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September 26, 2025
As Maine homeowners know, cold weather means more than just pulling out the snow boots or splitting firewood; it also means mice are on the move. When temperatures drop, these small rodents start looking for warm, sheltered places with easy access to food and water. Unfortunately, that often makes your home the perfect target.
How to Keep Mice Out of Your Maine Home
As Maine homeowners know, cold weather means more than just pulling out the snow boots or splitting firewood; it also means mice are on the move. When temperatures drop, these small rodents start looking for warm, sheltered places with easy access to food and water. Unfortunately, that often makes your home the perfect target.
While a single mouse might not seem like a big deal, mice rarely show up alone. They reproduce quickly, build hidden nests, and can cause far more damage than their size suggests. That’s why prevention is so important, especially before fall and winter set in.
Here’s everything you need to know about why mice invade, the problems they create, and the steps you can take to protect your Maine home.
Why Mice Are a Problem in Maine Homes
Mice may look small and harmless, but they can create costly and dangerous problems once they get inside.
Property Damage
Mice are constant chewers. To keep their teeth filed down, they gnaw on:
- Mice chew on wires, which creates a serious fire hazard.
- They gnaw through insulation and drywall, weakening your home’s structure and efficiency.
- They also damage stored belongings, including clothing, books, furniture, and even family keepsakes.
Health Concerns
Where mice go, they leave droppings, urine, saliva, and nesting materials behind. This contamination can:
- Spread bacteria such as Salmonella
- Aggravate allergies and asthma
- Expose your family to fleas and ticks carried indoors
Hidden Infestations
Mice don’t usually stay in plain sight. They build nests in attics, basements, wall voids, crawl spaces, and garages. By the time you see one scurrying across the kitchen floor, chances are many more are hiding nearby.
How Mice Get Inside
A mouse only needs a gap the size of a dime (about ¼ inch) to squeeze into your house. Common entry points include:
- Cracks in the foundation
- Gaps around windows and doors
- Openings where utilities and pipes enter the home
- Chimneys and attic vents
- Spaces around the roofline or eaves
Maine’s older homes, many of which have weathered decades of cold winters and shifting soil, often develop small cracks and gaps that make easy entryways for mice.
Signs of Mice in Your Home
Spotting a mouse running across the room isn’t the only way to know you have an issue. Be on the lookout for these common warning signs:
- Small, dark droppings in pantries, cupboards, or along baseboards
- Scratching or rustling sounds in walls or ceilings, especially at night
- Gnaw marks on food packaging, wires, or wood
- A musty or ammonia-like odor in enclosed spaces
- Shredded paper, fabric, or insulation used as nesting material
You may even notice your pets staring at the wall or focusing intently on something out of sight; this could indicate mouse activity.
Simple Mouse Prevention Tips for Maine Homeowners
Stopping mice from infesting your home starts by making it less inviting. Here are some practical steps to deter these rodents:
- Seal gaps and cracks: Use caulk, steel wool, or hardware cloth to block openings.
- Protect food sources: Store pantry items, pet food, and bird seed in sealed containers.
- Secure trash: Keep garbage in tightly covered bins.
- Trim landscaping: Cut back tree limbs and shrubs that touch your home and give mice easy access.
- Move firewood: Store woodpiles at least 20 feet from the house.
- Check hidden areas: Basements, attics, crawl spaces, and garages are favorite hiding spots; inspect them regularly.
Professional Mouse Control for Central and Southern Maine Homeowners
Prevention can help, but if mice are already inside, they’re tough to eliminate without professional assistance. Pine State Pest Solutions offers year-round home protection plans designed for Maine homeowners. Our trained team uses a comprehensive process—inspect, identify, develop, treat, and monitor—to protect homes from mice and other house-infesting pests.
Plus, with our Pest Free Guarantee, we’ll return at no extra cost if covered insects or rodents appear between service visits.
Don’t wait for mice to arrive; contact Pine State Pest Solutions today!
*initial start-up fees may apply.
This blog was originally published on January 18, 2018, and has been updated to reflect the most up-to-date information.
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