Many houses are built near fields and vegetation where their natural habitats exist and mice in search of food and shelter become more inclined to enter homes. In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, we experience temperature changes for all seasons compared to southern states that are generally always warm. During the wintertime, mouse activity is extremely high. They seek out shelter, which is often conveniently found in garages. This is especially true for garages that aren’t used very often.
What attracts mice to garages?
Rodents have become very accustom to living side by side with humans, whether we like it or not. The homes and garages that we own provide their tiny bodies with protection from snow, sleet, hail, rain, winds, predators, and freezing conditions. To make matters worse, things we wouldn’t eat are food for mice. For example, bird seed and grass seed kept in garages are frequent targets of mouse consumption.
Pictured Above: A gap between the foundation of the home and the garage door frame was letting mice enter directly into the garage with ease.
Mice make their nests in houses where human activity is the lowest. They seek out places where they are least likely to be disturbed to create their nest. A single mouse will create a nest to live and raise pups. Once pups are old enough to live on their own, they leave the nest and create their own nests.
What are the signs that mice are in my garage?
Pictured Above: Mice left droppings under a refrigerator stored in a garage.
Mice constantly eat during their waking hours at night, which is a lot because they are so small. Droppings are left behind and will appear to be black or brown in color and the shape of a grain of rice. Piles of droppings are very common because mice live in large groups. In addition to droppings, you may actually see mice. They crawl along edges of walls, so you probably won’t see them running through the middle of a room.
Dog food, bird seed, lawn seed, or other items kept in easily torn open bags and containers will be consumed by mice if they are in your garage. Look for holes in the bags that look chewed up from where mice entered. Because mice are messy eaters, you could also find seeds strewn throughout the garage.
How can I prevent mice from getting into my garage?
If you want to prevent mice from getting into your garage, you need to make the garage as unappealing to them as possible. Use the following tips to rodent-proof your garage.
- Keep grass seed, dog food, and bird seed in sealed containers or bins
- Reduce clutter and keep things organized
- Seal cracks and gaps leading into the garage
- Cut back tree branches that touch the roof of the garage
- Move trashcans outdoors and seal them tightly
- Store firewood outdoors, as far away from your garage and house as possible
Pictured Above: An entry point where the garage stairs meet the exterior wall was allowing mice to infest the garage.
One of the most important things you need to do to prevent mice from entering your garage is to completely seal entry points. Mice can squeeze through a gap as small as a dime. Don’t underestimate a mouse’s determination to use these holes and enter your garage! Remember, just because you don’t see actual mice doesn’t mean they aren’t there in large numbers. Just one mouse can have between 25-60 offspring in a single year.
How can I get rid of the mice in my garage on my own?
There are several dos and don’ts of mouse elimination if you are going to try mouse control on your own.
DO
✔ Close off gaps- Use caulk and steel wool to fill in small holes and gaps leading into the garage.
✔ Clean up your garage- Grass seed and dog food strewn around the garage is an endless buffet for mice.
✔ Declutter and reorganize- Don’t keep items in cardboard boxes. Use sealed containers and bins. If there is more floor space open, you have fewer hiding places and a better chance of finding potential nesting spots.
✔ Cut back bushes and plants- By trimming back vegetation that comes into contact with the foundation of your garage, mice will have less space to hide and gather.
DON’T
X Use sound machines or ultrasonic repellers- They have been proven time and time again to be ineffective.
X Rely on essential oils or scents- Mice are highly adaptable and aren’t deterred by a little bit of peppermint oil when they find a goldmine of bird seed in your garage.
X Trust your cat- Yes, cats can catch mice. However, it’s not a reliable form of pest control when mice are multiplying and infesting.
X Cover your garage in cayenne pepper- Our pest control technicians run into this issue a lot. They are called to a home that has droppings everywhere, including on and around cayenne pepper that was used as a “natural barrier.” If it was this easy to get rid of mice, pest control companies would be out of business.
How does Cooper get rid of mice?
Our One-Time Mouse Service is a service that targets homes with current mouse activity. Our skilled service technicians will analyze the sources of your mouse activity and will place tamper- resistant bait stations to eliminate the current mouse activity in your home. Our One-Time Mouse Service is 100% guaranteed. You will have coverage for 90 days with unlimited, free service calls within this time.
Rodent and Wildlife Exclusion Service
If you experience recurring problems with mice, squirrels, flying squirrels, or other rodents getting into your house, a permanent (and highly recommended) solution is available. When our Exclusion Experts visit your home, they will perform a thorough inspection to identify the rodent and squirrel issues at your home and then create a customized plan to remove them and keep them out.
We will exclude these pests from entering your home in the future. Our dedicated Exclusion Experts will conduct trapping and wire mesh installation for low-lying areas. They will also perform sealing, capping, and metal flashing installations on the roof and in the crawlspace. Additional programs such as GutterLock are available for even more protection.
Home Services
The Intensive Service Plan is designed to provide preventive pest and rodent control for your home, year round. This is our most popular service for homeowners. The service plan includes four preventive services per year. Each service is unique and is accompanied by a detailed 30-point inspection report with detailed findings as well as providing you with important recommendations for your home. Each year you will receive three exterior maintenance services (March – November) and one interior service (December – February). The winter service will focus on the interior of the structure and is geared towards rodents and other pests that may live within the structure.
The Traditional Service Plan is a substantial value for the homeowner that does not want to be bothered by crawling insects, mice, and wasps. The Traditional Service Plan provides preventive pest and rodent control for your home, year round. As part of your plan, you will receive four services per year. Each year you will receive three exterior maintenance services (March – November) and one interior service (December – February). There are some exclusions in the Traditional Service Plan when compared to the Intensive Service Plan.
Give us a call or fill out the contact form on this page to schedule a free mouse inspection or to speak with a specialist about mouse control options for your home or business.
