Not just a cold weather pest
When people think of summertime pests, they think of ants, flies, mosquitoes, and other creepy-crawly nuisances. Mice, on the other hand, are usually associated with fall and winter, as they tend to seek shelter indoors during the colder months. That means you don’t have to worry about a potential mouse infestation during the summer, right? Wrong! Here’s why residents in the Hampden, Wilbraham, and East Longmeadow areas still need to protect their homes from mice in the summer.
Mice in the Summer: Why are they in my House?
Mice are after food and shelter year-round, and your home typically offers both of these things. During New England heat waves and oppressively warm temperatures, it’s also possible for mice to get too hot outdoors, and seek a cooler location.
You might also have a mouse infestation in one part of your home (such as the attic) go undetected during the winter. When the attic warms up in the summertime, the mice will migrate to a cooler part of your home, such as the basement.
What can I do to prevent a potential mouse infestation during the summer?
Mice in the Summer: Pest Control Tactics
In addition to the shelter and food sources offered by your home, mice can be attracted to the following:
- Unsecured garbage and compost piles
- Stored items piled up against the foundation
- Stored items under your deck or porch
- Fruit and vegetable gardens
- Overgrown trees and shrubs
- Woodpiles and other organic debris
- Pet food
In order to avoid an infestation, it’s best to maintain or control these potential attractors. Once mice become attracted to a property, it’s only a matter of time before they find their way inside! When it comes to mice, prevention is key to treatment. Here are some of the things that homeowners in the Springfield area can do to help prevent a mouse infestation:
- Sealing any cracks or openings found in the foundation of your home
- Making sure that chimneys have tight-fitting caps on them
- Repairing any holes found along your homes roof line and replacing any missing or broken roof shingles
- Trimming back overgrown vegetation away from your home
- Removing trash from your home regularly; washing dishes on a daily basis
- Keeping outdoor trash cans a distance away from the exterior of your home and make sure they have good sealing lids on them
- Keeping your basement and other storage areas in your home free of clutter in order to limit the places that rodents have to hide
- If you use exterior bait stations, be sure to maintain them year-round.
As always, feel free to reach out to Graduate Pest Solutions if you have any questions or need help with a pest infestation. Don’t forget to ask us about our residential pest control packages! We’ll focus on the pests so you can focus on your summer fun!
