If you want to discourage mice from making a home inside your house this winter, one of the first steps to take is to close off all entry points leading into your home. Mice can squeeze through very tiny spaces, so they can even fit through small vents openings as well as gaps around pipes leading into exterior walls. From there, they can get into the walls, attic and other areas. Any cracks or holes in your home’s foundation, behind siding or at the eaves or roof line are likely spots where mice can squeeze through. In wintertime, mice do what any wild animals do: seek a warm, protected place to live and build a nest. Mice In Winter: How These Rodents Survive The Coldest Months Rather than continuing their nomadic summertime lifestyles, they build nests in dark, hidden areas inside homes, garages and other structures, preferably close to their food stores so they’ll have nourishment through the lean months. In fall, as temperatures start to drop, mice typically shift their lives indoors. During these warmer seasons, when fruit, seeds, nuts, grains and other preferred foods are plentiful outdoors, mice work hard to gather and store plenty of food for the coming winter. These rodents are often somewhat migratory, moving around from location to location according to food availability, rather than staying in one place for an extended time. They might live in burrows underground or build nests out of grasses, cotton and other found materials.
They can make their homes in many different types of habitats, including grasslands and forests. Let’s explore some of the most common questions homeowners have about mice and their habits, including what mice do during the cooler months of the year.ĭuring spring, summer and early fall, when the weather is temperate, mice enjoy living outdoors. It’s easy to see why a full-blown infestation is possible if measures aren’t taken quickly to control their population! Female mice can have five to ten litters of baby mice each year. They are also extremely prolific, mating and having babies throughout the year if weather and other living conditions are favorable. Mice may be small-at least as compared to their rat cousins-but they are still disease-carrying pests that can cause extensive and expensive damage to your home or garage. If you’ve spotted a mouse in or around your home, or if there’s other evidence of mice activity somewhere on your property, you are probably concerned, and rightfully so. Being in a sheltered spot can also offer protection from any potential predators that rely on rodents as a food source.
People may even have more mouse sightings in their homes during winter than in warmer seasons, since mice spend so much more time indoors when it’s cold outside. Contrary to common belief, mice and rats do not hibernate in wintertime rather, they stay active throughout the year, including during the coldest months. When animals hibernate, they go into a long, deep sleep in order to survive colder temperatures and periods when food is scarce. All mammals share the same instinct to head indoors where they can hunker down and stay snug and toasty until warmer temperatures return. After all, humans aren’t the only ones who prefer to stay warm and cozy during cold weather. Do mice hibernate? Do rats hibernate in winter? These are both valid questions if you’ve had any type of rodent activity in or around your home, or if you’re worried that mice might move into your living space in search of a safe place to spend the winter.
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