Not automatically, but an empty seasonal home can give mice more time to enter and settle in without anyone noticing.
Rodents don’t want to be outside when it’s cold. So they instead start heading for shelter where they can be warm and have good access to food and nesting materials. A nearby home can provide that kind of shelter if rodents find a way in.
What makes this situation worse for seasonal homes is that they go empty for a long time. Rodents can enter and settle in without anyone noticing. They can do everything they want to do without being seen.
There are plenty of places within homes where rodents would rather stay for the winter, including garages, basements, crawl spaces, attics, and wall voids. The best thing you can do is make it harder for them to get in. So before closing the property, inspect door seals, garage doors, foundations, vents, utility penetrations, siding transitions, and other exterior seams.
Start by either removing or otherwise securing pantry food, bird seed, pet food, and similar materials. Take out trash and avoid leaving unnecessary clutter that provides nesting material or makes evidence difficult to see. When reopening the property, inspect before unpacking.
Droppings, gnawed packaging, shredded materials, unusual odors, or damage around stored belongings may indicate that rodents were active during the winter. If you see this, reach out to a professional. They can help address the rodent activity and identify entry points that could allow rodents back inside.
If mice are active around or getting into your West Michigan Lakeshore property, Mosquito Squad of West Michigan Lakeshore can help identify rodent activity and determine an appropriate control approach. Call (616) 426-6776 or request a free quote online.
