Mice are opportunistic eaters who can survive on surprisingly little, but their dietary habits often lead them straight to your kitchen. If you’ve been noticing signs of mouse activity recently, it might be because you’ve inadvertently rolled out the red carpet for them. Food that attracts mice includes grains, seeds, fruits, and even high-carb treats. 

By understanding what mice eat and how to prevent mice in your kitchen, you can take steps to safeguard your home here in Pickering. With our team of experts in wildlife control here at Skedaddle, your home can stay rodent-free!

What Mice Eat

Mice are adaptable and resourceful when it comes to finding food. While they’re commonly thought to have a particular fondness for cheese, their actual preferences paint a different picture.

1. Seeds and Grains: Mice inherently gravitate towards seeds and grains. Whether it’s a bag of birdseed in the garage or an open box of cereal in the pantry, these carbohydrate-rich foods are prime targets. Mice chew through cardboard boxes and plastic packaging effortlessly, so even sealed containers might not be entirely safe unless they’re made of hard plastic or metal.
2. Fruits and Vegetables: Don’t assume that fruits and veggies are off their radar. Mice love the natural sugars in fruit. Apples, bananas, and even tomatoes left on countertops can act as magnets for these tiny invaders.
3. High-Carb Foods: Interestingly, mice show a preference for carb-heavy treats like bread, crackers, and even cookies. Left unprotected, these items can quickly become a mouse’s dinner.
4. Protein and Fats: While less common, when other options are scarce, mice search for protein and fat sources. This includes peanut butter, meat scraps, and even pet food left in bowls overnight.
5. Non-Food Items: Mice are also notorious for gnawing on non-food items like cardboard, paper, and drywall. While these materials don’t provide nutritional value, they serve as essential components for building nests.

Why Understanding Their Diet Matters  

Knowing what mice are attracted to can help you make smarter decisions about the way you store food and manage household waste. Simple precautions like using airtight containers and cleaning up food spills immediately can significantly decrease the likelihood of mice being drawn to your home.

Prevent Mice In The Kitchen

Now that we know what mice eat, how can we prevent them from turning your kitchen into an all-you-can-eat buffet? Establishing proactive prevention measures is key, and these steps are a great starting point for keeping our Pickering homes mouse-free.

1. Store Food Securely  

Ensure that all food, whether for human consumption or pets, is stored in airtight, chew-proof containers. Glass and metal work best, as mice can gnaw through softer materials like cardboard and plastic. This applies to everything from pantry staples to bags of pet food or birdseed stored in the garage.

2. Clean Regularly  

Mice are excellent scavengers, often surviving on crumbs and food debris. Wipe down countertops daily, sweep and mop floors regularly, and clean the spaces under appliances where crumbs frequently fall. Pay special attention to hard-to-reach areas where food scraps can accumulate unnoticed.

3. Dispose of Waste Properly  

Uncovered garbage bins can quickly attract mice. Use bins with tight-fitting lids, and empty them frequently. If you compost, make sure your compost bin is fully sealed to prevent access.

4. Seal Entry Points  

A mouse only needs an opening as small as 6 millimetres to gain access to your home. Inspect your home’s foundation, windows, and doors for gaps or cracks, and seal them with steel wool or caulking to keep mice out. Pay extra attention to weep vents, as mice often use these as entryways.

5. Mind the Clutter  

Cluttered areas offer mice both food sources and a place to hide. Organize your pantry, storage rooms, and other clutter-prone areas regularly. This makes it harder for mice to find a secluded space to nest.

6. Check the Outdoor Perimeter  

The exterior of your home can be just as inviting to mice as the inside. Remove potential food sources like fallen fruits, grains from bird feeders, or pet food left outdoors. Plus, trim back vegetation near your home’s foundation to reduce hiding spots for mice near potential entry points.

These practical steps can make a significant difference in keeping mice out of your kitchen and home. Proactively addressing areas of vulnerability ensures your living space remains secure.

Food That Attracts Mice

From a mouse’s perspective, your kitchen is often a smorgasbord of delights. Knowing which foods are the most appealing can help guide your preventive measures. Here’s a breakdown of the top items mice find irresistible:

• Unsealed Grains and Cereals

Open cereal boxes or rice bags are prime targets.

• Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Baskets of fruit sitting out on counters are a major draw for these tiny scavengers.

• Leftovers and Crumbs

A single piece of leftover pizza or crumbs from a sandwich can sustain a mouse for days.

• Grease and Oil Residue

Spills on stovetops or counters are often overlooked but attract mice just as much as food scraps.

• Pet Food

Bowls of kibble, whether indoors or outdoors, are an easy source of nutrition for mice.

Identifying and addressing these food sources is crucial for discouraging visits from mice. Even one unsealed bag of rice could be the reason mice keep returning.

Mice in Pickering

Living in Pickering provides residents with their fair share of perks, from stunning waterfront areas like Frenchman’s Bay to a strong sense of community. However, it’s important to remember that even here, mice can find their way into our homes, especially during seasonal changes when they seek shelter and food. A clean, mouse-proof kitchen is essential for keeping these unwanted visitors at bay.

At Skedaddle, we’ve seen firsthand just how effectively proactive prevention can protect households in Pickering. By focusing on simple yet strategic measures, residents can enjoy peace of mind and a mouse-free home.

How Can Skedaddle Help?

At Skedaddle, we specialize in humane wildlife control solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of your home. Our team of highly trained technicians uses a proven method that not only removes mice safely but also prevents the problem from recurring. We begin with a comprehensive assessment of your property, identifying entry points and problem areas that might be inviting rodents into your space. Once identified, we seal off these entry points with durable, long-lasting materials to ensure pests cannot return.

Additionally, we believe in educating our clients on preventative measures to maintain a rodent-free home. By combining our expertise with your commitment to prevention, we create a safer living environment for you and your family. With Skedaddle, you can trust you’re in reliable hands, committed to delivering professional and lasting solutions.

Take Action Today  

If you’re noticing signs of mouse activity in your kitchen or want to make your home less inviting to mice, now’s the time to act. At Skedaddle, we specialize in safe, permanent solutions to keep your home mouse-free. Don’t wait for the problem to escalate. Contact us today and take the first step toward a secure, mouse-proof kitchen.