How to Get Rid of Mice in Attic?

Ever wondered how to get rid of mice in attic? Few things are as disturbing as hearing scratching from the attic or even worse going up there and finding droppings scattered everywhere. Mice are really good climbers and they can easily find their way into someone’s attic. They can access it both from inside and outside.

How Do Mice Get into Attic?

Mice can get into your attic, both from the outside and from the inside.

How They Get In from the Outside

Since they are good climbers they can climb up the downspouts on your gutter. If you have large trees around your house they can jump from tree branches to get on to your roof and start looking for openings.

If none of those are available at a house, they are even able to climb brick walls. Most houses have brick chimney and mice are able to get up and down the chimney.

If they are able to climb up to your gutter line or if they were able to get on your roof by jumping from a tree branch they will start looking for openings.

Heat rises and therefore an attic space is very comfortable for mice. Also because the attic is warmer than the exterior, the mice can feel the warm draft coming from any openings. This allows them to find the tiny openings they need to pry themselves into the attic from the outside.

Even more comfortable for mice is a cluttered attic. Mice are predisposed to look for safe space. For them that’s any small, dark and secluded spot. So if an attic is cluttered they are likely to find many of those.

How They Get in From the Inside

A lot of the entry points in residential homes are around doors. Whether underneath or just because a door was left open, door provide easy access for mice. Once inside, mice will start looking for a safe, quiet space.

If they are able to get into the walls, they can climb up and down drywall. You might even hear them scratching when they make it inside the drywall. Drywall usually has a few openings, and mice can easily find those and use them to move around a house.

When they climb they will eventually find their way to the attic. Since the attic is quiet and warm, it is one of their preferred nesting spaces.

How to Identify Mice Activity?

Mice are nocturnal, so they usually only come out at night. You might see one of them scurrying across your kitchen floor during the day. Mice don’t see very well, and are colorblind. However, their other senses are very keen and are beneficial to them.

Though there are a lot of different species of these rodents globally, the house mouse is the most battled in the US.

Mice are more curious creatures, which can help you combat them.

You can set a trap on the floor for a mouse, and they will quickly take the bait.

What do Mice Eat?

Mice love foods high in carbohydrates. They tend to snack on seeds, nuts, and grains. While people always think mice love cheese, they would much rather have peanut butter on the trap. Having a mouse in your house isn’t all bad, as they will eat some insects.

How To Get Rid of Mice in Attic

Your first line of defense against invading mice is to block possible entryways. Seal cracks and holes in your foundation and walls and repair or replace damaged screens. Keep trash cans, and dumpsters sealed and avoid leaving food scraps outside that can attract vermin. Make sure that hay, straw, or animal feed outside is stored correctly.

Seal up any suspected mouse holes in your walls, under sinks, or cabinet kickboards. Keep all pantry items in sealed containers like glass or heavy plastic. Clean up any spills immediately. Take out your trash often, and never leave dirty dishes sitting overnight. If you hear scratching and other activity in your walls, it’s a sure sign that mice have moved into your home.

You can always go the route of mouse traps, glue traps, or poison, but these can raise other safety issues for your family and pets. While cats are natural mouse predators, well-fed house cats often ignore mouse problems.

Final Thoughts

No matter which kind of mice you have, a mouse infestation poses severe risks to your family and property. Professional extermination can get the unwanted pests out, and ensure your home is not at risk for the deadly viruses these rodents bring.