Mice are pests that need to be dealt with quickly, but it’s best to keep a cool head while doing so. One thing to know is mice do not care if your house is clean or dirty. They are explorers always on the lookout for water, shelter, and food. Before dealing with these nasty creatures, there’s the big question: how do mice get into your home?
This article discusses how mice find their way into your home even when everything looks clean and organized.
Mice creep through the tiniest of holes
Mice use their adaptable body shape that can easily squeeze through some of the smallest openings, like wall cracks, holes in the floor, ceilings, and window gaps, to get into your home. In addition, if drainage pipes are not properly sealed, these creatures can enter your home via the sink and bathtub drains. Therefore, it’s important to check surrounding plumbing and gas lines, as entry holes are usually found in these places.
When the colder months approach, infestations increase as animals look for a warm place to cozy up. Oftentimes, mice nests are found at the back of refrigerators and kitchen appliances as these areas are hidden and warm. In their search for shelter, mice use anything from magazines, newspapers, toilet paper, and paper towels to set up their nesting place under your cavity walls, near your hot water tank, or under your floorboards, as they easily find warmth in those areas.
Mice can get their daily water requirements from the food they eat as long as it contains certain moisture levels. Mice can raid your cupboards at night in search of food or snacks.
What health risks do mice present?
Having mice in your home comes with many health risks, disturbance, and lack of sleep. Not only can they carry a variety of diseases, they can also spread bacteria and other germs when they come in contact with your food. In addition, when mice move into your home, they can bring uninvited parasites, fleas, and ticks which can spread through their bite, droppings, and urine.
How to prevent mice from getting into your home
All it takes can be a minute for a mouse to ruin your evening after a long day at work. So, follow the tips below to ensure you don’t become a victim of mice disturbance.
- Holes: These are often made in exterior walls for pipes and cables. Always make sure that you check if the old pipe holes are sealed properly.
- Vegetation: Avoid growing plants at the sides of your home, as these plants can offer shelter and warmth for mice. Ensure to trim tree branches when necessary to reduce shelter and seeds for food.
- Vents: When vents are damaged, ensure to cover vents with a good and fine galvanized wire mesh.
- Food storage: Always make sure that your cupboards, stoves, and refrigerators are cleaned thoroughly. Store food in metal containers or plastic and refrain from throwing table scraps into a compost pile, as that will attract unwanted attention.
- Doors: When your door fit is not properly fixed, especially in old houses, mice can easily go through. So you want to ensure you fix it to prevent entry.
- Employ mouse repellent: Place mints, bay leaves, or mothballs in the corners of your doors, closets, basement, and other places you suspect mice may be entering from, as these substances are known to repel mice.
- Always clean your home: Mice are attracted by forgotten old furniture, clothes, and cookware. So, sell those you can and dispose of the others to ensure maximum cleanliness around your home.
If you’re already facing a mice infestation, preventive measures just won’t do the trick since the rodents are already inside the home. So it’s best to apply Terminix pest control for mice to treat the pest problem. Do not hesitate to call for professional help when evidence of infestation is spotted, as mice are known to reproduce quickly. If left untreated, it can turn into a big issue overnight.
Bottom line
Always make sure to periodically perform a thorough inspection of your home to check out where mice could be gaining access. Mice are challenging pests to control since they run fast and live everywhere. So, it is important to seal up every possible entry point you might find in order to save yourself from running around trying to kill them.
If you find yourself waging a serious war against mice, consider investing in professional pest control. Mice can cause structural damage to insulation, wood, and many more. While no mice damage is good, large mice populations can quickly cause irreversible and expensive damage in your home if you do not prevent them from gaining access.
