The 6 Most Common Causes of a Mouse Infestation in Your House

Although mice look cute and cuddly, they can be a nuisance to have around. These creatures harbor diseases like leptospirosis that can make people and pets sick. There are six top reasons you may be experiencing a mouse infestation in your home. Whether your home is cluttered or squeaky clean, mice will still find a reason to reside in your space. These tiny creatures love to live in areas with abundant food, warmth, and a safe place to reproduce away from predators. Mice reproduce rapidly, so it makes sense why an infestation can quickly occur.

1. Poor Sanitation

Mice are opportunistic scavengers, always looking for their next meal. Garbage containing rotting food or smelly materials is a massive attraction for them to gather around. A filthy environment allows them to scurry around freely in the home without being seen. Having long-standing garbage in or around the house indicates to mice that it is an optimal environment for them to live and reproduce. Rusty standing water will attract colonies of mice as well.

2. Food

As mentioned before, mice are scavengers constantly looking for food. If trees around your home produce fruit, seeds, or nuts, it is possible to attract mice. Food left out over long periods will also attract mice. Sometimes, homeowners must realize that food or crumbs may have fallen behind the stove or refrigerator. A visible, clean home does not attract these creatures, but mice will come scurrying around if these areas are not cleaned up in time.

3. Holes, Cracks, and Crevices

Like humans, mice like a warm, safe environment in winter. The mice’s size allows them to squeeze into holes, cracks, and crevices easily. If you are constantly seeing mice running in and out of your home, there is a possibility there is an unknown access point around the house. If you feel all cracks have been sealed and addressed, it may be time to assess your pipes, as they can travel through sewer pipes leading to the home.

4. Where you live

If you have visited places like New York in the United States, you may likely see a fair share of mice running around. Poor sanitation and food lying around in crowded places like that are hot spots for these creatures. In normal, natural settings, these critters live in pastures and grasslands where they will make burrows to keep warm. As developing areas continue to build homes, mice will either move or look to find a safe space in their home if the opportunity presents itself.

5. Clutter

A cluttered environment is an invitation for a breeding ground for these creatures. These rodents love areas they can happily reproduce in without disturbance. They will use materials such as cardboard, cotton insulation, or paper as nesting materials to keep their young warm.

6. Developing Cities

In nature, these tiny creatures live in grasslands and pastures; however, these creatures are forced to relocate with the constant development of buildings and houses. Unfortunately, there isn’t much that you as an individual can do about the growing world, but this is an example of why mice will infest your home. They are looking for a place to call home, but if we humans are constantly tearing down their homes, they find a reason to invade our space.

Conclusion

At the first sighting of a mouse, call an exterminator to have them assess the home for any signs of a nearby colony. Use mice traps around specific parts of the house to see where these critters are entering the home. Seal any cracks or holes around your home to prevent these creatures from entering. Keep your property as clean as possible, especially in a heavily populated city. Always put away any open food and clean around the stove after cooking so mice won’t be able to smell your home miles away.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Eric Isselee/Shutterstock.com