Each year, when the weather gets cooler, mice want to move into a warm and cozy home. While you’re out enjoying a Pumpkin Spice Latte and Instagramming your love of #SweaterWeather, mice activity increases as they are planning and plotting ways to escape the cold. 

When these pests make their way inside, many homeowners may be unaware that they even have a mouse problem. They are most active at night, typically, since that’s when there’s the least amount of danger. They hide out during the day unless they’re looking for food or water. If they are in your home, you may hear tiny scratches and squeaks or see other signs of these pests around the house like gnaw marks and mouse droppings.

Understanding what time of year mice are looking to move inside makes it easy for you to begin preparing to prevent them from choosing your home. 

When is Mouse Season?

As the temperatures drop, the rodent run-ins rise. The holiday season is set by the calendar. Spring, summer, autumn and winter are determined by our planet’s rotation around the sun. Mouse season is just as real as anything else, but instead of being marked by days, it begins when the first cold snap hits. For many places across the US, this generally means the end of the fall season or beginning or winter.

Each year, towards the end of summer, when the weather begins to get cooler, it’s time to start thinking about rodent control solutions. The colder it gets, the more important it becomes for mice to start looking for a warm and cozy home to prepare for the upcoming brutal winter months. Just like us, mice and rats want shelter to escape the cold and food to fill their bellies, and they can find all these comforts inside your home. 

Common interests aside, rodents and other pests are unwelcome intruders. They can spread disease, damage property, and give you a serious case of the heebie-jeebies! Don’t let rodents set their sights on your home this winter.

Prevent Easy Access to Your Home During Mouse Season

Now that you know when these creatures become more active, it’s important to know how to keep them away from your home. Keeping mice outside where they belong is a good thing, but pesticides like rat poison are dangerous to people, pets, and other animals too. The best way to get rid of mice is to prevent them from entering in the first place. 

You’ll want to follow these steps to survive mouse season:

1. Weatherproofing your home is key. This will lead to electric bill savings and peace of mind.  Make sure there are no gaps around doors or windows, and that any crevice is sealed up tightly.  A lot like cold air, rodents can squeeze in through very small entry points.
2. Store items in air-tight, chew-proof containers. Keeping winter gear neatly stored will clear the clutter while reducing stress and rodent hiding spots. Sealing pantry items in air-tight containers will help them last longer, and keep them safe from hungry pests.
3. Pick up your pet food dishes and don’t leave them on the floor. Pet food makes the perfect food source for hungry rodents.
4. Finally, consider using a botanical rodent repellent. Setting out a pouch of Stay Away® Rodent will not only help get rid of mice but will prevent them from entering your home in the first place. Even if it’s too cold to go outside, the fresh, woodsy scent will remind you of the outdoors while repelling rodents. 

After you’ve done a little due diligence to prevent a mouse infestation, there is plenty left to enjoy about this time of year. The days may be getting shorter, but cooler temperatures and earlier nights are the perfect excuse for snuggling up in your comfiest clothes and enjoying a guilt-free night of binge-watching your favorite show.  The holidays will be here before we know it, but for now, sit back, relax and savor the season!