What attracts mice?
Mice are simple creatures for the most part. It doesn’t take a lot to make them happy. Mostly, they want just three things: shelter, food, and water. If your home or business provides these three resources, you can bet that mice will be interested.
Yes, it’s that simple. Three things attract mice: food, water, and shelter. Similar to any living creature, rodents require these three key elements for survival. And since our homes and businesses offer ample opportunities for shelter, when you give them access to food and water, you’re inadvertently creating a rodent paradise that they’re not going to want to leave.
From leaky plumbing to unattended crumbs to a basement or garage filled with clutter, your home potentially has many sources of food, water, and shelter that attract mice.
Common causes contributing to an infestation include:
- Spilled food or liquids
- Food left out overnight
- Leftover crumbs or even food residues
- Improper disposal of trash
- Overgrown landscaping
- Cluttered rooms
- Open entry points
- Cracks in walls or the foundation
How Do Rodents Get Indoors?
Even if rodents could find food and water in your home or business, they still need to get inside. That’s why rodent exclusion – sealing of entry points and other similar tactics – is such an important part of rodent prevention.
Rodents are resourceful in infiltrating homes or businesses through nearly any opening. Certain species, like Norway rats, may dig under the ground to find openings in foundations. Others, such as roof rats, scale nearby trees or vines in search of loose shingles or alternative access points. Unfortunately, their ability to squeeze through minute cracks complicates the identification of their entry paths.
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What Do Rats and Mice Eat?
Rats and mice are omnivorous. They’ll eat meat, fruits, vegetables, grains – honestly, they’ll eat most anything. They are notorious for scavenging human food scraps like crumbs and leftovers. Rat and mouse diets, while sharing some similar preferences, do have differences:
- Mice favor grains, vegetables, fruits, seeds, and comparable foods, consuming less due to their smaller size.
- Rats display a heightened attraction to meat, fish, and cheese. They are also inclined towards accessing garbage cans or pet food.
How Do You Stop Attracting Rodents to Your House?
If you have repeated rodent infestations around your home, it likely indicates they’re able to find the resources they need. Therefore, you should dedicate your efforts to eliminating them.
Here’s how:
- Shelter: Perform rodent exclusion measures so they can’t get in. Seal cracks and gaps. Replace damaged screens. If they can’t get in, you don’t have to worry.
- Food: Clean up thoroughly after every meal. Don’t leave food out overnight. Don’t leave food in the sink. Store food in airtight containers. Make sure you take your garbage out regularly and rodents can’t get to it.
- Water: Check around the house for pipe leaks and areas of moisture accumulation. You may need to call a plumber or moisture control specialist to help with this. It doesn’t take a lot of water to attract mice.
If you can’t get a handle on the situation yourself, call Suburban Exterminating. With 63 years of experience serving the Suffolk County & Nassau County area, our licensed rodent exterminators can identify the root causes of your problem and provide recommendations that get results.
Call us today to learn more or get a free estimate.