Do Rodents Hibernate? Help Protect Your Home from Winter Rodents

Author: Emma Grace Crumbley, Entomologist

When the weather cools down, the rodents… actually don't go anywhere. While some rodents hibernate in your yard through the cold months, others take refuge in your home. It's important to know which rodents your lawn and house are harboring, and the actions you should take now to help prevent winter damage and pest problems in the spring. 

Hibernating Rodents

When temperatures drop, some rodents become less active as they retreat to their nests to hibernate through the winter. Ground squirrels, woodchucks, chipmunks, and some types of field mice are among the rodents that choose to rest and wait out the winter weather. While this may seem like a break from wildlife activity in your yard, out of sight should not mean out of mind. The nests and burrows that these rodents are retreating to are likely under your lawn’s soil or in the ground near the foundation of your home. Come spring, this can create a new series of pest problems for your home.

Before the winter fully sets in, if you suspect you have wildlife pests in your yard that can cause havoc when the weather warms up, contact an extension agent in your state for assistance identifying a wildlife pest and connecting with a pest management professional licensed to treat for it.

For help finding your state’s extension office, use the Extension Foundation’s Cooperative Extension Finder.

For help finding your state’s wildlife office, use the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) Wildlife Services Contact page.

Rodents Around Your Home

Commensal rodents do not hibernate. Instead, they take shelter in the warmth of your home! To recap, the three commensal rodents are the house mouse, the roof rat, and the Norway rat. These rodents depend on humans for food, water, and shelter, so we call them commensal - they share the table with us, whether we want them to or not.

Instead of making their nests in nature and hunkering down for the cooler months, commensal rodents look for ways to get into human structures and make themselves at home. House mice can easily fit into cracks as small as a pencil (less than ½ inch), and both kinds of rats can easily fit through holes the size of a dime (about ¾ inch). The best way to prevent rodents from taking over your home in the winter is to seal unwanted entry points around your home.

House mice will infest homes through gaps around utility penetrations or weak foundations, such as:

• Water line hookups and pipes coming out of the home
•  HVAC and AC units
• Crawl space and laundry vents
• Sidings and soffits

Roof rats will infest homes through the highest parts of the home, such as:

• Attics and roofing
• Gutters and chimneys
•  Power lines
• Overhanging vegetation (like tree branches touching the home)

Norway rats prefer to burrow and will infest homes through the lowest levels, such as:

• Cracks in a home’s concrete foundation
• Burrowing under sidewalks and driveways
• Cracks around garage door
• Hollow areas under porches and patios

 Got Rodents? Not For Long.

No matter which commensal rodent you have infesting your home, Mosquito Squad Plus is here to help. Our highly trained technicians are adept at inspecting your home and identifying problem areas, and our newly extended service options help create a management plan that’s right for you. Find your local Squad today and call for a free quote! Services vary by location.