HOW ARE MICE FINDING THEIR WAY INTO AIKEN HOMES?

When the unthinkable happens and you see a tiny rodent run across your kitchen floor in the dim glow of a night light at 2:00 in the morning, you're going to have questions - lots of questions. At the top of the list is likely to be, "How are mice getting into my house?" It can be a mystery, especially if you live in a newly built home.

Today, we're going to discuss a few of the amazing ways mice get into homes in Aiken and talk about why it is often so difficult to tell how mice are getting in. We'll also be offering up some tips to help you keep mice out. Here's how it works.

The Mice That Get In

We have a few mouse species in our area. The mice that commonly become pests are not surprisingly called house mice. These mice readily get into Aiken homes and stay. Other mouse species, such as deer mice, are more likely to live in sheds, barns, outbuildings, and garages. House mice are dark grey mice. Deer mice have a tawny coloration, like that of a deer.

How Are Mice Getting Into My House?

Mice can get in through low points. The holes they use are surprisingly small. A full-grown, adult mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime. Here are a few examples:

• If you examine an exterior door and find a small hole in your weatherstripping, that could be where the mouse got in.
• If you notice a small hole at the base of a door frame, it is likely that a mouse created that hole and squeezed right in.
• If you slide under your deck and examine the sole plates of your home, you might find the smallest of holes in a piece of rotted wood. That could be the entry point.
• If you inspect inside your home and you notice a tiny hole in a baseboard that is a little larger than a dime, that is probably a mouse hole. While this hole could be in the shape of a classic cartoon mouse hole, it is definitely not going to be the same size.

Mice are incredible climbers. A mouse can scale the sides of most Aiken homes like Spiderman. It is impressive to watch. This climbing ability allows mice to get to unprotected vents, louvers, and other potential entry points in your exterior.

• A mouse may be able to scale the side of your home and go right in through a vent hole. Once inside, it will chew a hole in an exhaust hose or pipe to get all the way in. Make sure your vents have working covers so that a mouse doesn't get inside.
• A mouse can climb through or chew its way through a louver to enter your attic space. If your home has louvers that do not already have a protective material to keep rodents out, install hardware cloth in your louvers.
• A mouse can't get up and over your roofline, so it may use your downspouts and gutter system to get onto your roof. Put wire mesh in the downspouts of your gutter system to prevent this.

Mice climb trees and scale telephone poles. This can allow a mouse to access your roofline and chew a hole to get into your attic space. Your roof is likely to have many vulnerabilities. It is best to keep mice off.

• Trim limbs at least six feet from your roofline. This can help to prevent mice from leaping onto your roof from a nearby tree.
• Put a prickly material at the point where wires touch the exterior walls of your home. This could prevent mice from running across and getting onto your roof.

Mice chew holes in storage boxes or stored furniture and create nests inside. If you have boxes or furniture in an exterior storage area, you could bring mice into your home. Examine stored items thoroughly before bringing them into your home. This may stop a little stowaway from getting past your exterior defenses.

Attractants

If you're hoping to keep mice out of your Aiken house, you need to consider exterior attractants that may increase mouse activity near your home. The more mice you have exploring your exterior walls, the more likely it is that a mouse will find its way into your home.

• Remove bird feeders.
• Make sure all garbage is in sealed containers.
• Trim your landscaping plants near the bottoms.
• Remove objects mice can hide under.
• Use fencing material to protect voids underneath structures.
• Move woodpiles away from your home.

Professional Mouse Control In Aiken

The best way to keep mice out of your house is to call in the mouse experts. At Aiken Pest Control, we employ highly-trained and fully certified pest management professionals. We can guide you toward the right pest control solution for your rodent problem. 

Reach out to us today for assistance.