Yes, this happens a lot. The area beneath porch steps is dry, dark, and protected from the weather and predators which makes it a great place for mice to live.
Mice are always on the lookout for places that are quiet and dry to live. The area underneath the stairs of a deck or porch is a good option as far as rodents are concerned. Wooden steps have open spaces underneath them. Masonry steps often have voids or gaps where they meet the foundation. There’s shelter either way and hawks or owls are going to have a hard time picking them up and flying off with them. So the rodents set up shop.
You don’t want to let this happen, though. Nests a few steps away from the door is not a good situation. All it takes is one cold snap and the rodents will want to slip under the door threshold or the gap around some plumbing to go inside to your house where conditions are more favorable. And mice are tiny, able to squeeze into a gap the size of a dime.
It doesn’t help that a lot of properties in the Hamptons go unused for several weeks at a time. This gives mice uninterrupted time to establish themselves. Dense foundation plantings and ornamental grasses also give them covered travel routes that go right up to the steps. And add in outdoor storage and things like cushions (with shreddable nesting material inside) and boat gear (with sheltered spaces in areas undisturbed in the winter), and you have a good place for rodents to call home.
If you suspect you have a rodent issue, look for small burrow openings or worn runways at the edge of the steps. Droppings on the treads or landing are another clear sign, as is gnawing at the wood.
If you suspect you have an infestation, start by making the void underneath the deck or patio unusable. Screen the open sides with hardware cloth buried a few inches into the ground. This stops burrowing. Fill or seal the gap where masonry steps meet the foundation. Then clear away vegetation, mulch, and other stored items so you can clearly see under the steps.
If mice are nesting against your house, Mosquito Squad of The Hamptons can help. Mosquito Squad finds where mice are nesting and getting in, clears them with traps and bait stations, and seals the entry points. Monthly rodent protection is also available through Complete Home & Yard coverage.
