Cool weather has arrived in North Carolina, which means you’re more likely to find house mice in your home.
Though they can be found all year, house mice are more likely to appear during the colder months because they can find more resources inside your home than outside, according to Michael Cove, research curator of mammalogy at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, who told The News & Observer last year.
“This is not an issue where people are irresponsible with food storage or have gaping holes on the outside of their homes,” says Cove. “It’s a ubiquitous issue and will happen to pretty much everyone at some point.”
Here’s everything you should know about keeping house mice out this autumn.
What are house mice?
The house mouse is a non-native mouse species that exists on all seven continents.
They come from Europe and have evolved over hundreds of years to cohabit with us and take advantage of our resources, according to Cove.
“As the name implies, they have co-evolved with us and travelled the world with us. Basically since the beginning of agriculture, when humans began to store harvests.”
What time of year do house mice come out?
House mice can enter your home at any time of year, according to Cove.
“Because house mice don’t mind humans, they are quite adept at capitalising and locating resources, particularly in our homes. They understand that humans are food,” Cove said.
They spend a lot of time outside during the spring and summer, taking advantage of the natural resources. However, in the autumn and winter, they spend more time indoors and snuggle down.
Are house mice bad for your house?
Yes . House mice, which are considered pests, can spread disease and cause food waste.
According to the Internet Centre for Wildlife Damage Management, house mice can cause structural damage to homes by gnawing on insulation in walls and attics, as well as damage to large electrical appliances by chewing wiring and insulation, resulting in short circuits, fire hazards, and other costly malfunctions.
According to Cove, North Carolina has hundreds of natural mouse species that do not enter our houses, but house mice are a common problem. In fact, the white-footed mouse is likely the most abundant natural mammal in our state.
What are some signs house mice may be in your home?
Modern Pest, a nationwide pest control company, identifies the following signs:
- You hear squeaking and scurrying in walls and ceilings.
- There’s a musky odor.
- Droppings and urine stains are present. Common areas to find these are kitchen drawers, under stoves and under sinks near the plumbing.
- Tracks are visible on dusty surfaces. Not just footprints, but tail marks too.
- Smudges are present on structures like walls, pipes and beams.
- You can see gnawing on doors, corners and other materials.
- You find piles of wood shaving from the gnawing.
How can you get rid of house mice in your home?
Pest control business Terminix recommends the following methods for removing mice from your home:
- Eliminate entry points: Seal cracks in your foundation, openings in your walls, and use weather stripping to seal door and window gaps.
- Use mouse traps: Wooden snap traps can be effective, but they may not catch all the mice in your home.
- Use good bait for mouse traps: Chocolate, peanut butter, bacon, oatmeal, dried fruit or hazelnut spread work best, and you should replace with fresh bait every two days.
- Make sure your traps are placed properly: Place the traps perpendicular to walls with the trigger section facing the baseboard.
If you have a chronic problem with house mice, Terminix recommends that you contact a qualified pest control expert to get rid of them.
Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska’s reporting helped to shape this story.
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