Mice frequently stir in North Carolina homes when it’s cold. Signs they’re around (and how to keep them out)

The arrival of cool weather in North Carolina increases the likelihood of house mice in your home.

Michael Cove, research curator of mammalogy at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, told The News & Observer last year that although house mice are present throughout the year, they are more likely to show up in the winter months because they can find more resources inside your home than outside.

According to Cove, this is not a problem when people store food carelessly or have large openings in the exterior of their houses. It’s a common problem that almost everyone will experience at some point.

This is all the information you need to keep house mice away this fall.

What are house mice?

A non-native mouse species found on all seven continents is the house mouse.

According to Cove, they originated in Europe and have adapted over hundreds of years to live with us and exploit our resources.

They have traveled the world with us and co-evolved with us, as the name suggests. Basically, ever since agriculture started and people started storing their harvests.

What time of year do house mice come out?

According to Cove, house mice can get into your house at any time of year.

House mice are quite good at finding and exploiting resources, especially in our homes, because they don’t mind people. According to Cove, they recognize that people are food.

During the spring and summer, they make extensive use of the natural resources by spending a lot of time outdoors. But they cuddle up and spend more time indoors during the fall and winter.

Are house mice bad for your house?

Indeed. Pests like house mice have the potential to spread illness and waste food.

The Internet Centre for Wildlife Damage Management states that house mice can damage large electrical appliances by chewing wiring and insulation, which can lead to short circuits, fire hazards, and other expensive malfunctions. They can also cause structural damage to homes by gnawing on insulation in walls and attics.

Although there are hundreds of native mouse species in North Carolina that do not enter our homes, Cove claims that house mice are a frequent issue. Indeed, the white-footed mouse is probably our state’s most prevalent native mammal.

What are some signs house mice may be in your home?

The following indicators are recognized by Modern Pest, a national pest treatment business:

• 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 company The following techniques are suggested by Terminix for getting rid of mice in your house:

• 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.

Terminix advises contacting a licensed pest control professional to eradicate home mice if you have a persistent issue with them.

This narrative was shaped in part by Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska’s reporting.

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