Yes, house mice do not hibernate, and an unheated garage still beats being outside. They survive winters by nesting in insulating material, huddling together, and staying close to a food source.
An unheated garage feels cold to you. But it’s still a lot better than being in the open yard. The roof blocks precipitation, the walls block wind, and the temperature inside stays several degrees above outdoor lows.
Mice make up for the chilliness of garage living by building dense nests. They can insulate these with cardboard, fabric, paper, and literal home insulation. This is enough to keep them warm through the winter. They also raise their food intake in the cold weather so their metabolism runs higher. They nest inside things that hold heat or block draft like engine compartments and the voids behind stored goods.
Once they have a warm enough place to stay, all they need then is food. A bag of birdseed or grass seed, or perhaps an open sack of dog food, is more than enough to support a population. Without it, they may still shelter in your garage and forage elsewhere, including inside your house.
Mice breed year-round as long as they have shelter and food. A female can produce multiple litters in a season. One breeding pair can turn into dozens in a single season. A small November problem can easily become a large February one. By the time you see obvious signs like droppings or shredded paper or insulation, you likely already have a well-established infestation.
To prevent rodent issues, you can store food in metal or heavy plastic containers. Stored goods need to go into sealed bins and up on shelves. Then make sure mice don’t have easy ways in. You may need to replace the garage door gasket or seal around where wires and pipes enter the home.
If mice are wintering in your garage, Mosquito Squad of Worcester can help. Mosquito Squad finds how mice are getting in, clears them with traps and bait stations, and seals the entry points with chew-resistant materials. Annual inspections will help you protect your home through the year.
