Silver Bullet Pest ControlThe first cold nights of October send a lot of North Jersey pests looking for a warm place to spend the winter — and your house is right there. Mice, stink bugs, lady beetles, boxelder bugs, crickets, spiders and squirrels all try to move in during fall. Here's who they are, how they get in, and what actually keeps them out.
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Seeing bugs on the sunny side of the house? Text a photo to 973-510-2585 and we'll tell you what they are.
The main fall home-invading pests in NJ are mice and rats, stink bugs, Asian lady beetles, boxelder bugs, camel crickets, spiders, centipedes and millipedes, plus squirrels and raccoons looking for an attic. They all come in for the same reason — shelter from the cold — through gaps around windows, siding, pipes, vents, doors and the roofline. Sealing those gaps in September and October, and treating the outside of the house, prevents most fall invasions. Silver Bullet Pest Control can inspect and pest-proof your home; call or text 973-510-2585.
In North Jersey, the change from warm September days to cold October nights happens fast. Many insects that spent the summer outdoors can't survive a winter outside without shelter, so they look for protected spots — under bark, in rock walls, and very often inside the walls, attics and window frames of houses. Mice and rats do the same thing, following warmth and the smell of food.
Older housing makes it easier. Much of Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties is built up with homes from the early and mid-1900s: two-families with shared walls, wood siding that has shifted over the years, stone and block foundations, and old window frames. Each of those has small gaps a bug or a mouse can use. Newer homes have gaps too, mostly where pipes, wires and vents pass through the outside walls.
The good news is that fall invaders are predictable. They show up at the same time every year, in the same spots, so a little work at the right time stops most of them before they get in.
Mice are the number-one fall pest we see. As nights cool off they slip in through gaps about the width of a pencil and settle into walls, basements and attic insulation. Rats come in lower, through foundation gaps, garages and drain lines.
These insects gather on warm walls in fall and crawl into gaps around windows, siding and attic vents. They don't breed inside or damage the house, but they can show up by the dozen on warm winter days.
Squirrels spend the fall gathering food and looking for a warm winter nest. An attic with an open vent or soft fascia board is perfect. Raccoons look for dens too, especially attics and chimneys.
| Pest | Usual way in | Harmful? | What works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mice | Pipe and wire gaps, garage doors, foundation cracks | Contaminate food, chew wires | Seal gaps with chew-proof material, traps inside |
| Rats | Foundation gaps, garages, broken drain pipes | Yes — disease and damage | Exclusion, outdoor stations, drain line testing |
| Stink bugs | Window frames, siding gaps, attic vents | No, but smell when crushed | Seal gaps, screens, exterior treatment in early fall |
| Asian lady beetles | Same as stink bugs; drawn to light-colored walls | Can nip; leave yellow stains | Seal gaps, vacuum indoors |
| Boxelder bugs | Gaps near boxelder and maple trees | No | Seal gaps, exterior treatment |
| Camel crickets | Basement doors, window wells, sill gaps | No, but can chew fabric | Reduce moisture, seal basement gaps |
| Spiders | Follow other insects inside | Most are harmless | Cut down the insects they eat |
| Squirrels | Roofline gaps, vents, soft fascia | Yes — chewing, nesting | One-way exclusion and metal sealing |
Wondering why October feels like an invasion? Read why there are so many ladybugs and pests in October.
Look for gaps around pipes, wires, dryer vents, AC lines and where the siding meets the foundation. Anything a pencil fits into is big enough for a mouse.
Replace worn door sweeps and weatherstripping, repair torn screens, and check the garage door's bottom seal — a very common mouse entry.
Look for loose vents, chewed fascia, open soffit corners and an uncapped chimney before squirrels and raccoons pick a winter home.
Move firewood and leaf piles away from the house, trim shrubs off the siding, keep trash lids tight and bring in pet food and bird seed.
Clean gutters, point downspouts away from the foundation and run a dehumidifier in the basement. Crickets, centipedes and millipedes love damp spaces.
Put cereal, flour, pet food and bird seed in sealed containers so a mouse that does get in finds nothing to eat.
More detail on sealing: pest-proofing your home and how to keep mice out of your house.
Stink bugs, lady beetles and boxelder bugs: vacuum them up and empty the vacuum bag or canister outside. Don't crush stink bugs — they smell — and don't spray them inside the walls, which can leave dead bugs that attract other pests. The ones inside won't breed; the fix is sealing so next year's group can't follow.
Mice: one mouse is rarely alone. Snap traps along walls can catch a few, but if you keep finding droppings, the gaps are still open. Our mouse service includes 90 days of coverage with unlimited free service calls during that time.
Crickets, centipedes and millipedes: these mostly show up in damp basements. Sticky traps help you see how many there are; drying the basement and sealing gaps at the sill does the real work.
Squirrels or raccoons in the attic: don't block the hole while they're inside. They'll chew a new way out or get trapped. They need to be let out with a one-way door, then the house is sealed with metal.
Rats in the house or an animal in the living area? Call or text 973-510-2585 — same-day help is often available.
Indoor bug spray doesn't stop insects coming in from outside, and it puts chemicals where your family lives.
Expanding foam alone is easy for mice to chew through. Use chew-proof material such as metal mesh.
By December the bugs are already in the walls and the squirrels have nested. September and October are the time to act.
Ultrasonic devices don't keep mice or bugs out; rodents get used to them quickly.
Read more: does spray foam stop mice?
Fall is when an inspection pays off the most. On a fall visit Silver Bullet Pest Control will:
Many homeowners put fall on a regular schedule. Our recurring service comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee — see monthly and quarterly pest control. We serve Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties from our base in Garfield, and quotes are free.
Tell us what you're seeing and where — bugs on the siding, droppings in the kitchen or noises in the attic. We'll give you a free quote and a plan to keep pests out this winter.
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Most fall invaders start moving in late September and October, when nights turn cold. Mice keep coming in through November and December, so sealing early in the fall works best.
Stink bugs gather on warm, sunny walls in fall looking for a gap to spend the winter in. Light-colored and south- or west-facing walls draw the most.
Stink bugs don't bite or damage the house, they just smell when crushed. Asian lady beetles can give a small nip and leave yellow stains, but neither breeds inside your home over winter.
Yes, mice look for warm shelter as it gets cold, and any house with gaps is a target. Sealing entry points before winter is the best way to stop them.
No. Indoor spraying doesn't stop insects coming from outside, and bugs that die inside walls can attract other pests. Vacuum the ones inside and seal the gaps.
September and early October are best. That's before most insects and mice move in and before squirrels pick a winter nest.
Overwintering insects hiding in walls and attics wake up when the sun warms the house, and some wander into living spaces instead of back outside.
Yes. An exterior treatment and sealing in early fall cut down how many stink bugs, lady beetles and boxelder bugs get in. Call or text us to schedule.
Our recurring service comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and mouse service includes 90 days of coverage with unlimited free service calls.
En otoño entran ratones, chinches apestosas, mariquitas, grillos, arañas y ardillas buscando calor. Hablamos español: llame o mande texto al 973-510-2585.
From our base in Garfield we pest-proof homes across North Jersey, including:
Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B
