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Birds

• Change birdbath water frequently to keep it fresh and prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Scrub baths to keep them clean and remove mold that can make it slippery for birds. Birds prefer water that is no more than 2 inches deep.
• Although most hummingbirds are heading south, leave feeders out for late travelers and the occasional rufus hummingbird.
• Most birds select their winter feeding stations by October. If you offer seed or suet only in the winter, now is the time to begin.

Insects

• October is ladybug season. These beneficial insects sometimes gather in large groups and choose your house as a warm spot to spend the winter. If they are finding their way inside, check the condition of weather stripping and caulking around windows, doors, ceiling light fixtures and other possible entryways.
• Kudzu bugs also try to winter indoors. Numbers are lower because of the appearance of their natural enemy, a parasitic wasp, in the Southeast. A cold prior winter also reduces their population. To prevent Kudzu bugs from invading your home, caulk and weatherstrip as for ladybugs.