Cold nights can give rodents more reason to seek protected shelter because of the falling temperatures. But structural openings determine whether they can get indoors.
Long Island gets cold starting in the fall. As the nights become particularly cold, rodents start to want to go inside. They’re trying to get away from the lower temperatures and into shelter where they can feel more protected. Garages, crawl spaces, attics, basements, sheds, and wall voids are all good shelters as far as mice are concerned. Any of them can help rodents stay out of the cold, wind, and rain while also putting them closer to food and nesting material.
Temperature alone can’t tell the whole story, though. Rodents don’t just decide to live in houses. They need to find a way into the structure. They often slip in around doors and windows, through foundation cracks, gaps around utility penetrations, and sometimes vents and siding. Once inside, there are also factors that determine whether or not rodents want to stay around. One of the biggest ones is the presence of food they can eat. Pet food and birdseed are particularly good sources of meals for them, but trash and items in your pantry can be too. They also like clutter because it allows them to move around unnoticed.
Fall is a good time to check your house for places rodents can get in. Look at the gaps around doors and windows first and replace seals if you need to. Then look around pipes, wires, and vents. These are places where rodents can often slip inside. Repair damaged screens and other obvious structural openings where you find them. Be sure to use chew-proof materials, as rodents are pretty good at biting their way through soft materials.
After you do this, keep an eye out for signs of rodent infestations. Common ones include the presence of droppings or gnaw marks. Also common are shredded nesting materials and unusual odors. If you hear scratching inside walls at night, that can also point to an infestation.
If you believe you have an infestation, call a professional. Removing one mouse won’t fix the problem. Address the active rodent problem and then seal entry points to help prevent more from getting in.
If fall rodent activity is starting around your Long Island property, Mosquito Squad of Long Island can help identify entry points and develop an appropriate rodent control plan. Call (631) 203-1252 or request a free quote online.
