You hear something scurrying across your ceilings at night. Your food is suspiciously going missing. You’re finding…droppings.

There’s no doubt about it at this point: You have a mouse in your house.

The question is: How did it get there? How do mice get in the house?

There are several ways for mice to enter a home. Where do mice come from? This blog post will answer that very question.

Where Do Mice Come From?

Mice are sneaky and resourceful. These tiny creatures can work their way through just about anything, making even the smallest opening in your home a welcome entry point.

While holes can exist just about anywhere on your home, they’re common in some select areas. Take a look at where those areas are below.

Gutters

Gutters are some of the easiest-to-reach and most common access points for mice to come into your home. Mice will crawl up your downspouts, making their way into your gutters until they find an opening. Once this opening has been spotted, they’ll make their way inward.

While not all homes’ gutters possess openings, many of them do. The spot behind the gutters is vulnerable to wear and tear, making holes a near inevitability.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to keep mice away from your gutters. Covering downspout and gutter openings with narrow wire covers is one of the best options.

Chimneys

Does your home have a chimney? If so, you’re likely vulnerable to mice. Chimneys are commonly used entrances for rodents.

Mice can scale tall heights, reaching the tops of chimneys with general ease. Once they’ve reached the tops of these chimneys, they’re just a slow downward crawl away from being in your house.

There are a few things you can to do prevent mice from getting into your chimney. One idea is to install a slippery material such as metal at the bottom of the chimney. Having this slippery material in place will make it difficult for mice to begin climbing.

Another idea is to place narrow wire over the top of your chimney. This will prevent mice from entering while still allowing the chimney to serve its function.

Corners

When siding is installed on a home, it must be rounded off at its corners with vertical posts. While these posts do a great job of locking the siding in place, they also often create tiny gaps through which mice can burrow.

The key is to keep these corners as sealed as possible. The less room they provide for mice to burrow, the less you’ll have to worry about mice making their way through them.

It’s a good practice to stuff some sort of material behind corner posts. After this material has been stuffed, it’s wise to caulk it into place. This will help prevent the inward flow of mice.

Garages

Do you have a garage that connects to your house? If so, your house is ripe for mouse intrusions. After all, garages are almost fully exposed to the outdoors, making them vulnerable.

Once a mouse makes its way into your garage, it’s just a matter of time before it makes its way into your house. All that it takes is for you to hold the door to your house open for a few seconds. A small mouse can dart through an open door unnoticed in a matter of seconds.

Keeping mice out of your garage can be very difficult, especially if you like to leave it open on a regular basis. However, if you can keep your garage clean and free of food scraps, you might be able to keep mice away.

Utility Line Openings

In order to connect your home to electricity, internet, and a variety of other utilities, utility companies must run wires into it. Unfortunately, in some cases, when utility companies do this, they create sizable holes in the home.

These holes can make terrific entry points for mice. In fact, some mice will even scurry across power lines to get to these holes.

If you have utility line openings in the side of your home, it’s advised that you caulk around them. Putting caulk around them makes them too small for entry to mice, protecting your home from invasions.

Foundations

As your home grows older, its foundation becomes more and more deteriorated. This deterioration usually presents itself in the way of cracks and separation. Often times, it can become so extreme that it leaves your home vulnerable to mice.

Mice have no trouble making their way through broken down foundations. All that it takes is a small entry point for them to wiggle their way into your home.

The solution to preventing mice from coming through your foundation? Repair and repair often.

Foundations are in a constant state of stress. The only way to keep them in one piece is to have them patched up on a regular basis. Caulk and concrete are the best options, but mesh wire will do in a pinch.

Messy Areas

Do you have any areas in your yard which could be deemed messy? For instance, you might have broken branches sitting in a pile next to the base of your house? If so, you could be attracting mice to your home.

Mice love hanging out in messy areas. Tall grass and piles of branches provide them with excellent shelter, protecting them from both the elements and predators.

If you want to keep mice from entering your home, it’s advised that you do away with the kinds of messy areas they love. Keep your grass mowed and pick up any branches or leaves that fall in your yard.

Utilize the Services of Pest Control Pros

Where do mice come from? You asked, and now you have received!

Are you dealing with mice in your home? Not sure of what to do now? Your best bet is to bring in the pest control professionals.

If you’re looking for a pest control company in South Florida, Command Pest Control is the company to call. Schedule an appointment now!