Bug-Proof Your Holiday Cheer: Tips for a Pest-Free Season
The holidays are here—twinkling lights, family gatherings, delicious food… and yes, even unwanted pests trying to join the festivities. While December may feel like the off-season for bugs, winter in Shreveport, Bossier City, and the surrounding areas is mild enough that many pests remain active and use this time to sneak indoors. Between extra cooking, holiday décor, and guests coming and going, your home becomes even more attractive to them.
The good news? A little preparation goes a long way. Anti-Pest has helped Northwest Louisiana homeowners stay pest-free since 1950, and these locally tailored tips will help you protect your home this holiday season.
What This Blog Covers
- Why pests become a problem in December
- The pests most likely to invade homes during the holidays
- How to inspect holiday décor, greenery, and firewood
- Smart kitchen and pantry habits to prevent infestations
- How to winterize your home against rodents and insects
- How to avoid hitchhiking pests from guests and travelers
- When to call a professional before a minor issue becomes a major infestation
Why Pests Are a Holiday Problem in Northwest Louisiana
Although our winters are usually mild, pests still make their way indoors in search of warmth, shelter, and food. The holidays only amplify the potential for infestations. Here’s why:
- More food is left out
- Decorations are pulled from attics, sheds, and garages
- Real trees and greenery are brought indoors
- Frequent hosting and travel
- Warm, cozy homes full of hiding places
Common holiday invaders include:
- Mice and rats
- Ants
- Pantry pests (weevils, moths, beetles)
- Spiders
- Cockroaches
- Bed bugs
Festive Prevention Tips for a Pest-Free Holiday Season
1. Holiday Décor—Hold the Creepy-Crawlies
Decorations stored in garages, sheds, and attics are prime real estate for mice, rats, spiders, and other pests. Before bringing anything inside:
- Inspect boxes, bags, and décor for droppings, live insects, webs, or nesting materials.
- Shake out real trees, garlands, and wreaths outside.
- Switch to sealed plastic storage bins instead of cardboard (which attracts pests and absorbs moisture).
If you spot tiny sawdust piles, shredded fabric, or gnaw marks, something may already be nesting inside your décor box.
2. Keep the Kitchen Merry (and Monitored)
With all the holiday baking and leftovers, your kitchen becomes a buffet for pests.
Our trusted professionals recommend:
- Wiping down counters after every cooking session
- Taking out the trash nightly, especially after gatherings
- Washing dishes promptly
- Checking flour, sugar, grains, and spices for pantry pests
- Storing food in sealed, hard-sided containers
- Refrigerating sweets and treats instead of leaving them out
- Vacuuming floors regularly
These simple steps help prevent ants, cockroaches, and pantry pests from establishing a presence.
3. Winterize Your Home the Festive Way
While you’re hanging lights or inflating yard décor, take a few minutes to close off pest entry points.
Holiday-ready maintenance includes:
- Sealing cracks around windows, doors, siding, and utility lines
- Installing weatherstripping and door sweeps
- Storing firewood 20+ feet from the house
- Keeping garbage bins tightly sealed and away from the home
- Cutting back shrubs and tree branches touching the house
- Managing moisture around the foundation
- Eliminating outdoor food sources (fallen fruit, pet food, etc.)
These small steps can help deter rodents and insects from making your home their winter retreat.
4. Hosting Holiday Guests? Avoid Hitchhiking Pests
With holiday travel comes the risk of uninvited travelers. Bed bugs often hide in luggage, coats, or even on people, while roaches hitch rides on food items and grocery bags.
To protect your home:
- Offer luggage racks so bags stay off beds and upholstered furniture
- Wash all guest linens immediately after they leave
- Inspect guest rooms regularly in the weeks afterward
- Ask guests (kindly!) to keep snacks in sealed containers
If guests bring baked goods or pantry items, discreetly check them for signs of pest activity before storing them.
When DIY Falls Short: Call the Holiday Pest Heroes
DIY prevention goes a long way, but sure signs mean it’s time for professional help:
- Droppings or gnaw marks
- Sudden ant or roach activity
- Unexplained bites
- Scratching sounds in walls or ceilings
- Damaged food packages
- Signs of nests or shed insect skins
Even if you haven't seen pests yet, a pre-holiday check-in can give you peace of mind. With how busy December gets, it’s easy to overlook small vulnerabilities that pests can use to get inside.
Anti-Pest has protected families for more than 75 years, offering comprehensive home pest control services that eliminate and prevent pests year-round. Let us handle the pests so you can focus on what matters most, celebrating with the people you love.
Holiday Pest Prevention FAQ
Can cold snaps drive pests into my home?
Yes, the sudden onset of cold weather can quickly push rodents and bugs indoors, triggering unexpected infestations.
Why do I suddenly see pests even if my home is clean?
Clean homes can still attract pests during the holidays because decorations, guests, firewood, and added food sources offer new entry points and hiding spots. Cleanliness helps, but it doesn’t close every door.
Are store-bought sprays enough to control holiday pests?
They can help temporarily, but they rarely address the root cause of the problem, such as entry points, nests, or moisture issues. Store-bought products also fail to deter pests like bed bugs or rodents. Professional pest treatments are more reliable.
Do artificial Christmas trees attract pests?
Artificial Christmas trees themselves don’t necessarily attract pests. However, edible decorations like popcorn garlands, candy canes, gingerbread ornaments, and dried fruit slices do attract ants, mice, and even cockroaches if left out.
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