When spring comes to Richmond Hill and the weather turns warm, many creatures, including mice, become lively and industrious. However, when these rodents decide to invite themselves in at the start of the winter, it is not likely they will exit your home on their own during spring. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we can provide you with a few tips regarding how to get rid of mice, as well as a variety of other services that will keep them from returning. 

Mice Behaviour During the Winter 

When temperatures in Richmond Hill start to drop during the fall, mice will search for a warm, safe place to spend the winter. Unlike some other mammals, mice do not hibernate during the winter and remain active throughout the cold months, foraging for food, water and protection from predators. They may find a way into your home via several entrances, including: 

• Foundation gaps and cracks 
• Unprotected vents 
• Your attic 

Once mice find ways into your Richmond Hill home, they waste little time in finding warm, quiet places to nest and rear their young. Once warmer weather arrives, they may begin to come and go freely, and there are several reasons why mice may not completely abandon your home when spring arrives. 

1. They Have a Plentiful Food Source 

Mice usually make their way into a home because of food smells, which may come from your outdoor trash cans, compost piles and your pets’ food bowls. Once inside, they may chew their way into your pantry, help themselves to the pet food by gnawing into one corner of the bag and even forage through the trash. 

You can prevent attracting mice in several ways, including using metal outdoor trash cans with snap-down lids, clearing your yard of debris before the winter and storing pet food in mouse-proof containers. Empty, clean and store your pets’ food bowls nightly, and do not allow any uneaten food to remain exposed, as mice will help themselves if they can. 

2. Your Home Is a Safe Haven for Mother Mice 

You may wonder, do mice leave in the spring to breed? Unfortunately, this is rarely the case, especially when it comes to mice mothers. Once they enter your home and find a cozy spot in the attic or crawlspace, they will likely remain there as long as possible to rear their young in safety. Over the course of one year, a female mouse can give birth multiple times and bear as many as 30 pups a year, something which can quickly increase the population of mice in your home. 

Large or multiple mouse nests can cause a variety of problems in your home. Nest odour smells quite sharp and foul, and these rodents’ droppings and saliva can transmit a disease called Hantavirus, which can cause muscle aches, dizziness, abdominal pain and fever. Trying to clean up mouse nests on your own may only spread the virus. The odour may also attract other animals that feed on mice, such as snakes and large rats. 

3. Mice Make Their Own Tunnels 

Once mice settle into your home, they create their own tunnels and pathways to reach food sources. This makes foraging easier for them than it would be out in the wild, where predators await. 

Let Us Help You With Mice Removal in Richmond 

When you reach out to Skedaddle for mice removal in Richmond Hill, our wildlife technicians will inspect your home to find rodent entrances and nests. Once they remove all the live mice, including any infants, the techs will then clean up the nesting with tools that minimize the spread of dust and debris. They can also create one-way exits that allow mice to leave, while preventing their ability to return. All cracks and gaps on the home are also sealed to keep mice away in the future. 

Contact Us Today 

Mice might choose to remain in your Richmond Hill home long after spring arrives. Contact us today for assistance and rid your home of rodents for good.