How do mice get in houses it’s a comment that pest controllers hear all the time. The complaint comes from frustrated homeowners that just want mice gone forever. In some cases a service person can block up obvious areas, but in other cases mice just chew their way in again.
Over the winter I was called to a home with mice in Newtown, CT. The home was a colonial with dormers, a basement hatch door and oil heat. I mention all these areas because those are the top three places that answer the question how do mice get into houses. How you ask?
- Mice can climb up the sides of homes and enter under the soffit where the dormer attaches to the roof
- No basement hatch closes perfectly, even new ones
- Utility penetrations from outside are very common. Think 4 inch hole for 3 inch pipe.
Next, are garage frames. The areas mice gain entrance at garages are actually fairly obvious, but often overlooked.
The first being the weather-stripping that is attached to the bottom of the door. Over the years between weather and contact with concrete it’s inevitable that the rubber will wear. This will make the garage uneven and allow unfettered access inside.
If the garage bottom weather stripping happens to be in good shape and mice are still getting in, look no further than the side trim. On newer garages there is a composite piece of wood that is attached to a vinyl flap. This flap becomes worn as it rubs against the side of the garage as it goes up and down. In instances where there is little wear and tear the culprit is likely a mouse that has chewed right through. The telltale sign is a half moon style chew mark.
If you have mice and are wondering how they may be getting in, call Envirocare Pest Control at 1-888-879-6481. We can help
