Misconception: mice hibernate like other rodents. Mice are active year-round. During the winter, a warm dwelling can attract hungry mice.
Rats live year-round in warm, dry, food-filled homes. Summer and fall are rats' most active seasons since they eat more in winter. Winter doesn't bother them.
Boxelder bugs eat trees, but in the winter they hibernate. They don't bite, but they can stain upholstery and destroy houseplants with their faeces.
Squirrels wouldn't hibernate; they slow down. They hoard food in summer so they won't have to scavenge in winter. Dug-up stockpiles can harm your grass & plants.
Cold-blooded cockroaches hate the cold. In winter, our homes are great cockroach habitat since they prefer the same temperatures people do.
Many spider species breed in the fall, so you may witness a population spike in the winter. Spider bites range from minimally uncomfortable to life-threatening.
Common U.S. winter birds include pigeons, sparrow, guinea hens, and crows. Acidic bird droppings can clog gutters and harm structures.
Flies can't withstand the winter without a warm refuge and food, and your home has both. Luckily, houseflies don't bite and rarely transfer disease.
Warm winter dwellings attract centipedes, like other pests. Most terrifying centipedes are harmless. Some centipede bites hurt like a bee sting.