Why Mice Come Inside More in the Winter in Middle Tennessee

When you think about pest activity, you probably think that it’s highest in the summer and lowest in the winter. For many pests, that’s exactly the case, but when it comes to mice, winter is their busiest time of year for home infestations. Winter creates the perfect conditions for mice to move inside. The cold temperatures drive them to look for warm shelter, and the scarcity of outdoor food supplies sends them in search of a meal. 

If you haven’t had to deal with mice in your house before, winter is the perfect time to take some extra precautions to ensure this isn’t the year they move in with you. All-American Pest Control makes rodent prevention easy with the information below.

How Does Cold Weather Affect Mouse Behavior?

Mice are small and sensitive to the cold. While they thrive outdoors in Nashville’s hot summers, it becomes harder for them to survive when it gets very cold outside. 

Since they don’t hibernate, mice have to find a place that will provide them with warm shelter in order to survive. This usually means they search for a suitable nesting area that is inside a structure of some sort. While sheds, garages, and other outbuildings are frequent mouse nesting sites, your home offers the added comfort of heat. When they get into houses, they often nest in attics, basements, and storage areas, within insulation, behind appliances, or inside boxes.

Why Is Food Scarcity a Trigger in Winter?

In the summer, mice have a bounty of food at their disposal. Plants, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and insects are all readily available to them. However, in the fall, plant life begins to die off, and many insects do too. As food gets more difficult to find, mice have to search harder to sustain themselves. 

Mice often follow odors, so they can end up near your house if they smell your garbage, compost, or even spilled bird seed. Once they’re near your house, they may get inside, where they’ll find a treasure trove of food in your pantry and cabinets, or even your garage or basement if you store any items in those locations. Even your pet’s food is fair game for hungry mice.

Where Are Mice Getting In?

One of the first things homeowners wonder when they find mice in their house is, “How did they get inside?” It seems like it would be difficult for mice to get indoors. After all, compared to other pests, they’re quite large. Wouldn’t it take a large opening to allow them access to the inside of your home?

Mice may be large in the pest world, but they can still fit through tiny openings. A little gap that you’d never expect to be big enough for a mouse to fit through is usually all they need, and your house probably has a lot more of these gaps than you think. Where do mice get into houses?

• Through cracks in foundations

• By squeezing through gaps under doors or around garage door frames

• By exploiting torn dryer vent screens or unscreened attic vents

• By climbing into gutters and along roof lines

• In cracks hidden by winter debris or snow

Any gaps as small as a dime will allow mice to gain access to your house.

What Makes Homes So Comfortable for Mice in Winter?

Your house has a lot to offer mice. In fact, the conditions inside your house in the winter are ideal for supporting nesting and reproduction. Your house offers:

• Steady heat

• Soft insulation and fabric for nesting

• Safety from predators

• Ongoing food and moisture sources

Once they move inside, mice begin to breed year-round, unlike their outdoor counterparts. That means that before long, what started as a small infestation can quickly grow large. As their population grows and they require more room, mice will build “satellite nests” in your house, increasing the spread and potential for damage. 

Which Types of Mice Are Most Active in Middle Tennessee?

The two most common mouse species in Middle Tennessee are house mice and field mice. Of the two, house mice are more likely to enter homes; however, field mice do sometimes get indoors, especially in more rural areas. They are also likely to be found in garages and outbuildings.

Both house mice and field mice, which are also called deer mice, cause similar problems when they get into your home. They will damage your property, chew on wires, and spread contaminated droppings throughout your house. Both breed rapidly, leading to widespread infestations in a short period of time.

What Are the First Signs of a Mouse Problem?

Because of how quickly they reproduce and how easily they damage your home and spread diseases, it’s important to know the early indicators of a mouse infestation. Thankfully, although mice rarely come out in the open when people are around, they do provide plenty of signs of their presence. These include: 

• Small black droppings that are slightly smaller, but similar in shape to grains of rice. These especially show up in pantries, in cupboards, and along baseboards.

• Scratching or scurrying sounds at night. You’ll hear these in your ceilings or walls.

• Shredded paper, bits of fabric, and pieces of insulation are used for nests. They build their nests in secluded spaces, like storage areas or under appliances.

• Chewed packaging or wiring. Gnaw marks will leave jagged edges.

• Odd pet behavior, like barking at walls or sniffing baseboards.

If you’re not paying attention, early signs can go unnoticed until the infestation gets bigger, so it’s smart to be aware of these signs and look for them even when you don’t suspect a problem.

How Can Homeowners Prevent Winter Infestations?

Thankfully, you don’t have to just sit back and wait for mice to get into your house. There are plenty of preventative measures you can take to stop a mouse infestation this winter. By implementing All-American’s recommended mouse prevention tips around the interior and exterior of your house, you’ll be far less likely to experience a mouse infestation.

• Seal all gaps with caulk, steel wool, or hardware cloth

• Store food in airtight containers

• Clean up crumbs and spills daily

• Remove yard clutter and trim vegetation near your home

• Move compost and garbage bins away from the foundation of your house

• Install tight-fitting vent covers and door sweeps where needed

• Remove unnecessary clutter from your house, especially in infrequently used rooms

When Should You Call a Professional?

There are several reasons why you might want to give All-American a call regarding mice.

• If you start seeing signs of an infestation, professional mouse control is far more effective than DIY methods.

• If you’ve sealed entry points, but are still seeing signs of activity, you need additional help.

• If you hate the idea of mice getting inside in the first place, you can give yourself peace of mind with professional rodent control and prevention.

The professionals at All-American have decades of experience dealing with mouse infestations. We can often identify entry points and conducive conditions that are easily overlooked by homeowners. We also use long-term strategies that can be difficult for homeowners to implement without the proper training, tools, or time.

Contact All-American Pest Control to Protect Your Home From Winter Mice

If you’ve spotted mice in your Middle Tennessee home, or if you want to avoid an infestation in the future, contact All-American today. Early action now prevents full-blown infestations later, saving you from costly repairs and illnesses. Get in touch with us to schedule your free home evaluation or to discuss your rodent control and prevention options.

Your Trusted Nashville, TN Pest Control Experts

Since 1961, All-American Pest Control has been your go-to team of trusted pest experts for homes, businesses, and home builders throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Our expert team offers termite treatments, mosquito reduction, rodent removal, ant and spider control, and wasp nest removal—keeping your property protected year-round. As a local, family-owned company, we take pride in offering reliable, professional pest solutions with outstanding customer service.

We proudly serve: Adams, Ashburn, Barren Plains, Bethpage, Bransford, Castalian Springs, Cedar Hill, Coopertown, Cottontown, Cross Plains, Gallatin, Goodlettsville, Greenbrier, Hartsville, Hendersonville, Madison, Millersville, Orlinda, Pleasentville, Portland, Ridgetop, Springfield, Westmoreland, White House, and the entire Robertson County, Sumner Country and Greater Nashville areas.

For trusted pest control in Nashville, TN, and these surrounding communities, contact All-American Pest Control today! Call (615) 824-8814 or Schedule a Free Consultation online.