Have a Holly Jolly (and Pest-Free) Holiday Season

The National Pest Management Association shares tips on how to prevent pest infestations when decorating for the holidays

FAIRFAX, VA (November 16, 2020) – To prepare for “the most wonderful time of the year,” families across the country are getting decorations out of storage and setting up live greenery around the home. Many aren’t aware, however, that they could also be bringing in unwanted pests as well. In order to help keep the season merry and bright, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is urging homeowners to remember to check those trees, wreaths and garlands before bringing them into the home.

“While these decorations are meant to bring joy, they can actually end up causing quite a headache if any pests manage to catch a ride into your home,” said Cindy Mannes, senior vice president of public affairs for NPMA. “Spiders, ants and ticks like to hide deep in the branches of live greenery and many other pests, including spotted lanternflies, like to lay eggs in them as well, making thorough inspections crucial to preventing an infestation.”

To avoid bringing pests into the home this holiday season, NPMA recommends the following tips:

• Inspect live greenery such as wreaths, trees or garlands for signs of pests or eggs.
• Shake out all live greenery before bringing them indoors to dislodge any hitchhikers.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home and five feet off the ground.
• Inspect firewood for any signs of pests before bringing indoors.
• When disposing of live greenery, place it as far from the home as possible to avoid attracting pests to your property.
• Contact a licensed pest control professional if an infestation is suspected.

For more information about pest prevention, visit www.PestWorld.org.

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About the National Pest Management Association
The NPMA, a non-profit organization with more than 5,500 members, was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry's commitment to the protection of public health, food and property from the diseases and dangers of pests. For more information, visit PestWorld.org or follow @PestWorld on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.