The Real Reasons Why You're Having A Pesky Rodent Problem

Chances are, you've had to deal with rodents at some point in your life. Mice, rats, and other critters make their way into approximately 21 million homes in the United States each winter, according to Pest World — and they can cause quite a fright. "Something I've noted over the years is that you know someone has a mouse when you hear the very distinct scream the person makes when they've seen a mouse," says Michelle Niedermeier of Pennsylvania State University, who works with the Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program (per Popular Science). "Male, female, old, young — it's the same screech."

Beyond the fear factor that rodents bring, however, they can also be a serious concern for our physical well-being. "Mice are a health concern. They spread disease, they trigger asthma, and so having a mouse in your house is a real health issue," says Niedermeier. What's more, spotting one mouse or rat is likely just the tip of the iceberg, and once you have a rodent problem, it's tricky to solve it. So, if you're a little puzzled as to why you're facing a rodent issue, we've got the real reasons — as well as how to rectify them.

As the temperatures drop, your home will become more attractive to rodents. That's why mouse or rat infestations can become particularly prevalent during the fall and winter months as the animals seek out a warm spot to nest in the winter, according to Griffin Pest. This is also due to fewer food sources available in the wild during the winter, like seeds or grass, leading them to look for their meals increasingly from human sources, as Terminix points out. Because mice and rats don't hibernate, all of this can lead to real problems when it's cold.

To solve the issue without plunging your house into freezing temperatures, try as much as possible to minimize rodent access by identifying any access points to your home. Find any gaps in windows and doors or cracks in the foundation, and seal off as many as possible.

Open entry points to your home will act as a front door for rodents. Gaps under exterior doors, between windows, and any holes and cracks in your home can all be ways that rats and mice enter. For mice, in particular, the size of the holes they can squeeze through is pretty surprising. "If you can stick a regular old pencil in a hole, a mouse can get through. If their head can get through, the rest of their body can get through as well," says Michelle Niedermeier of Pennsylvania State University, who works with the Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program, (per Popular Science).

If you suspect this is the case in your home, tackle it head-on. Add a barrier or a door sweep to any doors leading to outdoor spaces. Then, block any holes or gaps you notice around the home — paying particular attention to any holes around wiring or pipes — using long-lasting materials like copper mesh or silicone caulk. "You really only want to do this job once," as Niedermeier says, so be thorough.

Birds aren't the only animals that will enjoy your bird feeder. Their pecking can leave seeds and birdfeed on the ground that then become an open buffet for rodents, according to Victor Pest. And, once they're in the vicinity, their next stop is likely inside your home.

Keeping the area around your bird feeder clean is a good place to start to tackle this: Clean up any dropped seeds, and if the feeder is hanging over a grassy area, mow it regularly to keep it short so that mice can't use the blades as cover. Using a metal pole to hang the feeder instead of a wooden one can make it harder for rodents to climb, according to The Spruce. It's also worth thinking about where you place your feeder: A position closer to your home will increase the likelihood that pests will then seek out an entrance. One neat trick for deterring mice is to mix a little cayenne pepper into your bird feed. The birds won't mind eating it, but the mice certainly will, keeping them away.

It's not just human food that mice and rats enjoy. Anything that your pets eat will be on the menu for rodents, and uncovered or unsealed dog or cat food can be a real draw for them, according to the Indiana Department of Health. Feeding your pets outside can be particularly attractive to rodents, and if you're leaving your dog or cat bowl out overnight, you're essentially presenting these nocturnal critters a free meal.

Instead, try to feed your pets indoors, and if you have to feed them outside, make sure to do so away from exterior walls, if possible. Remove their food and water bowls, and take them inside promptly (and well before dark), and clean up any bits of food left. It's also crucial to seal your unused pet food just as tightly as you would your own food, wherever you keep it, as Victor Pest suggests.

Mice and rats need to stay hydrated like the rest of us, and any water or plumbing leaks you have in or around your home can attract them, according to Griffin Pest. Dripping faucets, loose pipes and joints, or worn-down pipes can all be sources of leaks, and hidden leaks can be particularly troublesome, as the rodents are getting water from a source you can't even see.

A good indicator of hidden leaks could be your water bill rising without any obvious reason, notes Griffin Pet. Once you've identified the problem, fix the leak or call in a plumber to stem the flow and reduce water sources for pests. Keeping an eye on other water sources — like standing water in gutters, pools, hot tubs, birdbaths, ponds, leaky or still-running hoses, and even puddles — is also important, as the Indiana Department of Health points out. While mice can generally survive on the water they get from food, rats will be especially attracted to water sources as they need around an ounce a day to survive.

You might not believe that mice can "Mission Impossible" their way into your homes, but, if you have a tree nearby, you're posing the challenge to them. Not only will mice often live in the hollows of trees, but they're also good climbers, able to scale the bark of trees easily, according to Orkin. From there, they can easily climb across any branches that might hang over or close to your home and then jump onto your roof, making their way into your attic or your home through exterior entry points.

To reduce the risk of this, trim back any branches that come close to your roof or home. Mice often make themselves known in your attic through tell-tale scratching sounds from above, but the warning signs of rodents that apply anywhere in your home — like droppings, urine trails, or nests — also apply here, according to Terminix. Mice might also burrow into your insulation and make homes or tunnels in it, so keep an eye out for those signs, too.

Try as we might to cover all our bases to keep rodents away, they might still make their way into our homes. So how do we get rid of them once they're inside? While maintaining good sanitation and sealing entrances off is key, using traps is also a good (if unpleasant) way to rid your house of mice and rats, according to Popular Science. Simple wooden and plastic traps work well; humane traps are also widely available.

What's not advisable is using glue traps, due to their inconsistency and potential for further suffering. "The glue, though it's sticky, is not sticky enough ... They are ready, willing, and able to gnaw off their own arm to get out of it. It's more humane to use a snap trap," says Michelle Niedermeier of Pennsylvania State University, who works with the Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program (per Popular Science). Using poison can also not only risk the safety of non-rodent animals (and humans) but can also make disposal afterward difficult. When cleaning up after rodents, be sure to follow stringent hygiene measures, as the CDC suggests.