Do house mice hibernate and how to catch them
We don’t know about you, but we’d love to be able to hibernate in the winter, waking up again when the weather’s less cold and miserable!
But what about mice? Do house mice hibernate, or are they still just as active during the colder months?
To answer this question, we first need to explain the difference between torpor and true hibernation…
The Myth of Mice Hibernation: Understanding Torpor
Hibernation is a common (and voluntary) tactic that many species use to survive during the colder months. After storing fat to help them survive, hibernating creatures will enter what’s commonly described as a deep sleep.
Their metabolic rate, body temperature and heart rate will drop, and their breathing will slow right down. Depending on the species, this state of hibernation can last days, weeks or even months – and some may wake occasionally to eat, drink or defecate. Because this uses so much of their energy reserves, though, this doesn’t happen often.
Do house mice hibernate? The simple answer is no: hedgehogs, dormice and bats are the only three UK mammals that enter a state of true hibernation. Instead, mice rely on something called torpor to get them through the winter.
Unlike hibernation, torpor is involuntary. Like hibernation, it involves lowered metabolic rate, body temperature and heart and breathing rates. However, it only lasts a short period of time – sometimes as little as a few hours. Because mice have such a quick metabolism and a low ability to store fat, they rely on torpor to get them through the winter.
Torpor can make mice even more vulnerable to predators. This means that during the winter they’re more inclined than ever to find safe, warm places with a reliable food and drink supply to shelter – and these include your house.
Preparing Your Home to Prevent Winter Mice Infestations
Your home is an incredibly attractive place for mice during the winter. With your heating on it’ll give them the warmth they need to survive. There are plenty of things that can steal to build nests. Even unintentionally, you give them easy access to food and water supplies.
The problem is, though, that they can cause damage and spread disease – and their numbers can quickly multiply. What’s more, they can also return to the same nesting site again and again – which is why it’s important to be proactive all year round.
Check your property carefully for potential entry points – mice can squeeze through even the smallest of gaps. Be sure to keep all food in sealed containers – and the same goes for any household waste.
Finally, keep your garden clean and tidy to reduce hiding spots, and reduce access to as many materials that could be used for nesting as possible. Of course, mice are determined creatures and may still find a way in – which is why you also need to keep your eyes and ears peeled for signs of mouse activity in the colder months.
There are many ways that you can identify mouse activity in your home during the winter months:
- Sightings: Spotting mice, whether alive or dead
- Droppings: Dark in colour and around 3-8mm long, you’ll often see these along skirting boards or inside cupboards.
- Noises: Scrabbling or scratching noises – especially at night – could be mice. These sounds may be heard inside partition walls, under floorboards, or in attics or basements.
- Nests: These will often be located in the same places you may hear noises – or even behind fridges, in airing cupboards or behind your oven. They’ll generally be made from shredded soft materials.
- Ammonia smells: Mice urinate often – and the ammonia smell it causes can linger for a long time.
- Grease spots: A mouse’s fur is very oily. When they brush past walls, skirting boards or furniture, these oils can leave greasy marks.
- Damage: As well as gnaw marks, mice can get into your food, damaging its packaging and causing spoilage.
If any of these apply to you, it may be time to call in mice pest control services.
Effective Mice Control Strategies by Pest Stop Boys
At Pest Stop Boys, our focus is on providing bespoke solutions – whether it’s to tackle an existing mice pest control problem or to prevent mice from gaining access to your property in the future.
Our expert team will assess your property, both inside and out, before proofing any areas we believe to be potential access points. This also includes the hard-to-reach areas you may not have considered – or may not be able to reach!
If you already have a mice pest control issue, don’t worry: we’re here to help. In line with industry codes of practice we prefer treatments that are highly effective and also non-toxic, meaning you don’t need to worry about the genuine occupants of your home. No need to worry about nosy neighbours either: our vans are unmarked for discretion.
When to Seek Professional Mice Pest Control Services
You may be tempted to resolve mouse infestations yourself…but remember, over-the-counter solutions aren’t always effective, and even if you manage to kill a few, it’s likely that there are far more still hiding in their nest. By calling in the experts from Pest Stop Boys you can be sure that your mouse issue is eradicated completely, safely and efficiently.
When you spot any of the signs we’ve mentioned above – the smells, the droppings, the damage, the noise – it’s a sign that the mice have already moved in. Simply proofing your property at this point just won’t work. It’s time for expert mouse pest control services.
Give us a call or fill in our online form and we’ll get rid of your unwanted visitors – as well as proofing your home against them returning in the future. Whatever season it is, a mouse infestation is possible – and as they breed all year round, it’s a problem that can grow at a rapid rate. We’re here to help you resolve the issue before it becomes even more serious.
