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Keeping House Mice Outside this Winter

Keeping house mice outside during the winter months can be a challenging but essential task to prevent them from invading your home. Here are some tips to help you keep mice at bay:

1. Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home thoroughly for any cracks, gaps, or holes that mice could use to enter. Seal these entry points with caulk, weatherstripping, or steel wool. Pay close attention to areas around doors, windows, pipes, and vents.
2. Keep a Tidy Yard: Mice are attracted to cluttered and overgrown outdoor spaces. Keep your yard well-maintained by trimming vegetation and removing debris like woodpiles and trash. This makes your property less attractive to mice.
3. Store Food Securely: Store birdseed, pet food, and any other potential food sources in airtight containers. Mice are drawn to readily available food, so depriving them of this resource will discourage them from hanging around.
4. Remove Outdoor Nesting Sites: Clear out any potential nesting sites around your home, such as tall grass, shrubbery, and piles of leaves. Mice seek shelter in these areas, especially during the winter.
5. Install Motion-Activated Lights: Mice are nocturnal creatures, and they prefer darkness. Installing motion-activated lights around your property can deter them by exposing their movements.
6. Use Natural Repellents: Some natural repellents, such as peppermint oil, may help deter mice from your outdoor spaces. Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them in areas where mice might enter.
7. Employ Traps and Bait Stations: Set up traps and bait stations around the perimeter of your home, especially near potential entry points. Check these regularly and dispose of any trapped mice safely.
8. Keep Garbage Bins Secure: Ensure that your outdoor garbage bins have tight-fitting lids. Mice are attracted to food scraps and garbage, so make it as difficult as possible for them to access these resources.
9. Maintain Good Hygiene: Clean up outdoor eating areas, such as patios and decks, to eliminate food remnants that might attract mice. Also, keep compost piles covered and well-maintained.
10. Consider Professional Pest Control: If you have a persistent mouse problem, it may be worth hiring a professional pest control service. They can assess your property and implement effective measures to keep mice outside.

Remember that prevention is key when it comes to keeping mice out of your home during the winter. By following these tips and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce the chances of a mouse infestation in your living space.