Getting rid of mice used to be a simple and straightforward activity. If you suspected an infestation, you would perform a DIY inspection or simply call a professional to do the same. After that, the pest control professional would work their magic and your involvement in the entire process would remain limited to picking up the telephone and dialing the company’s number. That might not be as simple in the future because mice seem to be adapting to climate change remarkably well.

Mice Are Evolving Before Our Very Eyes

According to groundbreaking new research, milder winters have led to physical alterations in two species of mice in Quebec in the past 50 years. The province is home to two main species; the deer mouse and the white-footed mouse.  Scientists believe the physical changes in the mice might be related with competition for food resources between the two species, combined with a dietary shift caused by climate change.

An example is a shift in the position of a molar tooth in both species, which could reflect changes in the type of food that the mice need to chew. The changes can be found in both species but appear to be more pronounced in white-footed mice. Such findings represent documented cases of rapid responses of wildlife to climate change, which could spell trouble for getting rid of mice in the future.

Mice store food like maple keys inside houses to help them survive winter.

Researchers are also observing a rise in the population of white-footed mice in northern areas of Quebec. White-footed mice were not observed in large numbers north of the St. Lawrence River but they estimate that their range is expanding north by 11 kilometres per year due to milder winters. As global temperatures rise, winters start later and end earlier allowing mice more time to stockpile food in the fall and find new food sources earlier in the spring. When well fed, wild animals tend to live longer lives and have larger and healthier litters of babies.

The Importance Of Protecting Your Home From Infestations

While mice will spend spring and summer gathering food to store inside attics and walls. Their activity peaks in the fall when outside temperatures decline and they return to their indoor nests. Here are some of the most common points of entry your home may have:

• Weep vents
• Gaps between building materials
• HVAC and utility lines
• Window and door frames
• Roof vents

Make sure to inspect these areas of your home and ensure they are properly sealed to deny mice access to the inside. If you’re already suffering from an infestation, your safest option is to contact a professional mice control provider like Skedaddle.

Gaps like these around utilities provide easy access for mice into houses.

Need a Pro? There’s No Better Choice Than Skedaddle

In addition to being damaging pests, mice also carry a number of diseases dangerous to humans and their presence around your home or property is a huge red flag. Getting rid of mice is not something you should consider an interesting weekend chore; it’s an urgent and dangerous job. Luckily, Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control has more than two decades of experience when it comes to humane wildlife removal techniques and methods. Having helped thousands of homeowners to date, Skedaddle is at your disposal for any type of infestation you might be battling. Get in touch with Skedaddle today and ensure your home is mice-free and mice-proof at the same time.