Mice are resourceful creatures that seek out warm, secure spaces to call their own, and, unfortunately, your walls fit the bill perfectly. The quiet cavities in walls provide them with protection from predators, easy access to food, and an ideal environment for nesting and reproduction. Over time, this can lead to growing infestations that are both frustrating and unhealthy. 

Hearing faint scratches or rustling sounds at night? These could be signs of mice in the walls of your Ottawa home. Mice can spread dirt, disease, and allergens, making their presence a potential hazard for your home and family. Not only that, but their gnawing habits can damage insulation, wiring, and wood, leading to costly repairs. 

Understanding why mice are attracted to these spaces is the first step to learning how to get rid of mice in walls effectively. If you’ve been wondering, “Are mice in walls dangerous?” The simple answer is yes—they pose risks to both your household’s hygiene and safety. Taking action swiftly with professional help ensures that your home stays safe and pest-free.

Why Rodents Choose Walls for Nesting  

Your walls offer an irresistible combination of safety and convenience to rodents looking for a place to build a nest. The inaccessibility of these spaces to predators makes them particularly appealing. Inside the walls, the environment can be warm and insulated, especially in colder months when rodents need to escape the outdoor elements. Additionally, walls run through every part of a home, giving the rodents quick mobility to different rooms for food and water.  

Walls offer concealment like no other part of a house. The minute gaps, holes, and cracks in the structure often serve as entry points. Even the tiniest gaps near pipes or vents are enough to provide access. Once inside, rodents take advantage of the voids within the walls to move undetected. Combined with the proximity to kitchens and pantries, these characteristics make walls an ideal nesting spot.  

Seasonality amplifies wall-seeking behaviour. For example, in the fall, as temperatures drop, rodents start to look for indoor shelter. Walls are a convenient spot during these transitions. They may initially enter through basements, attics, or via poorly-sealed windows and doors, but they inevitably settle within the walls for ultimate security. A variety of homes and neighbourhood conditions can contribute to the likelihood of rodents finding your property inviting, including cluttered spaces around the exterior or easily accessible garbage bins.  

What Rodent Nests Look Like  

Rodent nests are fascinating structures, often underestimated in their complexity. The nests are not just some haphazard pile of items but well-designed spaces crafted for survival. A nest inside a wall is typically composed of soft materials they gather from the surrounding environment. Common nesting materials include shredded paper, fabric scraps, insulation, dried grass, and even pieces of cardboard or plastic. Rodents have sharp teeth, enabling them to efficiently shred a wide array of materials to make their nests as comfortable as possible.  

The size of a nest can vary depending on the number of inhabitants and how long they have been in a specific location. A well-established nest could be several inches in diameter and built to accommodate not just one individual but an entire family. These nests often radiate a certain odour, partly due to waste accumulation and partly from the natural scent of the rodents themselves.  

Interestingly, nests are usually strategically located within the wall cavities where they are closest to sources of warmth, such as water heaters or behind stoves. Rodents rarely build a nest in an exposed area; walls offer them not just space but also a concealed environment. This is why detecting their presence can take a while—often, significant nesting activity has occurred long before the issue becomes noticeable to the homeowner.  

How Many Rodents Live in One Nest?  

One of the most surprising facts about nesting habits is the sheer number of rodents that can live together. While a single nest might start as a refuge for one or two, it can evolve into a larger living environment as rodents reproduce. The species of the rodent determines the colony size, but it’s not uncommon for a wall space to house 10 or more.  

Rodents multiply quickly. A single female can produce dozens of offspring within a year, which is why the population in a wall cavity can grow exponentially if left unchecked. The structure of the wall can also influence how many nests are present in a single home. If the wall cavities are large, there could be multiple nests in different rooms.  

The nests are often interconnected by pathways within the wall cavities, allowing the group to move between nests for food and exploration. This interconnected behaviour is one reason why elimination requires a comprehensive strategy—it’s not just one nest but an entire network to address. Even if you deal with one visible problem, others might continue to remain hidden within other areas of the walls.  

Are Mice in Walls Dangerous?  

The presence of rodents within walls is far from harmless. In fact, it introduces a variety of risks to both health and home safety. One of the most pressing concerns is the diseases they carry. Salmonella and hantavirus are among the illnesses rodents can transmit through their droppings, urine, and saliva. These contaminants can easily spread onto surfaces or even into the air within your living environment.  

Rodents are notorious gnawers, and their chewing habits pose a serious hazard to your property. Electrical wires are often a target, turning your walls into potential fire hazards. Beyond wiring, rodents can interfere with pipes, insulation, and other structural elements, which can lead to costly repairs over time.  

Another understated danger is the psychological stress that comes with sharing your home with rodents. The sound of scurrying at night or the sight of droppings can lead to unease and sleep disturbances. Additionally, their activity inside walls can sometimes crack or weaken certain areas of drywall, causing visible damage over time. Recognizing the warning signs early and understanding the potential risks can empower you to take action to protect your home and health.  

Skedaddle is the Trusted Choice for Wildlife Removal In Ottawa

When it comes to dealing with rodents within walls, it’s vital to rely on professionals who bring both expertise and humane practices to the table. At Skedaddle, we’ve been trusted for years to help homeowners solve their wildlife issues with a comprehensive and sustainable approach.  

Our team doesn’t just focus on removal; we emphasize prevention, ensuring that rodents don’t have the opportunity to return. We inspect your home thoroughly to identify entry points and nesting sites, sealing any vulnerabilities after removal. Equally important, we use humane methods to safely remove wildlife, aligning with the ethical standards we are proud to uphold.  

What sets Skedaddle apart is our commitment to customer education. We help you understand what attracted wildlife to your property in the first place and provide actionable insights to keep your home safe in the long run. When you work with us, you’re not just addressing the current issue—you’re investing in solutions that protect your home for years to come.  

Take Action Before the Problem Grows  

Having rodents in your walls isn’t something to ignore—it’s a situation that can quickly get out of hand, leading to health risks and costly damage. With the knowledge of their nesting habits in mind, taking the right steps to prevent further issues becomes much clearer.  

If you’re seeking professional assistance, Skedaddle is here to help. Our team of wildlife control specialists in Ottawa has the experience and tools to ensure your home is rodent-free, with long-term solutions that keep them from coming back. Don’t wait until the problem escalates—reach out to us today and take control of your home.