January often brings the coldest stretches of the year to Eastern North Carolina and Tidewater Virginia. While you’re bundling up indoors, certain pests see your warm home as the perfect winter getaway. Rodents, spiders and occasional invaders don’t hibernate—they move in. Understanding these common winter pests helps you spot trouble early and keep your home protected.
Why pests come indoors during winter
Cold snaps push pests to seek shelter, food and warmth. Our coastal climate delivers milder winters than many regions, but sudden drops in temperature still drive activity. Rodents chew through gaps to reach cozy attics and basements. Spiders follow prey indoors or slip through tiny cracks. Occasional invaders that normally live outdoors decide your walls and crawl spaces beat the chill. Once inside, these pests can multiply quickly if conditions stay favorable.
Common winter invaders in our area
Signs of a rodent problem:
Mice and rats are the most active winter invaders. They squeeze through openings as small as a dime and chew almost anything to keep their teeth sharp.
Signs of a rodent problem:
- Droppings that look like small dark grains of rice (mice) or larger capsules (rats)
- Gnaw marks on baseboards, wires, food packaging or stored items
- Greasy rub marks along walls and floorboards where rodents travel
- Nests made of shredded paper, fabric or insulation in hidden spots
- Scratching noises in walls, attics or crawl spaces at night
Rodents carry health risks and can damage wiring, which raises fire hazards.
Spiders
Spiders don’t cause structural damage, but large numbers indoors can unsettle homeowners. Common winter species include wolf spiders, cellar spiders and house spiders.
Signs of a spider issue:
- Webs in corners, window frames, basements and garages
- Small egg sacs tucked in crevices
- Frequent sightings of spiders on walls or ceilings
- Prey remains (insect husks) near webs
Spiders follow insects that are drawn to warm indoor spaces, so their presence often signals other pest activity.
Occasional invaders
These pests normally stay outdoors but move in during cold weather seeking shelter. Common examples include:
While they rarely bite or damage property, heavy infestations create nuisance and mess.
Prevention tips you can start today
Small steps make a big difference in keeping winter pests outside.
- Seal entry points. Check doors, windows, foundation cracks, utility penetrations and vents. Use caulk, weatherstripping or steel wool for gaps.
- Reduce attractants. Store food in sealed containers, clean up crumbs and fix leaky pipes to limit moisture.
- Trim vegetation away from the foundation and keep firewood stacked off the ground and away from the house.
- Clean gutters and downspouts so water flows freely and doesn’t pool near the home.
- Inspect attics, crawl spaces and garages for signs of activity before the coldest weather hits.
DIY fixes help, but many entry points are hidden or hard to reach. That’s where professional expertise matters.
How Terminix catches winter pests early
DIY prevention works wonders, but nothing beats a professional eye. Terminix inspections in Eastern NC and Tidewater VA uncover hidden entry points and early infestations before they escalate. Our technicians know local pests inside out, from rodent runs in historic homes to spider hotspots in humid crawl spaces. Catch issues early, and you avoid costly repairs—like chewed wires sparking electrical fires or structural nibbles from unchecked rodents.
When pests show up, so do we.
Ready to ring in the new year without furry or creepy roommates? Schedule your free inspection today and start the year pest-free. Call 800-BUGS-911 or text the same number for quick service across Eastern North Carolina and Tidewater Virginia.