The holidays are finally here! now is the time to enjoy the company of family and friends from near and far. Tables overflow with gifts and you will enjoy many holiday feasts and warm, cozy fireplaces.

However, there is one kind of guest you don’t want to see in your home, now or anytime, and that is mice. They’re looking for a place to hunker down for the holidays, too. You should be on the lookout for mice. Let’s discuss how you can identify them, what to do to keep them out of your home, and when to call the professionals at Schendel Pest Services.

How to Identify Evidence of the Presence of Mice

Mice are looking for a warm place to live as soon as the temperatures drop in the fall and winter months. Your home is the perfect place, providing ready sources of food, water, and heat. Most houses have ample places to hide and nest, and mice waste no time starting a family in attics, basements, pantries, or void spaces such as walls and ceilings.

Since the holidays are often a time of increased food consumption in homes, along with visiting guests from out of town, you may not be as on top of your housecleaning as you may be during other times of the year. Mice are attracted to dirty dishes and open food packages on countertops. You may begin to notice evidence of their presence in the form of chewed boxes and mouse droppings where food is stored. 

How to Keep Mice Out of Your Home

Mice can be cute, but they will cause all sorts of problems for you and your home if they decide to move in with your family. Mice have an insatiable need to chew because their teeth never stop growing. They chew through everything – furniture, electrical wires, wood, books, clothing, mattresses – you name it. They build nests out of soft materials such as fabrics and newspapers, so even those items aren’t safe from their destructive tendencies. Don’t forget the mess they leave behind with their urine and feces. Mice spread all kinds of diseases and can carry fleas, ticks, and other parasites. They are pests that can be dangerous to your health and safety. So how do you keep mice out of your home during the holidays?

Follow these suggestions before the snow starts to fly:

• Seal any cracks or crevices found in your home’s foundation. Include areas around where utilities access the building.
• Caulk any gaps found around exterior doors and windows. 
• Cover your chimney with a tight-fitting cap.
• Trim tree branches and bushes away from exterior walls so mice and other rodents cannot gain easy access to your home.
• Keep all exterior doors, including garage doors, shut at all times.
• Make sure that trash stored outside is kept in containers with tight-fitting lids. Place bins away from the walls of your house.
• Repair leaky faucets, pipes, or fixtures
• Make sure that food is stored properly in the kitchen. Consider using plastic or glass containers with lids. Do not leave food sitting out on counters, or leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight.

How to Rid Your Home of Mice

If you do suspect you have unwanted mouse guests, call the experts at Schendel Pest Services for a free inspection. We have the experience and the tools necessary to help you deal with any and all rodent infestations. Let us help you put an end to a small portion of your holiday stress.