Now that December is upon us, we are all getting geared up for the holiday season! For some, this includes gift shipments, holiday trees, and plenty of festive decorations. Since Clark Griswold is an idol of mine, I’d be a hypocrite to tell you to keep your decorating and gift shopping (specifically shipped items) to a minimum, so, here’s a few tips on why and how pests can enter your home this season, and how you can avoid it!

Fresh cut trees

Fresh cut trees are home to many insects, spiders or mites. Although the cold temperatures tend to kill off most of these pests, there’s still a chance that they make their way into the warmth of your home before they die off. Before you pick or cut your tree, it’s important to look for the telltale signs of infestation. These signs could be anything from the obvious nests, to webs, to sparse needles in some areas of the tree where the pest have eaten away at it. After you’ve checked for these signs and determined that the tree doesn’t have any obvious signs of infestation, it’s important to give the tree a good shake before tying it onto your vehicle. DO NOT USE PESTICIDES ON YOUR TREE, as they can be highly flammable and toxic indoors depending on the variety.

Decorations

Because we store a lot of our decorations away for the better part of the year, it’s important to do a thorough check of all of your items before putting them out for display. Mice especially may have already made their way into (what they think) was a nice, warm, and secure spot for nesting, so be sure to check all of the nooks and cranny’s of all of your storage bins and boxes. To avoid any unwanted critters hiding in your decorations, be sure to use hard plastic containers with seal-able lids. Although these aren’t 100% pest proof, they are much tougher to access and chew through.

Cardboard Boxes

If you’re anything like me, you’ll have a dozen or more gift boxes that are “wrap-ready” stored in a bedroom or hiding spot waiting to be put under the tree on the night the “big man” makes his appearance. While we all get caught up in the holiday madness and shopping, it’s important that you double check all of your cardboard shipping boxes (especially those that may have come from a warm/moist climate) before you store them away. Cardboard is the perfect combination of insulation and warmth suitable for any pesky critters trying to seek shelter. Take a look at the boxes in all of the corners and inside the corrugation. Look for signs of infestation such as little eggs that resemble tiny “seeds” or larvae. Discard ANY boxes that you think may have signs of infestation!