Typically, when people think about wildlife control and prevention, it is before and immediately following winter. This thinking is essentially on par with most wild animals in North America and their breeding habits, but it does not account for mice. A mouse does not really have a mating season. It will not go dormant in the winter months and breed in the spring only. Instead, mice breed year-round, leading to the necessity of mice removal services, regardless of seasonal changes.
The Active Life of Mice
People assume the winter is a dormant time for all wildlife because they don’t often see animals running around or foraging for food. While many species do slow down during the winter, mice and other rodents remain busy and active.
It is possible you will not see mice as frequently in the winter because they might stick close to their nests, but they will still look for food and continue to reproduce. The complacency or assumptions people make about the hibernation or dormancy of mice can lead to catastrophic problems with your property because of the animals’ reproduction rate.
The Compounding Problem
A mouse can give birth between five and ten times per year, with a full-term pregnancy lasting only three weeks and the ability to reconceive occurring immediately. The rapid turnaround and frequency of pregnancies mean a single female can produce between 25 and 100 babies annually. If that is not devastating enough, consider that at just three weeks old, a mouse reaches sexual maturity, meaning they are capable of reproducing.
With the compounding nature of rodent births, it is not difficult to see how a single pair of mice could copulate and cause the rampant infestation of hundreds of mice within a year. Your house, even within the three months of winter, could sustain significant and costly damage. Additionally, the level of rodent feces and urine can cause powerful odours and health issues to residents.
Finally, a house fire is a real risk. As rodents, mice have incisors that never stop growing. The animal chews to shave down these teeth and ensure they do not protrude through the skull. Unfortunately, mice do not care what they chew on, making a home’s electrical system fair game. It is not uncommon for house fires to stem from electrical shorts caused by a rodent infestation.
Prevention and Exclusion
As mice and other rodents do not abide by different species’ seasonal rules or habits, it is crucial to remain diligent in your prevention efforts. There are several ways to limit the risks of a mouse problem in your house:
- Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink
- Keep all food in airtight containers
- Vacuum and sweep floors after every meal
- Don’t leave pet food down all-day
- Empty garbage cans daily
- Seal any obvious cracks, holes, or openings before winter arrives
While the typical tactics center around cleanliness, if you believe you have an existing mouse problem, you might want to hold off sealing all openings on the exterior of your home. You want to allow an exit for the animal.
Professional wildlife control services will focus on exclusion to rid your home of mice for good. They will locate all entry points and place one-way exits over several, sealing the rest. The experts will then give the animals time to vacate the property before performing another inspection and filling the remaining holes.
Mice do not have a typical mating season. The animals are active all year-round, and if left unencumbered, they could reproduce rapidly, resulting in an infestation of hundreds of mice. If you suspect you have a mouse family in your home, do not hesitate to contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. A representative will come and assess your property to determine the extent of your wildlife problem and determine a solution.
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