Yes. Mice can fit through openings around 1/4 inch wide, so a dime-sized opening can be large enough for one to get through.
A lot of homeowners look for obvious holes where rodents can get inside. But the truth is that mice are tiny and can often squeeze through openings around 1/4 inch wide. Just about every home has gaps of this size somewhere.
Mice don’t need a big entrance and a red carpet. Gaps around exterior and garage doors can let them in, but so can vents, the spaces around utility lines and pipes, seams on siding, and even cracks in the foundation. A lot of holes, in this way, just don’t look like holes.
Once mice get inside, the structure itself can be very attractive, which only encourages them to stay around. Being indoors protects them from low outdoor temperatures and rain or snow. But in addition to that, rodents can often find food in the form of stored pet food or bird seed. Likewise, if you have a lot of cardboard boxes in your garage or basement, or perhaps exposed insulation, they can take that, shred it, and make nests out of it.
Garages, basements, crawl spaces, utility rooms, and storage areas are good places to check for early evidence of rodent problems. Droppings, gnaw marks, shredded paper or insulation, damaged food packaging, and rub or traffic marks can help show where mice have been moving.
Fall is a good time to start looking for gaps around your house. Work methodically and be thorough. Be sure to check around pipes and cables, door frames, vents, foundation transitions, siding, roof and eave junctions, and the spaces around any additions to the home.
If mice are getting into your New Haven or Fairfield County home, Mosquito Squad of New Haven & Fairfield County can help identify likely entry points and develop an appropriate rodent control plan. Call (203) 275-0078 or request a free quote online.
