Mouse in leaves

Why Mice Move into Your House When it Gets Cold

June 7, 2022
Adams Fairacre Farms

As temperatures drop, rodents are drawn to sources of heat and potential food. Undoubtedly, they will find very creative ways to enter your home: through cracks in walls, open windows or doors, vents, pipes, you name it and they will try it! Luckily, Victor® has some direction for you to ensure you’re NOT sending mice an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner. Here is our helpful checklist to keep rodents out of your home.

1. Keep up with landscaping chores
Keeping plants very close to your house, and not raking up leaves that pile against the foundation is an open invitation to small rodents. They can hide in the vegetation while searching for an opening and you may never notice them. Instead, keep plants and accumulated leaves at least 2 feet away from your home, trim weeds and never allow debris to collect against the house.

2. Prepare your house for the cool weather
If you have not inspected weather-stripping, cracks and other areas of weakness, then you have opened your home to wayward rodents. Make sure you seal any cracks around windows and doors, even checking where you may have repaired last season – weather-stripping and caulking are known to crack with temperature fluctuations.

3. Rodent-proof your exterior
If you’re not checking the exterior of your home for weaknesses, then mice may be able to crawl right into your home. Have you had any home repairs or installations? Check to see if holes around cable wires or plumbing have been properly sealed. Rodents are known to crawl up sewage pipes and plumbing, so seal off around the areas where these pipes enter your home. Additionally, if you have outdoor vents or intend to keep any windows open; fit them with screens to keep mice out.

4. Make your home inhospitable to rodents
If you’re not placing traps in potential rodent hot spots and deploying repellents, then you’re giving mice the go-ahead to move in. Try using glue traps to monitor your attic or basement – since these traps will catch both mice and insects, they will let you know if you have a problem. Just be sure to inspect them regularly. Additionally, use natural scent repellents in pantries or drawers and ultrasonic repellents in basements, attics, and rooms with non-rodent pets.

Information courtesy of VictorPest.com