After the fall harvest, field mice move from nearby fields toward buildings; homes near fields and hedgerows see them first.
Lone star ticks are Delaware’s most common tick, especially in Kent and Sussex counties; field and hedgerow edges are where ticks wait.
DNREC’s Mosquito Control Section watches ditches, stormwater ponds and wet woodlands statewide; empty buckets and other backyard containers weekly in summer.
What shapes pest pressure in Felton
The Delaware Public Archives says Felton began in 1856 as a railroad “whistle stop,” created where the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad line crossed the road between Frederica and Berrytown. Farmers brought goods to the station for shipping and a village formed; it was named for the railroad’s president, Samuel M. Felton, and first incorporated in 1861 with limits a half-mile square, split north to south by the railroad. Census Bureau place centers put Frederica about 6 miles away and both Harrington and Camden about 6 miles away in a straight line, and the town falls in ZIP Code Tabulation Area 19943.
After the fall harvest, field mice move from nearby fields toward buildings, and stink bugs gather on sunny walls. DNREC says lone star ticks are the most common tick in Delaware, especially in Kent and Sussex counties, and that blacklegged ticks live in woody edges statewide. Ditches and wet woodlands are the habitats DNREC’s Mosquito Control Section watches for mosquitoes in warm weather.
Pest season in Felton
Spring
Ticks become active along field edges and ants move indoors. Termite swarmers can show up on warm spring days.
Summer
Mosquitoes breed in ditches and standing water. Check for ticks after mowing or working along hedgerows.
Fall
Harvest pushes field mice toward buildings, and stink bugs gather on sunny walls. Seal gaps around pipes and doors before the first hard cold.
Winter
Mice that got in stay in walls and outbuildings. DNREC says blacklegged tick adults are most active in the late fall and winter.
Delaware pest control for termites, ants, rodents and wildlife across New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties. Need a WDI (termite) report for a home sale? They do those too.
Barrier treatments for mosquitoes and ticks, plus flies and spotted lanternfly. No mosquitoes, guaranteed — if they come back between visits, they re-treat free.
Why do mice show up in Felton homes as it gets cold?
Harvest and the first cold nights push rodents from fields into homes, garages and outbuildings. Seal gaps around pipes, doors and vents, store pet food and birdseed in sealed containers, and set snap traps along walls.
Which DNREC mosquito office serves Felton?
DNREC splits Kent County between two Mosquito Control field offices: the Northern Delaware Office in Glasgow covers the northern half of the county, including Dover, and the Southern Delaware Office in Milford covers the southern half. DNREC’s mosquito page lets you find your office by ZIP code.
What ticks are common in Kent County?
DNREC says lone star ticks are the most common tick in Delaware, especially in Kent and Sussex counties, and longhorned ticks are found in Kent and New Castle counties in spring and summer. Blacklegged (deer) ticks live in woody edges statewide, and ticks can be active year-round.