How Are Mice Getting Into My House?

Mice don't need an open front door. They find small gaps around the exterior and follow opportunities for food, warmth, and shelter. The lasting fix usually means figuring out how they're getting in, not just dealing with the ones you see.

Start outside

Walk the exterior and look wherever building materials meet: doors, garage doors, utility penetrations, pipes, vents, foundation openings, siding transitions, and roof edges. Don't seal active wildlife into an inaccessible space. If you aren't sure what's using an opening, identify the animal first.

Check the garage

Garage doors can leave gaps along the bottom or sides, and a garage offers an easy path toward the rest of the house when food, pet supplies, or stored materials are available.

Look under sinks and around utilities

Pipes and wires often pass through walls or cabinets, and the openings around them make convenient travel routes.

Why are mice staying?

Entry is only part of the problem; food and shelter matter too. Secure pantry food, pet food, bird seed, grass seed, and other edible stored materials, and reduce clutter where rodents can hide.

What if I seal everything?

Exclusion helps, but don't assume closing one visible hole solves an established indoor rodent problem. There may be multiple entry points.

When should I get professional help?

Consider help when:

• You keep finding droppings.
• You hear movement in walls or ceilings.
• You can't locate the entry points.
• Activity appears widespread.
• You're unsure whether you're dealing with mice, rats, or another animal.

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