As fall gives way to colder temperatures, mice are eager to find warm shelter. According to mice removal Port Moody, homeowners should take several precautions to ensure their houses are secure and a mice-free zone.

1. Seal Entry Points

Mice can fit in openings the width of a pencil. If you want to keep the little critters out of your house, you need to seal all potential entries around the exterior and interior of your home. 

However, sealing every point around your property does not tackle the populations that are already living inside your home. Skedaddle’s humane rodent exclusion process places a number of one way doors around your property, allowing mice to leave without the ability to return. 

If your home is clear of mice and other animals, you can use caulk, wire mesh, or other suitable materials to block or repair holes. You want to look for cracks in the foundation, extra space around pipes, tears in window screens, breaks in roof vents, etc.

2. Elevate Firewood

Many Port Moody properties utilize natural wood-burning fireplaces. Most homeowners will stockpile stacks of logs to use during the winter to keep their houses toasty. If you plan on storing logs on your property, do it properly.

Learning to stack wood outside correctly is one of the essential skills of learning how to mouse-proof a house. Mice and rats love to hide in bunches of sticks or dry logs. Your firewood represents a possible haven for the animals. You will need to stack the logs at least 18 inches off the ground to prevent rodents from using the material as a shelter. 

3. Get Rid of Clutter

If you have outdoor furniture stacked against your house, keep trash cans against the garage, or store items loosely and chaotically in the garage, basement, or attic, mice might see the area as a possible nesting ground.

You want to store items inside or away from the house’s foundation whenever possible. Keeping things too close to your home encourages mice and other animals to nestle in. Your house provides warmth in the winter. If the heat offered is tempting enough, animals may try to break into your property to get warmer.

Having cluttered spaces in your home gives rodents and other animals a way to hide in plain sight. Organize all your spaces, even if you don’t use them often. Less clutter makes it easier to know when you have a problem.

4. Maintain Landscaping

Mice in winter are looking for any way to get into your warm, safe house. Overgrown landscaping can provide access to vulnerable entry points. For example, if a nearby tree has overgrown branches hanging onto or over your roof, mice can use the limbs to get onto your roof and use vents to enter your attic.

Before the winter hits, trim back branches and bushes. Also, take the time to clear away any yard debris, like leaves or sticks.

5. Fix and Inspect the Interior and Exterior of Your Home

Broken roof vents, cracks in the foundation, and old doors can provide access to your home’s interior. Before the winter, hire professional services to inspect your property for damage and make repairs. Also, if you suspect you may have a rodent problem, contact a local humane wildlife specialist to assess your property. 

Mice are cute, but they do not belong in your home. The beauty is you don’t need to learn how to get rid of mice; contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control and let their technicians take care of the problem.