A possible entry point for winter pests that homeowners often overlook is the attached garage. Every time you open your garage door, there’s an opportunity for mice to get inside your home. And once mice find a path into your warm, safe shelter, it’s very difficult to get them to leave.
Why You Have Mice in the Garage in Winter
There are many reasons why you might find mice in the garage in winter, including:
- Warmth. While your garage may not feel warm to you, it’s far warmer than the winter weather outside—plus, it provides easier access to the warmth inside your home.
- Food. Mice eat almost anything, even dog food or bird seed. If you keep extra non-perishables or a second refrigerator in the garage, you’re more likely to attract mice.
- Nesting materials. What mice can’t eat, they often use for nesting materials. Things like cardboard, plastic bags and dirty rags can be used for building nests.
- Water. If they can find a water source on top of food, warmth and nesting materials, then your garage can easily become a new home for mice.
Mice infest many different building structures, but often choose garages since there are fewer humans to avoid and non-invasive light. Since mice can quickly build a large nest and start to reproduce, it’s important to address the infestation right away.
How to Prevent Rodents in the Garage
Here are some mice control methods you can implement as a homeowner to prevent mice from making your garage their home:
- Eliminate all desirable resources. Make sure there is no food, water or nesting source in your garage that might attract a mouse. Box all food in airtight containers and clean up any standing water from spills or leaks, hoses, watering cans, etc.
- Close up access holes. Mice can easily fit through holes only a quarter of an inch wide, so inspect your garage for any potential entry points. Seal any and all cracks in your walls and flooring, around windows and around doors to make it impossible for them to get in.
- Place traps. If you use any toxic or spring-loaded traps, be sure to keep children and pets out of the garage to keep them safe. If you are using humane traps, you’ll need to release the mouse at least a mile away from your home if you want to prevent them from moving right back in.
Call CroppMetcalfe for Mice Control Services
When it comes to rodents, CroppMetcalfe’s pest control team is skilled at removing them as quickly and painlessly as possible. If you’re mice in the garage in the winter, don’t waste any time waiting for it to get worse before addressing the problem. Contact CroppMetcalfe to learn more about the benefits of our pest control service policy.
Our certified pest control professionals have an average of 15 years of experience in the field and only use the industry’s safest materials to effectively prevent unwanted rodents from dwelling among your garage, family and home. Call our 5-Star Mice Control Technicians or schedule an appointment online to ensure your home remains rodent-free for the winter.