When outside temperatures drop and predators are on the move searching for that nice warm mouse meal, remember that mice are looking for a nice warm place to overwinter that provides protection and a place where a food and water source is close. Most homes fit all the requirements that mice need for survival.

During the Christmas season it is a good idea to check your boxes that have stored artificial Christmas trees, ornaments and other decorations. Mice find closely packed boxes and packages very attractive. Think about where you store your Christmas decorating items: attics, closets, storage buildings which are perfect habitats for our little furry pals. When items are brought into your living area from storage areas, it is a great possibility that mice are physically entering the home at the hand of the homeowner. 

Anywhere that there is food, water, harborage, warmth and relieved stress from predators, ideal conditions are present for population explosions of commensal rodents including mice. Commensal means that an animal lives along with humans. Mice are commensal pests and a definite health hazard.  

  • One might think that during the winter months mice may stop breeding, and the population of an infestation may lessen, but that just is not true. 
  • During most conditions that are favorable a female mice can produce 6 to 10 litters throughout the year producing 4 to 7 young per litter. 
  • Mice leave urine streaks and fecal material wherever they go contaminating much more than where they eat.  

Before a mouse population has a chance to present itself in your home, it is advisable to be proactive in preparing for commensal rodent pests. Some ideas that are helpful are to use glue boards as monitoring devices. Look for mouse droppings, gnaw marks and damaged products in and around the home. So, check out those Christmas storage boxes and see if you notice any of these. Once tell-tale signs of an infestation are evidenced, a trapping or baiting program should be implemented. Contacting a pest control professional is a good idea to evaluate the extent of a mouse infestation and devise a plan for control.