Pest expert explains simple reason mice enter your home in winter and how to deter them - The Mirror

Winter can see some unwanted visitors in your home. Mice tend to be more of a problem in the colder seasons, but thankfully there are plenty of easy ways to keep them away.

Seeing a mouse scurrying across the floor can give you quite a fright. But there could be a reason your home has become a nesting place for mice - and luckily there are a few humane ways to deal with the problem. As the temperature drops, mice will start to venture into our homes looking for warmth.

Mice, rats and other rodents can fit through a penny-sized hole, which makes it very easy to find an entry point into your home and find a cosy spot to make their habitat.

Once mice have entered your home it can be very difficult to get rid of them due to their high reproduction rate, but it is very important to not use poison as you are more likely to hurt a loved one or beloved pet than take care of the infestation.

Thankfully, pest control experts from CleanKi have shared some solutions. And the most important thing is to understand what the rodent wants - food, warmth and security, everything your home provides.

In a post shared online, one expert, Paul, shared some top tips on keeping them out. First up, you must make sure to keep your rubbish bins sealed and the lid closed at all times. Similarly, never leave anything containing food, such as a bread box, open. If mice have a difficult time getting food then they are less likely to be attracted to a home.

Paul said: "Rodents love a free and easy meal. This will often be the thing that first encourages them into your property. If you keep your food sealed and hidden, they won't be encouraged."

You should also try to keep your garden tidy; it can be very easy for mice to nest amongst plants, leaves and grass which can then encourage them to go into your home. If you have any climbing flowers in your garden, such as climbing roses or English ivy, then try to prevent them from growing near your home. Rodents are excellent climbers and will use plants to access your house.

If you do have climbing plants, make sure they don't reach the roofline – the attic is a great place for a rat or mouse to hide.

A rat requires 60 millilitres of water a day - so where possibly keep water shut off tightly, both in the home and the garden to discourage them.

And finally, try to seal up any small nooks and crannies. According to Paul, a rat can enter your home through a crack 'as small as two-centimetres' and mice only need an entry point around the size of a pencil's width. Look around your property for any small areas rodents might be able to access, such as pipes or windows.

"Ensure air bricks aren't broken, check there aren't gaps around your windows and doors, and fit interceptors to drains, to stop them being used as highways into your house."

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