What attracts mice to your home?
There are multiple ways mice can get into your home. They can enter through gaps in your basement and doorways, tiny holes around piping, damaged roofs, air vents, and drainpipes, just to name a few. Mice are very agile. They can scale walls that are six and a half feet tall, squeeze through holes the width of a pencil, and jump as high as a foot.
Mice require three main things to thrive: warmth, shelter, and food. Your home provides all these things, as it is what humans need as well.
Search for warmth
Once inside, mice will quickly search for an isolated, warm spot in your home. Ideally, they will look for one that is close to a food source, such as your kitchen or dining area. This is why you often find mice nests behind kitchen appliances and at the back of your refrigerator, as these areas are hidden and warm.
Find shelter and build nests
Mice can easily find warmth by building a nest inside your cavity walls, under your floorboards, near your hot water tank, or even in your attic. They love to use paper to build their nest. Anything from newspapers and magazines to toilet paper and paper towels will suit their nesting needs.
Search for food
Mice will raid your cupboards at nighttime for a snack. They love cheese, but chocolates and even peanut butter will do. They even have a preference for a certain flavor of potato chips. Mice are able to get their daily water requirement from the food they eat – as long as it contains certain levels of moisture.
Water sources
Another reason why mice come into your house is to look for water sources. Leaky pipes, pet bowls, and condensation around windows can provide enough moisture to attract them. These sources are especially appealing during dry weather when outdoor water is harder to find.