Ask anyone from a different city to describe Houston weather in two words and they will all give you the same answer — hot and humid. While most of us don’t particularly enjoy this type of weather, there are some that do. Bugs and insects thrive in heat and humidity, and if you don’t take the proper steps to keep them out of your home, they will quickly overtake it.

But even if you have your home on a continual pest control treatment plan, bugs, insects, and rodents can still find a way to survive, especially in the garage. And the best way to keep them from setting up camp is by organization. When most of us hear the words organization and garage in the same sentence we cringe because let’s face it, the garage is our go-to place for storage. But by making a few minor adjustments, you can properly store items while keeping the bugs out.

“The garage is a prime environment for bugs, insects, and rodents because it stays dark and damp,” said John Moore Services Pest Control Manager Brian Menn. “It’s an easy access spot for them to come in, nest, and leave as they please to get food. The garage isn’t as secure as a house, it has lots of holes and tiny openings for them to come in and out of.”

Why bugs and pest love your Garage

The garage is an attractive spot not just for spiders and ants, but for mammals too. It acts as an indoor equivalent of burrow, a cool cave, or a warm tree hollow. Depending on the time of year, a garage offers shelter from the cold, or in our case, the extreme heat. Many garages are filled with clutter, such as boxes and trashcans, which animals love. They make nests from the boxes, and can find food in the trash to survive.

Pests in Texas which Hide in your Garage

Here is a list of the top critters that are found inside Texas garages:

Snakes: Like we mentioned before, snakes can crawl their way inside a garage easily by accessing tiny holes or openings. They will nest inside boxes and in dark corners under piles of “stuff.” Often times you will not see the snakes themselves, but instead will find a shedding of their skin.

American Cockroaches: These are the large roaches that many Houstonian’s refer to as “tree roaches.” They love to nest and breed in dark places, and the garage makes for a perfect fit. Cockroaches reproduce rapidly, and it’s not uncommon for 10 roaches to turn into hundreds within a week. They can be dangerous because they carry a lot of disease, and are often a trigger for asthma attacks.

Silverfish: Although often mistaken for roaches, silverfish are a lot smaller and are not as harmful to humans. However, they are a nuisance and love to nest in dark areas. They feed off of many things such as fabrics, books, wallpaper, and human food. Most of the items on their diet are things that are in everyone’s garage.

Spiders: The black widow and brown recluse are two types of spiders that love the garage. Not only is it dark and warm, but it also provides many hiding spots inside where they can nest. Brown recluses are known to hide inside shoes that are left in the garage, along with any other tight, dark spot.

“Rats and mice are common to see in garages because they can easily go in during the day and out during the evening,” said Menn. “When inside, they find something they like to nest in, like a cardboard box, then they go right back outside to get food. They bring with them a lot of disease and bacteria, and you really don’t want them living in your garage.”

How can I keep them out of my garage?

We know, the garage is where you store all those items that you don’t want to throw away, but at the same time, don’t know what to do with. But as long as your garage is filled with clutter, it will be filled with bugs, insects, and rodents. The best way to keep this from happening is to get organized, and here are some tips:

Instead of keeping items in cardboard boxes, store them in plastic, airtight containers. That way your belongings will stay preserved and all harmful critters will not be able to crawl their way inside.
Build cabinets along one side of your garage so you can better organize your things. If everything has a place, then that will eliminate piles of “stuff” sitting around.
Make an effort to clean and sweep out your garage at least once a month. Dust, dirt, and spider webs will develop over time no matter how organized you are. If you are keeping your garage clean, this will help eliminate the insect population.
Look for holes or small cracks that are around the side of your garage and seal them up the best you can. Doing so will remove all entry points for rodents and snakes.

We know organizing the garage is a big task for most people, but doing so will drastically reduce your pest and bug infestations. And don’t forget to continually have your home sprayed for bugs and insects. John Moore Services offers personalized pest control treatment plans designed to fit the needs of each individual home. Give us a call!