As a homeowner, it pays to know more about mouse season. Understanding when mice are more likely to get into your home and how they can get in can help you prevent an infestation. Knowing the destruction and damage mice can cause can give you the motivation required to be proactive before and during mouse season. And knowing the best preventative measures can help you keep these pests out of your home.
Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today!
Keep reading—these are the things you should know about mouse season.
When the Cold Moves In
The mice move in when the cold moves in. Mouse season isn’t specified by an exact day or month. Rather, it is specified by the weather. Though mice can and will get into your home to find safety and food sources at any time of the year, they’re far more likely to move in once the temperatures start to drop and they need to find warmth.
Though mouse season can vary from year to year depending on weather conditions, it’s typically seen as the fall and winter months—which means about half the year is mouse season!
Teeny, Tiny Holes
Mice are actually quite clever and, because they’re so small, they can find their way into your home in a multitude of ways. They can get in from an open door or window, or even a tiny gap under the door. They can get in from gaps around your pipes. They can get in through a vent or even through a small crack in your foundation.
The point is mice only need a dime-sized hole to get in. If your home is old or isn’t in tip-top shape, it’s very likely that mice will find one—or many—ways to get in.
Damage, Contamination, and Health Risks
No one wants mice in their home. Though tiny, seemingly harmless creatures, mice can actually cause quite the destruction. Because they’re rodents, their teeth never stop growing. As a result, they chew, chew, and chew in order to keep their teeth short. That means they’ll gnaw on your wood paneling, your structural beams, your wiring, your floors, your drywall, your pipes, your concrete—virtually anything they can find. And this costly damage likely won’t be covered by your homeowner’s policy.
What’s more, to move around, mice will create mazes in your insulation, destroying it and contaminating it simultaneously. And they’ll leave feces and urine all over the place, particularly in your attic and near food sources, like in your kitchen.
This can lead to significant health risks. Contaminated food or food areas can put you at risk of several zoonotic diseases spread by mice, including hantavirus, leptospirosis, and salmonella.
Prevention Is the Best Strategy
The best way to prevent the damage and health risk that comes along with mouse season is to prevent mice from coming into your home. Get your home mouse-proofed by the professionals. A wildlife removal company will be able to eliminate any current infestation and prevent future ones. Wildlife removal technicians will inspect your home for signs of mice and look for any potential entry points and vulnerable areas that could be used by mice in the future. They’ll seal up entry to your home and reinforce vulnerable areas.
There are things you can do to prevent an infestation as well. You should eliminate sources of food—keep your kitchen free of dirty dishes and crumbs, seal pet food in a container with a lid, and use airtight containers in your pantry. In addition, you can get rid of clutter in your home—particularly in your attic and basement—to eliminate potential nesting sites. And you should regularly inspect your home and perform ongoing maintenance to keep your home safe.
Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today!