How Do Mice Get in Your House? Everything You Need to Know

You’ve noticed signs of mice in your house. You set up a trap and catch the not-so-sneaky intruder. Soon after, you cross paths with another one in the middle of the night. The thing is, mice move in packs and aren’t the easiest to get rid of—not to mention the damage they do and the diseases they spread. The best way to fend off these pesky rodents is to prevent them from getting inside in the first place. 

Wondering how do mice get in your house? Keep reading to discover the surprising tactics mice will use to sneak in (like leaping from an overhanging branch) and what specifically draws them to a home.

Common Mice Entry Points

Gaps and Holes

Notice any gaps on your outer walls or holes beneath your deck? Mice have outstanding sensory abilities, particularly smell and temperature sensing. This means they can easily detect any openings where warm indoor air is flowing outside. Mice often use these as access points. Given their flexible body structure, mice can squeeze through open crevices the size of a quarter-inch button. To make matters worse, these rodents can chew through wood, drywall, and insulation with their strong, sharp teeth and create a new hole to reach their target.

Doors and Windows

Faulty door sweeps, improperly sealed windows, gaps underneath doors, and easy-to-open pet doors are all welcome signs for mice. The same goes for open windows, even if high up. That’s right, mice are clever climbers and can ascend any textured surface, be it a tree trunk, brick wall, or garden trellis.

Sewer Lines and Plumbing Systems

While it’s less common, mice can crawl through pipes and make their way inside via sinks, showers, and bathtubs. Fortunately, mice will avoid large amounts of water when possible and will only take this route if there’s no other option. Rats wouldn’t mind though as they thrive in sewers.

Roofs and Vents

Mice will balance along wires, climb gutters, and leap from branches just to get on a roof. Roofs present several potential entryways for them, including attic vents, gable vents, gaps in eaves, chimneys, and roof windows. Once in the attic, they’ll build nests, chew through ceilings, and nibble on wires. If you’ve been hearing odd sounds coming from your attic at night, there’s a chance that mice are making themselves comfortable under your roof.

Cover your downspouts, chimneys, and vents with wire mesh to prevent mice from sneaking into your house through the roof. 

Storage Boxes and Stored Furniture

Sometimes, you might accidentally invite a mouse to your home without realizing it. Mice love nesting in cardboard boxes, upholstered furniture, and mattresses stored in secluded places like a shed or garage. To avoid this, double-check your boxes and stored furniture before bringing them indoors.

What Attracts Mice to Your House?

Food Sources

Did you know that an adult mouse can get by on only 1/10-ounce of food per day? Mice will go anywhere there is available food, and unfortunately aren’t picky eaters at all. Some of their favorites include cereal grains—like wheat, oats, and barley—and anything sweet. Again, mice tend to prefer food that is easily accessible so watch out for leftover snacks, pet food, pantry items, unsecured trash, and bird feeders.

Warmth and Shelter

Just like humans, mice prefer to stay warm when it’s cold outside and typically migrate indoors during the fall or winter. Your home is more likely to be chosen if it has a heating system, good insulation, and plenty of enclosed spaces, such as wall voids and cluttered basements. Mice are also drawn to appliances that emit heat, particularly refrigerators, water heaters, dryers, and ovens. 

Water Availability

Most mice fulfill their water needs from the food they eat—though they rarely pass up the chance to drink from a direct water source when they find one. When inside, mice often turn to pet water bowls, dripping taps, overwatered houseplants, and condensation on kitchen appliances or windows to quench their thirst. In the absence of water, they look for moisture in damp rooms like basements and attics. 

Vegetation

You’ve stored your food in sealed containers, eliminated water sources, and decluttered your entire house, yet mice are still attracted to your property. Your garden may be to blame. Fruit and vegetable gardens are a godsend for mice: they offer hiding spots, fresh food, and potential nesting materials. Even worse, mice are big fans of seeds and will devour freshly planted seeds.

Install a garden fence to keep rodents and other pests away. Obviously, not every fence will work, considering mice’s climbing and gnawing abilities. Choose fences with smooth surfaces they can’t grip; bars they can’t squeeze through; materials they can’t chew; and a height they can’t jump over.