Summer is supposed to be a time for outdoor fun—not an invitation for mice to move into your home. But when dry, hot weather hits Toronto, that’s exactly what can happen. A summer drought removes the things mice need to survive outside: water, food, and cool shelter. Without these resources, they start looking elsewhere. Your home quickly becomes a very appealing option.
Mice are resourceful. They can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime and travel along walls, pipes, and foundations to reach your living spaces. Once inside, they can chew wires, damage insulation, and leave behind harmful droppings. The good news? Understanding why they come in is the first step to stopping them.
In this blog, we cover the main reasons summer drought drives mice indoors, what they’re looking for once they get there, and how our team at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Toronto can help protect your home.
What Are Mice Looking For in a House?
Mice are looking for three basic things: food, water, and shelter. Outside, nature usually provides all three. During a summer drought, however, natural resources dry up fast. Food becomes scarce, water sources disappear, and the ground gets too hot and dry for comfortable nesting.
Your home offers everything they’ve lost. Cool temperatures, hidden wall voids for nesting, a kitchen full of food scraps, and running water from pipes and sinks. Once mice find their way in, they tend to stay—especially if conditions outside remain harsh.
In addition to providing a comfortable environment for mice, homes also offer them protection from predators. While in the wild, these rodents are often hunted by snakes, birds of prey, and other animals. In a home setting, they can safely scurry around without fear of being attacked.
The Ways Summer Drought Pushes Mice Indoors
Hot, dry summers change the outdoor environment in ways that make your home look like the perfect refuge. Here are the main reasons drought conditions send mice looking for a way inside:
Escaping the Heat
When outdoor temperatures climb, mice need to find cooler ground—literally. Their small bodies overheat quickly, and the sun-baked soil offers very little relief.
- Soil Becomes Too Hot and Dry for Nesting: Mice that normally burrow in the ground find their usual spots uncomfortably warm and hard to dig into. This forces them to seek out cooler, more stable environments.
- Air-Conditioned Homes Offer a Welcome Escape: The difference in temperature between a drought-stricken yard and a cool basement can be dramatic. Mice instinctively follow the drop in temperature toward your home.
- Damp, Shaded Spaces Become Highly Attractive: Utility rooms, crawlspaces, and basements stay cool even on the hottest days. These are some of the first spots mice will explore once they find a way inside.
The Search for Water
According to Rob Caron of Orkin Pest Control, drought conditions in Ottawa led to a 20–25% increase in mice-related service calls during the summer of 2018. Mice, he noted, “prefer to live outdoors but will seek shelter indoors when they can’t find water outside.” The same pattern plays out across Toronto every dry summer.
Water is even more critical than food for mice. During a drought, puddles dry up, streams shrink, and morning dew disappears. When natural water sources are gone, mice follow their noses toward the next best option—your home.
- Leaky Pipes and Dripping Faucets Become Prime Targets: A slow drip under your kitchen sink provides enough water to attract these animals from the surrounding area. They will return to that spot repeatedly.
- Pet Water Bowls are a Major Draw: Dishes left out overnight offer a reliable source of water that mice can access again and again without much effort. Consider elevating pet dishes or emptying them before bedtime.
- Roof Leaks and Foundation Cracks can Create Standing Water: Check your home for any signs of water damage, especially in the roof and foundation. If you find any leaks or cracks, address them immediately to prevent standing water from attracting mice.
- Gutters and Drainage Systems must be Kept Clean: Mice are attracted to clogged gutters and drainage systems because they create pools of stagnant water. Make sure to regularly clean these areas to avoid creating a welcoming environment for rodents.
- Condensation Near Appliances Provides Hidden Moisture: Air conditioning units, refrigerators, and washing machines all produce small amounts of water. Mice are excellent at locating these hidden sources.
Declining Natural Food Sources
Drought doesn’t just dry out the land—it also kills off the natural food supply that mice depend on. Seeds, berries, insects, and plant matter all become harder to find when the ground is parched.
- Gardens and Green Spaces Produce Less Food: Dry conditions mean fewer seeds, less vegetation, and fewer insects for mice to feed on outdoors. Their usual sources simply stop being reliable.
- Food inside Your Home Becomes an Easy Alternative: Pet food, pantry items, and even small crumbs on the counter become major attractions. These rodents are opportunistic feeders and won’t pass up a consistent meal.
- Mice Can Smell Food from a Considerable Distance: Their sharp sense of smell leads them directly to your kitchen, even through walls and foundation gaps they’ve never used before. They simply follow the scent, which becomes stronger as they get closer to your home.
Soil Shrinkage Opens Up Entry Points
Here’s something many homeowners don’t realise: drought can physically change your home’s structure. As dry soil shrinks and pulls away from your foundation, existing cracks can widen and new gaps can form.
Mice can fit through an opening as small as a dime. Older Toronto homes—many of which already have small cracks in fieldstone or brick foundations—become especially vulnerable during dry stretches. Soil shrinkage also affects the areas around utility lines and pipes, creating entry points that weren’t there before summer began.
Increased Activity Near Your Home
Summer is naturally a busy time for mice. Populations are growing, young mice are searching for new territory, and the entire colony is highly active. Add drought pressure on top of that, and you get a sharp rise in mice movement near residential properties.
These rodents follow scent trails, utility lines, and plumbing routes right to your door. They travel along fence lines and through dense garden beds. Once one mouse finds a way in, others tend to follow. A small problem in midsummer can grow quickly if it’s left unaddressed.
As professional and reliable pest control experts, we understand the challenges that come with dealing with a mouse infestation. Not only can these rodents cause damage to your property and belongings, but they also carry diseases and pose health risks to you and your family.
Mice in Toronto Homes
Toronto’s mix of older Victorian homes, dense urban neighbourhoods, and green ravine corridors creates ideal conditions for mice activity—especially during dry summers. Older homes often have small gaps around pipes, worn weatherstripping, and aging foundations that are easy for mice to exploit. The city’s extensive ravine network provides natural travel routes, allowing mice to move freely through neighbourhoods without much disruption.
Summer drought adds extra pressure to this already challenging environment. When the parks, laneways, and green spaces that these rodents call home dry out, the surrounding houses become the next destination. In search of water, mice will venture into residential areas and find their way into homes. This can lead to an increase in infestations during the summer months.
To prevent rodents from entering your home, it’s important to take proactive measures such as sealing any potential entry points, keeping food sources contained, and regularly inspecting your property for signs of mouse activity. However, if you do find yourself dealing with a mouse infestation, it’s best to seek our professional help as soon as possible.
Protecting Your Home: Let Skedaddle Handle It
If you suspect mice are finding their way into your home, the safest step is to call a professional right away. Do not attempt to handle droppings, block entry points yourself, or disturb any nesting areas. Rodents can carry harmful bacteria, and improper handling puts you and your family at risk.
Our team at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control uses a thorough inspection process to identify exactly how and where mice are getting in. We seal entry points and install one-way doors that allow mice to exit your home without being able to re-enter. Our approach is humane, effective, and built for long-term results.
In addition to removing mice from your home, we also offer preventative measures to keep them from returning. This includes identifying and addressing any areas of your home that may be attracting mice, such as food sources or cluttered spaces. We can also provide valuable advice on how to mouse-proof your home in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do mice get into my home during the summer?
Mice enter through small cracks, gaps around pipes, worn weatherstripping, and openings along the foundation. During a summer drought, soil shrinkage can widen these gaps, making entry even easier. A mouse can fit through an opening as small as a dime.
Are mice more active in summer or winter?
These rodents are active year-round, but they tend to move indoors most during times of environmental stress—including both cold winters and dry summers. Drought conditions can trigger indoor migration just as cold weather does.
What are the signs of mice in my home?
Common signs include droppings along walls and inside cabinets, gnaw marks on food packaging or wood, scratching sounds inside walls at night, and a musky odour in enclosed spaces.
Can mice cause serious damage to my home?
Yes. These rodents chew on electrical wiring, insulation, and wood framing. This can create fire hazards and costly structural damage over time. Addressing the problem early significantly reduces the risk of serious harm.
Is it safe to clean up mice droppings on my own?
No. Mice droppings can carry harmful bacteria and viruses. If you find droppings in your home, do not touch them. Contact a professional team to handle the cleanup safely and thoroughly.
Why are there more mice in my neighbourhood this summer?
A dry summer reduces available food and water outdoors, pushing more mice toward residential areas. Drought years consistently see higher levels of rodent activity in and around Toronto homes.
Your Home Deserves Better Than Unwanted Guests
A summer drought is tough on everyone—including mice. When the outdoors dries up, your home becomes their next destination. Heat, thirst, hunger, and new entry points all work together to draw them inside, often faster than you’d expect.
The most effective way to protect your home is to have a professional team inspect it before mice become established. Our wildlife technicians at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Toronto are trained to find entry points you might never spot on your own. We take care of the problem completely, so you don’t have to worry about it.
Request an estimate today and let our team help you keep your home protected—no matter what the season brings. Our services are reliable and our team is dedicated to providing professional, humane solutions for all your wildlife control needs. Don’t wait until it’s too late, contact us today!
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