They are perhaps the model survivalist among the citizens of the natural world. They have survived climate change, numerous disasters, and extermination attempts. And today they live, uninvited in numerous homes around the world. Milwaukee is, therefore, no stranger to mice intrusion. But when fall comes around it seems that these shrewd rodents increase their activity, forcing homeowners to call Milwaukee animal control experts for help.

Do Mice Hibernate in the Fall?

Mice don’t hibernate at all, in fact, they remain very active year-round. But like bats who hibernate, mice will move into your home each fall. They do this because they sense the drop in temperature which indicates that winter is coming. This is a signal to them that they need to find a warm safe haven to spend the winter.  This is when they try to move into your home (usually occupying the attic or basement)

If you pay close attention to them, you’ll notice that mice are more active in the fall. There is a reason for his. They are very busy trying to get ready for the cold winter ahead. Part of this preparation is finding somewhere cozy to stay and of course, this cozy retreat could be your home. Once mice get into your home, removing them will be extremely difficult. For one, they reproduce rapidly, so if you don’t remove them quickly, you will soon have a full-blown colony on your hands.

How to Protect Your Home From Mice Intrusion

A major step in mice prevention for your home should be a reduction or better yet the elimination of all the things that attract them. Mice prefer to spend their winter in spaces that have food available. If you clean away all the things they might want to eat, you’ve done half the job. For the food that you must keep inside, ensure that it is locked away in mice-proof storage areas. You should also remove any clutter that may facilitate their nests. This includes items you have lying around on the outside as well as inside.

Exclusion is the other half of your ideal mice prevention strategy. This means doing a thorough inspection of your property to identify all the cracks, vents and holes through which mice can enter the building and sealing or covering them. Mice are able to squeeze through very tiny cracks so don’t dismiss any crack or hole you may see thinking it is unlikely to be an access point. Pay special attention to the areas where utility wires and cables enter the building as well as your door and window framing. In addition to using them as access points, mice are often attracted by the heat that escapes through these spaces. Exclusion should only be done after a thorough inspection to ensure that you don’t trap wildlife animals inside. The last thing you want is to seal a family of mice or some other wildlife animals inside with you for the winter.

The  Importance of Mice Prevention in Fall

The beginning of fall is the ideal time for mice prevention. Mice will likely spend the summer outdoors and wait until fall to abandon their summer nests and sneak into your home. If you wait until it is too late you will be needing removal services before prevention services.

To benefit from effective mice exclusion this fall, you should seek the help of Milwaukee animal control experts like those at Skedaddle. These professionals will conduct detailed inspections to find and remove all traces of mice. They are trained, experienced and equipped to apply effective mice exclusion strategies such as sealing and covering windows, doors, vents, and cracks to prevent mice entry.