As temperatures drop, mice head indoors — and they need only a dime-sized gap. Pest pros say these are the five doors they use most.
Gaps Around Pipes and Utility Lines
Where pipes, cables, and gas lines enter, the gaps around them are mouse highways. Terminix says a mouse fits through a dime-sized hole. Seal gaps with copper mesh, then caulk.
Garage Doors That Don’t Seal
The rubber seal under a garage door cracks with age, leaving exactly the gap a mouse needs. Pest pros recommend replacing worn weatherstripping and adding a brush-style door sweep.
Foundation Cracks
Houses settle, and the resulting foundation cracks become ground-level entrances. Walk the perimeter each fall and seal cracks with caulk or cement, checking corners where walls meet the foundation, the NPMA advises.
Dryer Vents and Exhaust Openings
A dryer vent with a broken damper flaps open — an invitation with a warm breeze behind it. Cover exterior vents with quarter-inch hardware cloth, and check that bathroom and range-hood vents close tightly.
Unscreened Chimneys and Attic Vents
Chimneys without caps and unscreened attic vents are rooftop entries most homeowners never check. Install a chimney cap, cover vents with hardware cloth, and trim tree branches touching the roof, since mice use them as bridges.
