PREVENT MICE FROM ENTERING YOUR COTTAGE THIS WINTER

As the weather cools, our weekends at the cottage are growing less frequent. As much as we hate to admit it, the time for closing the cottage is on the horizon. It’s best to be prepared for the winter ahead and put prevention programs in place to ensure you don’t come back up to the cottage to be welcomed by pests, especially mice, as they are known to cause significant damage in cottages and homes.

5 Ways Mice Enter Your Home/Cottage     

1. The Roof

The roof is an easy access point in houses or cottages. Trees or other vegetation that hang over your home act as highways for the rodents. These pests are also able to climb vertically up the side of brick walls. While on the roof, a mouse’s access points include vents or chimneys.

Prevention:

• Check your roof and roof vents for holes or other damage and fix as needed.

• It is also recommended to keep the gutters clean and to install a chimney cap.

2. Gaps

Mice will find any gap, anywhere, on the exterior of your home. Unfortunately wherever different materials meet on a home is an opportunity for a gap. The most common entry point is the gap found between the bricks and soffit.

Prevention:

• Seal any gaps you find between the bricks and soffit

• Look out for siding and foundation gaps, roof and soffit gaps and roof and fascia gaps, which helps prevent them from entering the house.

3. Utility Lines

Utility lines, just like tree branches and vegetation, are an easy way to lead a mouse right into or onto your cottage. Most utility lines that exhaust to the outside often run through exterior walls as well as air conditioners, heating, electrical and water. These all allow mice an opportunity to enter your building’s walls. Once inside, rodents will travel throughout your home using holes cut for pipes, wiring, and ducts.

Prevention:

• Regularly inspect exterior walls for gaps or holes.

• Caulk around the exterior holes where wires and pipes are entering into your home, to avoid an infestation.

• Replace vent covers where needed.

4. Doors and Windows

Doors or windows that don’t close correctly are a perfect entry point for rodents looking for food and shelter. It is imperative that your doors and windows close properly.

Prevention:

• Keeping doors closed as well as caulk around doors and windows to prevent a mice infestation.

• Add weather stripping around your doors. Not only will it keep these pests out, but it will increase your home’s energy efficiency.

5. Food

This is a big incentive for mice to take up residence in your cottage winter months (and other time of the year). Do not give them a reason to find their way in or make themselves at home by nesting in your walls and furniture.

Prevention:

• Before closing up your cottage for the winter, ensure you throw away or take home any food remaining in your cottage.

• If you must leave any non-perishable food items, store them in airtight, secured plastic totes.

When people are looking for methods for how to kill mice they consider using mice poison. We advise against this as leaving mice poison out is very dangerous to children, pets and other animals. The most effective and safest course of action for how to get of mice is through an experienced pest technician who can help you prevent, identify and eliminate a mice infestation.

If you think that you have an infestation or want to prevent one, considering contacting an experienced rodent pest professional like Environmental Pest Control.  

By the way, Environmental Pest Control is currently offering 50% off Rodent Control http://www.environmentalpestcontrol.ca/deals-and-promotions. Visit our website for full details and to learn more about other promotions.