Did You Invite a Mouse to Dinner? What Do Rodents Do During the Winter?

Nobody wants to invite a pesky mouse to their Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. When winter weather arrives, some rodents go into hibernation, while others enter homes and businesses seeking warmth, shelter, and a source of food. It’s important to know what rodents do during the winter months, and how you can prevent them from becoming your unwelcome holiday guest.

Common Winter Rodents

Some common rodents you could see in your home or business this winter are the house mouse and Norway rat. Both mice and rats stay alert throughout the winter. However, they're nocturnal rodents, so you might not always notice them at first glance. 

The house mouse tends to be the most commonly encountered rodent in the United States. As the name suggests, house mice are usually found indoors. They usually nest in dark, secluded areas like attics and basements. This rodent can cause serious property damage by chewing through wires and drywall. They are also known to contaminate food and spread diseases, so keep your food covered and stored properly!

Similar to the common house mouse, Norway rats often nest in basements, piles of debris, and other undisturbed materials. Norway rats primarily live off of food and shelter provided by humans rather than foraging in the wild. Known to be hitchhikers, these rodents traveled to the U.S. from Norway on ships hundreds of years ago. They can also be a problematic vector for diseases.

For more information on what rodents might look for this winter, check out this blog.

Signs of a Rodent Infestation and Prevention Tips

A few signs that you may have a rodent problem or infestation are:

• Chew marks on wood or drywall.
• Multiple or distinct piles of rodent droppings. 
• Lingering, musky odors, which will increase as the rodent population increases.
• Damaged food packaging.
• Chewed wires.
• Noises at night, including scurrying and squeaking.

A few ways to prevent rodents are:

• Seal any holes or cracks in your foundation.
• Keep all foods properly stored (in the fridge or airtight containers).
• Keep attics, basements, and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.
• Don’t leave trash out and always keep it covered.

For more information about signs and prevention tips, check out this blog.

What Else Can Be Done?

Mice and rats are everywhere. Though we might not always see them since they are nocturnal, chances are, your business or home has had these unwelcome visitors nearby. Fear not, Waynes can help! Waynes provides SMARTPest technology for commercial properties and starting in December, residential properties! 

SMART is an intelligent system that keeps an eye on things you don't want to see. By constantly monitoring and instantly reacting, it prevents costly infestations in an environmentally-friendly way. Add the services traditionally provided by us, and you will get a solution that gives you the best of two worlds - automation and expertise.

For more information about our SMARTPest rodent and pest solutions, check out our website or call us at 866.WAYNES1, our Service Professionals are here to help!