They can. Cooler nights make garages, basements, crawl spaces, attics, and wall voids increasingly useful as shelter.
When the weather turns colder in the fall, rodents start looking for warmer and more sheltered places where they can hide throughout the winter. That means that your home suddenly becomes very attractive. If there are small gaps around garage or exterior doors, vents, utility lines, and siding transitions, rodents can use those to get in. They can even slip in through cracks in the foundation as long as they are a quarter-inch or larger.
Once inside, mice can enjoy relatively stable temperatures and protection from the weather. Food and nesting materials, if made available to them, can encourage them to stay around for longer. This is why bird seed, pet food, pantry goods, cardboard, paper, and fabric should be stored in heavy plastic or metal containers so rodents don’t get into them. Bear in mind, they can chew through cardboard and even light plastic, so the storage really does need to be sturdy.
Fall is a good time for exterior inspection because problems are easier to address before winter. Check low-level gaps, door corners, garage seals, utility penetrations, and foundation transitions. If you find worn weatherstripping or seals, replace them. If you find cracks, use caulk to seal them.
You’ll also want to watch for signs of rodents indoors. Be on the lookout for droppings, gnaw marks, shredded material, or recurring nighttime noises like scratching in the walls. If you notice any of these, you may have an infestation on your hands and it’s time to call a professional.
If mice are active around or getting into your North Jersey property, Mosquito Squad of North Jersey can help identify rodent activity and determine an appropriate control approach. Call (973) 532-5047 or request a free quote online.
