As the weather gets colder, it’s not just people that are looking to avoid the chill. Critters large and small are beginning to look for safe spaces out of the elements. If your foundation has any cracks or gaps, you might likely get spooked by some of the following creepy critters in crawlspaces:

An image of a mouse, most commonly found in crawlspaces.

Insects and Arachnids in Crawlspaces

Wolf spiders: Right in time for Halloween, these arachnids seek out the warmth of garages and crawlspaces as the weather gets colder. Additionally, since they feed on other insects, they will be drawn to host locations to their desired prey.

Earwigs: This brown-colored insect feeds on decaying plant matter, including mulch. If you have cracks in your foundation, it is an easy entry point to the house straight from any nearby flowerbeds. As they are so small, if you spot one, you might want to get it fixed as quickly as possible.

Ants: This one of those pesky critters that you don’t want to have to worry about at night, and now it’s more important than ever. Ants are attracted to the moisture that develops in cracks and gaps in your foundation. To help avoid being their next meal, you can use caulking or even a piece of wood to plug the holes and cracks to reduce the moisture in the soil.

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Carpenter Bees: While not creepy, these red and black colored insects locate to moist areas where they can make a nest. The best defense against this one is to seal the holes to help prevent them from nesting in your foundation.

Additional Crawlspace Critters

Mosquitoes: Don’t think they’re just for summer. While the warm temperatures make them more active in the fall, they can be a problem year-round. Since they like to find a haven to lay eggs, it’s possible to find mosquito nests in the gaps and cracks in your foundation.

Silverfish: Aptly named due to their silvery-grayish coloring, these nocturnal insects will feed on everyday household items, including sugar, coffee, fabric, and paper.

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Centipedes: Various types of centipedes can be attracted to your basement or crawlspace and for varying reasons. But since these insects are predatory, besides enjoying the damp basement conditions. They are also drawn in by the other insects that might be taking up residence.

Pill Bugs: These insects migrate to damp spaces when the ground and air outside become dry. If you see these roly-polys often, you may want to do a further inspection. See if you have any cracks or gaps that allow moisture to accumulate.

Other Critters in Crawlspaces

Mice and Snakes: These larger critters can signify other holes, gaps, or cracks at a crawlspace entry.

Cracks in your foundation can make any of these critters even worse. If you notice signs of the pests, you can try filling them in. Additionally seal them with caulking or use an insecticide spray. However, this can often be a temporary solution to your problem. As soon as you notice the pests again, try a different strategy.

This time of year is the perfect time to repair cracks and gaps in your foundation. If you have any questions or are ready to fix your foundation, call Crossroads Foundation Repair for a free estimate.