How to Make Sure Pests Don’t Ruin Your 2026 Holiday Season

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How to Make Sure Pests Don’t Ruin Your 2026 Holiday Season

The holiday season in New Hampshire is full of things we look forward to: family gatherings, decorated trees, crackling fires, and kitchens that never seem to stop baking. Unfortunately, it’s also a season that gives household pests plenty of chances to move in.

By November, colder temperatures have already pushed mice and other rodents to look for warm shelter. Add decorations pulled from storage, firewood stacked by the door, a fully stocked pantry, and guests coming and going, and your home becomes even more inviting.

At Greater NH Pest Control, we help New Hampshire homeowners stay ahead of seasonal pest problems all year long. Here’s how to make sure pests don’t ruin your 2026 holiday season.

Why Pests Are a Bigger Problem During the Holidays

Pest pressure doesn’t take a break when the weather turns cold. In many ways, late fall and early winter are when indoor pest problems really take hold.

As temperatures drop, rodents look for protected spaces with warmth, food, and nesting material. Overwintering insects like stink bugs and Asian lady beetles are already tucked inside wall voids and attics. The holidays add even more: extra food, extra clutter, storage boxes moving around, and more people traveling in and out of your home.

Most holiday pest problems start small. A few simple habits can keep them that way.

1. Inspect Holiday Decorations Before They Come Inside

Many decorations spend eleven months a year in the attic, basement, garage, or shed. Those quiet, undisturbed spaces are exactly where mice like to nest.

Before you start decorating, take a close look at your storage boxes. Chewed corners, shredded paper or fabric, droppings, and nesting material are all signs that rodents have been there. Check strings of lights and electrical decorations too, since mice are known to chew on wires.

When the season ends, store decorations in sealed plastic totes instead of cardboard boxes. Plastic is harder for rodents to chew through and gives them fewer places to nest. If you’re already finding signs of mice, our guide on why mice look for a warm place to hide in the fall explains what to look for next.

2. Keep Your Pantry Holiday-Ready and Rodent-Proof

Holiday baking means extra flour, sugar, nuts, chocolate, and dry goods in the pantry. It also means more crumbs and spills in the kitchen.

Store baking supplies and snacks in airtight glass, metal, or heavy plastic containers. Wipe down counters and sweep floors after cooking, especially after big gatherings. Don’t leave pet food out overnight, and take the trash out regularly so food waste isn’t sitting in the house. These steps cut down on the food sources that attract mice and pantry pests alike.

3. Be Smart About Firewood

Nothing says New Hampshire winter like a fire in the fireplace or woodstove. But firewood piles can be home to mice, spiders, ants, and other insects.

Stack firewood at least 20 feet from your home and keep it raised off the ground. Only bring in as much wood as you plan to burn that day, and avoid storing large amounts of firewood in your garage or basement. Before carrying logs inside, knock them together and check for insects.

4. Give Your Christmas Tree a Good Shake

A fresh-cut tree is a holiday tradition for many New Hampshire families. Every so often, a live tree carries small insects or spiders in from outdoors. They’re usually harmless and rarely last long in a heated home, but they can be an unwelcome surprise.

Before bringing your tree inside, give it a good shake (many tree farms have a mechanical shaker) and look over the branches and trunk. If you want an extra check, let it sit in the garage for a day before bringing it in.

5. Watch Out for Holiday Travel Hitchhikers

Whether you’re traveling to see family or hosting overnight guests, the holidays are a busy time for bed bugs to spread. Bed bugs don’t care how clean a home or hotel is. They travel in luggage, clothing, and bags.

When you stay somewhere new, check the mattress seams and headboard for small dark spots or the bugs themselves. Keep your suitcase on a luggage rack instead of the bed or floor. When you get home, unpack outside the bedroom if you can and run your clothes through a hot dryer. If you’re hosting, keep an eye out for signs of bed bugs after guests leave. Learn more about our bed bug control services.

6. Seal Up Entry Points Before Winter Sets In

With doors opening and closing all season, it’s worth making sure your home isn’t giving pests an easy way in. Walk around the outside of your house and look for gaps around the foundation, utility lines, vents, garage doors, and windows. Replace worn weather stripping and door sweeps.

Mice can squeeze through surprisingly small openings, so even gaps that look minor are worth addressing. If you’re not sure where they’re getting in, our rodent control service starts with a full inspection to find out.

7. Don’t Be Surprised by Bugs on Sunny Winter Days

If stink bugs or Asian lady beetles show up on your windows on a sunny afternoon, they’ve likely been spending the season inside your walls or attic. Warmth from the sun can wake them up and draw them into your living space.

Avoid crushing them, which can release an unpleasant odor. Vacuum them up instead and empty the vacuum outside. If you’re seeing them often, professional stink bug control and Asian beetle control can help.

Signs It’s Time to Call a Professional

Some holiday pest problems are easy to handle on your own. Others point to something bigger. It’s time to call a professional if you notice:

Droppings in cabinets, pantries, or storage areas
Scratching or scurrying sounds in the walls or ceiling at night
Chewed food packaging, wires, or storage boxes
Bites, or small dark spots on mattresses and bedding
Stink bugs or lady beetles showing up day after day

Catching a problem early is almost always easier, faster, and less expensive than waiting until after the holidays.

Local Pest Control You Can Count On This Holiday Season

Greater NH Pest Control is a local, family-owned, and owner-operated pest control company based in Hooksett. With more than a decade of experience serving New Hampshire homeowners, we know the pest pressures that come with cold weather and the holidays.

Whether you need a one-time rodent service or year-round quarterly protection, we’ll find the problem, explain your options, and help you enjoy the season pest-free. You get the same technician every time, and no contracts are required.

Enjoy the Holidays Without Uninvited Guests

The holidays should be about the people you love, not the pests you didn’t invite. Inspect your decorations, protect your pantry, store firewood properly, and seal up entry points before the busiest weeks of the season.

If pests have already made themselves at home, contact Greater NH Pest Control today. Call or text 603-851-3931.

No contracts required. Keeping you PEST FREE in the 603!