#coldweatherpests

Many homeowners experience a sudden invasion of unwanted guests - mice when the temperature drops and winter approaches. Such tiny, clever creatures are more than a nuisance; they can become a cause of property damage, contamination of food, and human health risks. Therefore, it is important to understand why the mice invade your home when the weather is getting colder and know how to prevent such invasion, so to maintain your living space as safe and pest-free as possible.

Why Do Mice Enter Houses in the Cold Season?

Search for Warmth: The most obvious reason why mice would manage entry into the house during cold seasons is on the grounds of survival. Mice, like most tiny creatures, are sensitive to temperature changes and find a haven when the outside environment becomes too cold. The home provides them with the perfect shelter where they can come and derive warm comfort, stay clear from natural forces that may reduce their chances of survival, and all such things that would get a mouse out to survive.

Mice need an uninterrupted food supply to stay alive. When winter hits and outdoor food is already scarce, they seek indoor sources. Crumbs, shelf products, pet food, and trash sources are easily available indoors. Having nocturnal and adaptative characteristics helps mice raid your kitchen or pantry when you are away.

Warmth and Food Shelter and Nesting Mice are not just looking for warmth and food, but also a safe haven to nest and breed. During winter, warm homes provide a safe abode to avert predators. Hiding places in the dark, secluded areas, such as attics or basements, walls, or behind appliances, transform the mice's nests. Once inside, they multiply rapidly and can quickly make what seems like a small problem turn into an infestation overnight in a few short weeks.

Entry Points Older homes that boast of small openings are often overlooked by most homeowners. For instance, a hole as small as the size of a dime can provide mice with sufficient space to sneak in undetected. Cracks in foundations, gaps around windows and doors, vent openings, and even those found around utility pipes become entry points for mice.

What is the Danger of an Infestation Due to Mice?

Having mice in the house is more than just being uncomfortable with it or just hearing a squeak now and then. Mice can be extremely problematic, including major areas such as:

Health Risks: Mice carry diseases that can be transferred to humans via contact or through contamination of food. Three of the most common diseases spread through these creatures are salmonella, hantavirus, and leptospirosis.

Property Damage: The rodents have very sharp teeth that enable them to gnaw through materials like wood, plastic, and even electrical wiring. This can result in structural damage and even contribute to the risk of electrical fires at certain instances.

Contamination: Mice contaminate food with their droppings and urine, making your stored food and other pantry items unsafe for consumption. They will drop along the baseboards and cabinets, and these might cause allergic reactions or other respiratory-related problems to some people.

How to Prevent Mice from Coming into the House

The best way to deal with mice is in a proactive manner, which is not as hard compared to when they are already in the house. Proactive actions can keep these rodents from using your house as a winter shelter.

Seal All Entry Points This is one of the most effective ways of keeping those disgusting mice out of your house: seal all possible entry points. Take a broad overview and inspect the exterior of your house by directing your attention to spots around utilities that come into the house, along the edges of doors and windows, and around cracks or holes in the foundation. Seal all cracks, holes, or gaps with caulk, steel wool, and other tough materials that mice cannot chew through.

Seal weather stripping Install weather stripping where doors and windows all have gaps. Seal any gaps found on the doors and windows. This would help seal off tiny openings that can be fitted by a mouse to gain access to your house. Install door sweeps to seal the under-side of your doors as well.

Keep Your House Clean Mice to avoid a clean home. Sweep and mop floors, wipe down countertops, and clean other areas where you prepare and store food. Store food, including pet food, in sealed containers. Trash must be disposed of quickly. Never go to bed with a sink full of dirty dishes. The more you limit food availability, the fewer chances you give mice.

Reduce Clutter Mice love clutter because it provides them with places to hide and nest. Declutter storage areas like basements, attics, and garages. Keep items stored in plastic bins with tight-fitting lids rather than cardboard boxes, which mice will chew through easily.

Store firewood and other outdoor items properly Mice can hide in outdoor items such as firewood, leaf piles, and garden supplies. Store firewood at least 20 feet away from your home and with it elevated off the ground. Remove any debris from around your home to eliminate possible nesting areas near your house.

Set Traps and Use Deterrents The placement of mouse traps in areas where you believe the activity is going to help capture the invaders before they grow into a problem of larger proportions. In addition to traps, there are some deterrents; for example, peppermint oil has been shown to repel mice with its strong smell. Soaking cotton balls and placing with peppermint oil around potential entry points will keep them away.