If you are like most homeowners, you want your house to stay nice, clean, and pest-free. So it can be quite upsetting to notice a mouse running around in your home. Unfortunately, it is very common to have mice in the basement.

Read on as we share some tips that can help you identify the presence of mice in your basement so that you can take the appropriate steps towards eliminating a mouse infestation as soon as possible.

How Does A Mouse Get Into Your Basement?

Because of its size, a mouse has the ability to get through the smallest openings. If there are tiny holes and cracks in your walls, floors, or the foundation of your house, it is virtually an invitation for a mouse to move in.

If the windows and doors to your basement are not tightly secured, they can provide another easy way for this rodent to enter your home.

As mice can squeeze in, consider any opening larger than a dime to be an entry point. Unless your house is completely airtight without any structural defects, you should not be surprised to find a mouse that’s living in your basement.

Where Do Mice Hide In Basements?

Mice do not usually live out in the open. Even if you see one scurrying across the floor, they will find hiding places in your basement. Whether you have a basement with dirt or cement floor, mice can hide inside it. If you have a crawl space, they can settle in there, too.

Mice can also hide in your basement walls. This can be a convenient way for them to access your entire house. They can chew through insulation, moving upstairs into the living areas of your home or even up to the attic. When they hide in the walls they can chew electrical wiring and cause a fire hazard.

What Do Mice Eat In The Basement?

Mice will eat nearly anything but they do prefer certain types of food. Plant-based foods are at the top of the list. Some examples include grains, cereals, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fruit. They will eat meat scraps, too.

If you do not want mice to have access to food, avoid storing your food products in the basement unless they are in cans. This is because they can chew through cardboard boxes as well as paper and plastic bags.

You should also avoid leaving trash cans in your basement. While these animals generally avoid eating food that is excessively spoiled, they would have no problem eating table scraps and leftovers that are in your trash can.
However, if there’s a mice infestation in your basement, they may also feed on insects as well as dead birds or small animals that they find in your basement.

Mice also need to drink water. If there are any leaks, drips, or other sources of moisture in your basement, the rodents can take advantage of the supply.

How To Find A Mouse Nest In The Basement?

The old saying is true: There is no such thing as “a mouse” because when you see one mouse, there are many more that you cannot see. Thus, one mouse is usually a sign of mice infestation. As this wildlife prefers to hide and make nests in dark places, your basement is the ideal environment.

If a mouse can get into your basement walls, it is one place it can build a nest. Crawl spaces, cabinets, pantries, and closets are other examples. However, the rodents can build nests in any area that they find to be secluded, dark, warm, safe, and comfortable. If there is a large appliance in your basement, such as a refrigerator, chest freezer, or stove, a mouse may have already built a nest behind it.

If you have clothing or other soft materials, paper, plastic, insulation, leaves, small twigs, old upholstered furniture or mattresses, or cardboard boxes, a mouse will consider it a nice place to build its nest. The same is true for space heaters, especially if they are warm.

As mice are so resourceful, locating a mouse nest is the first step towards ridding your home of the rodents. Although they can be good at hiding, it is not impossible to find their nesting site.

One of the first signs of mice is often unusual sounds in your walls. You may hear scratching or scraping, especially during the nighttime.

Another tell-tale sign of an infestation is mouse droppings in the basement. As mice usually take the same path, you may see smudging or streaks on the floor. Their droppings or urine may be nearby. A mouse may be coming out of its nest at night to search for more food and water.

You may see tears or holes in fabrics, cardboard, and other materials. Look closely as there may be a mouse nest inside.

Accessible food may be missing or spilled. As mice tend to build nests near their food supplies, the nest is probably not far away. The rodents rarely travel more than a few feet away from their nests.

When you want to find a mouse nest, check all of these possibilities. As soon as you locate a nest and realize that you have a mouse problem, you can begin to remove the rodents from your basement by setting up bait and poison traps.

However, these mice treatment methods aren’t always thorough, so the safest and most effective way to remove these rodents (especially if there’s already an entire family of mice in your basement) is to call in the professionals.

When you contact Wildlife Troopers team, you can be sure that we will successfully rodent proof your Florida home and eliminate the infestation once and for all. We know exactly how to find the nesting sites and thoroughly get rid of mice from the house, and in doing so, we can help prevent disease and ease pest anxiety. So call Wildlife Troopers today for a free quote and inspection!

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