October brings falling leaves, crisp air, and of course—plenty of Halloween fun. But while you’re carving pumpkins and decorating with cobwebs, there may be some real creepy crawlers sneaking around your home. From eight-legged lurkers to squeaky nighttime visitors, pests have a way of making things feel just a little more haunted.
Let’s shine a flashlight on some spooky pest facts that might send chills down your spine—and learn how to keep the real-life frights outside where they belong.
Spiders – Not Just in the Decorations
Fake cobwebs are a Halloween staple, but did you know real spiders are probably closer than you think?
- Fact: Most homes have dozens of spiders living quietly in corners, basements, and attics.
- Creepy Detail: Spiders can produce silk that’s stronger than steel (pound for pound).
- The Scare Factor: While most spiders are harmless, some species—like black widows—pack a venomous bite.
Spiders thrive in dark, cluttered areas, making your storage boxes and basements the perfect hideouts. Regular cleaning and sealing cracks in your foundation can help keep them at bay.
Mice – Masters of Small Spaces
The classic haunted house sound effect? That squeaky scurrying in the walls.
- Fact: A mouse can squeeze through a hole as small as a dime.
- Creepy Detail: One pair of mice can produce up to 60 babies in a single year.
- The Scare Factor: They leave behind droppings that can spread diseases, and they chew on wires—sometimes sparking real-life fires.
Fall is prime season for rodents looking to move indoors. Once they’re inside, they can cause more than just jump scares.
Bats – Halloween’s Iconic Creature
No spooky season would be complete without bats. While they’re beneficial in nature, they’re not welcome inside your home.
- Fact: A single bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour.
- Creepy Detail: Colonies in attics can leave behind piles of guano (bat droppings), which can damage insulation and pose health risks.
- The Scare Factor: In New England, bats are a protected species, which means exclusion work has to be timed carefully to avoid harming them.
Hearing squeaks in your attic or seeing droppings around? That’s a ghost story you don’t want to star in.
Cockroaches – The Survivors
If anything could outlast a zombie apocalypse, it’s the cockroach.
- Fact: Cockroaches can live for a week without their heads.
- Creepy Detail: They’re attracted to food residue, grease, and even paper and glue.
- The Scare Factor: They spread bacteria and allergens that can trigger asthma attacks—especially in children.
Spotting one often means there are many more hiding in the shadows.
Centipedes – The Multi-Limbed Intruders
Those long, fast-moving critters you sometimes see darting across the floor? They’re centipedes.
- Fact: Despite their name, most centipedes have between 15 and 177 pairs of legs.
- Creepy Detail: They inject venom to paralyze their prey (thankfully, it’s not dangerous to humans).
- The Scare Factor: Their sudden movements make them one of the most startling pests to encounter indoors.
Why an Annual Inspection Matters
Halloween decorations get packed away on November 1, but pests don’t follow the same calendar. By scheduling regular inspections, you can uncover:
- Entry points where rodents might sneak inside
- Evidence of droppings, nests, or chewed wires
- Hidden infestations in attics, crawl spaces, and basements
Catching these issues early prevents a full-blown fright fest later.
Don’t Let Pests Haunt Your Home
From spiders and bats to mice and roaches, the real spooky pests of the season are anything but festive. Don’t wait until you hear scratching in the walls or see something scurrying across the floor. Protect your home year-round with Cornerstone’s Home Protection Program.
Call us today at 603-395-9200 to schedule an inspection and keep the creepy critters out—for Halloween and beyond.