Last Updated on March 7, 2021 by
Although mice are attractive in cartoons, they are such messy when you find them in your house. They carry germs, bacteria, and can transmit harmful diseases. There are various reasons for rodents coming into the house during summers. They will come in search of water and food supply as well as get relief from the heat.
Mice use crevices and cracks that may have formed during hot winter weather to gain access to your home. They may also come in through the door if you leave it open for long. Though you may find these annoying creatures in your house in winter, they are more in summer as they try to shield themselves from the unbearable hot weather.
Time Of The Year That Mice Come Inside Your House
Mice infestation in a home is not seasonal. Like other tiny creatures, mice need shelter from extreme weather all-year-round, including shelter from rain, cold and excess heat. But they may come in large numbers during summer to enjoy the cold basement or the shade from your home’s roof.
Rodents will find food and water supply from your home all the time. They will also get security from predators, and safe place when giving birth.
During cold winter months, the horrible creatures may seek shelter in your house, which is warmer than outside. They will then move to the lower part of your home when summer falls and move back to your house’s living areas in warmer months.
How To Prevent Mice From Coming To Your Home
Preventing rodents from invading your home is more comfortable than getting rid of them when already inside. There are various things you can do as a homeowner to prevent mice infestation such as;
1. Pruning and trimming your lawn and shrubs since rodents like to have their nests outside
2. Keep away all plants and trees from the roof or from touching your house. Rodents may climb the limbs of trees that touch your roof to access your house
3. Store your food in airtight containers since rodents get attracted to food
4. Maintain and clean trash areas
5. Avoid stacking any materials by your garage and home
6. Clear all litter such as woodpiles and debris from your yard to prevent mice from nesting around your home
7. Maintain your drainage system and gutters and ensure there are no backups. Rodents can hide in your drainage system and cause havoc
8. Prune the back vegetation and set traps to catch mice before they enter your house. You should also seal any potential entry points around your home. You can call a professional to identify the areas that mice use and prevent their invasion
Why Should You Get Rid of Mice From Your Home?
Rodents are annoying creatures that will eat trash and food in your kitchen as well as carry and transmit various diseases to you. Mice are known to carry different diseases that they can spread through their feces and urine and also infect floors and surfaces. The various infections include;
1. Rat-bite fever
2. Salmonella
3. Bacterial food poisoning
4. Murine typhus
5. Hantavirus (it progresses into Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome – HPS) is a severe and sometimes deadly respiratory disease in humans.
How To Effectively Get Rid Of Mice From Your Home
Rodents are unwelcome to your home at any time of the year, and you should eliminate them at all costs. The following methods are effective;
1. Seal all entry points
2. Using the best mouse traps
3. Place mouse traps properly
4. Keep your house clean to avoid attracting mice
5. Deal with mice both outside and inside the house
6. Using mice bait stations
1. Sealing The Entry Points
Rodents access your home from cracks or crevices as well as doors that remain open for long. They may also get in through the places where utility pipes and vents are. Ensure that you seal the cracks and avoid using rubber, wood, plastic, or anything that mice can gnaw through.
You can also get weather stripping for window and door gaps.
2. Using The Best Mouse Traps
Mousetraps are effective in getting rid of mice infestation. You can use classic wooden snap traps for mice populations that are light to moderate. Using plenty and different types of traps such as multiple capture, bait, wooden, and glue traps will do the trick.
3. Using The Best Bait For Traps
Use the food that mice have been eating as bait, or approved favorites for mice such as peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate, hazelnut spread, or dried fruit. Tie the bait onto the trigger using dental floss or fishing line to ensure that mice don’t make off with the food.
Alternatively, secure the bait food with a hot glue gun and ensure to replace it with fresh lure every two days. You can also use nesting materials such as feathers or cotton balls if food isn’t working.
4. Placing Mouse Traps Properly
Traps need be placed perpendicular to the walls and ensure that the trigger section faces the baseboard. Since mice scurry along the walls, they will run directly to the bait instead of running over the trap and triggering it from the wrong direction.
Place the traps where there are signs of mice or wherever you see these creatures since they don’t travel more than ten to twenty feet from their nesting areas or food sources. Check for droppings or rubbings on walls and baseboards to know where they pass.
5. Proper Sanitation
Rodents do not need a lot of food per day for survival and will need just a few crumbs. Ensure that you wipe down your counters, vacuum the floors, and eliminate residue, crumbs, and food sources.
Store your food in airtight containers or glass jars, and also secure your garbage. Avoid plastic bags or containers since rodents have sharp incisors that enable them to chew almost anything.
Final Word
Having rodents and other pests in your home is not only disgusting but unhygienic too. The creatures will easily transmit diseases to humans, and you need to eliminate them at all costs. Ensure that you seal all their entry points and put in place proper measures all year round.
