Keeping Mice Out Before a Rockford Winter
As fall nights cool off, mice start looking for warm shelter. A weekend spent sealing gaps in September or October can save a winter of droppings and chewed wires.
Request pest controlWalk the outside
Look along the foundation, around pipes, cables, dryer and bathroom vents, under garage doors and where the siding meets the foundation. Any gap about the width of a pencil or larger is big enough for a mouse.
Seal with the right materials
Use steel wool or copper mesh packed into gaps, then caulk or sealant over it. Mice chew through foam, plastic and rubber. Fit door sweeps and repair torn vent screens.
Garage and sheds
Garages are a common way in. Store bird seed, grass seed, pet food and grain in sealed metal or heavy plastic bins, and keep the garage door closed.
Inside the house
Store food in sealed containers, clean up crumbs, and don't leave pet food out overnight. Check under sinks and behind appliances where pipes come through walls.
Trapping
Place snap traps along walls where mice travel, in garages, basements and behind appliances, out of reach of children and pets. Check them daily.
When to get help
If you're catching mice regularly or hearing them in walls and ceilings, a professional can find the entry points and set up a plan. See mice and rats.
Signs to watch for
Small dark droppings, chewed food boxes, shredded paper or insulation and scratching in walls at night all point to mice. Grease marks along walls and baseboards show the paths they use. The sooner they're spotted, the easier they are to deal with.
Clutter and storage
Mice nest in cardboard boxes, piles of paper and stored fabric. Use plastic bins with tight lids in basements and attics, and keep storage off the floor so droppings and nests are easy to spot.
More pest guides
Request pest control
Mice, ants, spiders, bed bugs and the bugs that move in every fall. Tell us what you're seeing and we'll pass it straight to a pest control company, who will call you to go over the problem and give you a quote.
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