevices in your homes might as well have a welcome mat reading "Wriggle On In!". All those tiny gaps in your windows and doors make it easy for Michigan's spring pests to creep into your home.

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Alpine Tree and Lawncare recommends you look beyond just human entryways,

Caulk cracks and gaps on the exterior of your home that pests could squeeze through. Inspect the foundation for cracks and check the roof for missing shingles and gaps where utility lines enter the house.

They also recommend checking that your downspouts are aimed away from the house. Pests love moisture.

Fortifying Your Michigan Home Against the State's Spring Pest Invasion: Step 3

Step 3: Break out the spray. This step is all about timing. Most pest control companies recommend spraying for bugs in the early spring. In addition to this time of year being Michigan pest move-in season, it's also breeding season. Spraying your home early enough you'll be able to destroy nests and colonies before their population explodes and you're dealing with a full-blown infestation.

Related: Cicada in Michigan: Real Impact of the Double Brood 'Invasion' vs Hype

While several do-it-yourself sprays are available at any one of several fine retailers throughout Michigan, if you have any doubts about what products you are spraying around your home and family, there are plenty of pest control experts you can lean on. Who knows, maybe you can get them to look under your sink.