The year is winding down. Temperatures are dropping, the holidays are coming up, and we’re all getting ready to (in most cases happily) say good-bye to 2020.

For many pests, the year is winding down, too. Winter is coming. Mosquitos become inactive. Termites dig further and further into the ground, keeping out of most homes.

Not all pests are settling, though. Rats and mice are actually probably heading straight into your Toronto home just about now.

Rats and Mice Breed All Year Long

Did you know that just a select species of wild mice are the only mice that have a specific breeding season (April through September.) It’s true. All other mice and rats, including the ones that want to live in your home, breed all year.

They reach sexual maturity at five to seven weeks, carrying 3 to 12 babies at a time in each litter. The average female mouse can produce up to 10 litters per year in their two- to three-year lifespan. That is a lot of mice.

The worst part? Once you’ve actually noticed that house mice or rats have made their way into your home, there is likely a little there or soon on its way. Pregnant mice only need three weeks to bring another dozen critters into your walls, your attic, or your crawlspace.

You have to take action immediately, and it’s best to ensure your Toronto home is protected all year going forward.

Rodents Are More Likely to Be In Toronto Homes Over Winter

 

So if mice and rats breed all year long, why are Toronto homeowners most likely to see these pests in the colder months?

They simply want to seek a warmer shelter. Mice and rats do not hibernate in the winter. They do, however, seek out warm spaces. If your doors and windows have cracks or your foundation is accessible, mice and rats will find their way in there.

Once mice and rats find a food source (pet food, food that fell behind the oven, etc.) they will build a nest and stay there.

Lofts, attics, and crawl spaces are all ideal places, especially if you have items stored in cardboard boxes! Mice and rats use cardboard and other soft materials to make their nests and get back to breeding.

Controlling Toronto House Mice and Rats on Your Own

Mice and rats are sneaky pests – even if you try to eliminate them all with traps, you might find yourself dealing with their brothers, sisters, and friends. Before you set traps and try to eliminate your current infestation, there are a number of preventative measures you must put into place.

Preventative Measures Come First

Look out for entry points and places where more pests may enter your home. Once you’ve done that, it is important to eliminate moisture sites around your home.

Other steps to take include sealing cracks in the foundation outside, and keeping all foods inside in airtight containers.

All of these steps move you forward in the prevention of future infestations. When prevention measures are already in place, then it’s time to deal with the critters already living inside your home.

Eliminating Current Pests Comes Next

You have seen the “classic” mousetrap, but more traps and devices are available to kill mice (or drive them away from your home.)

Ultrasonic devices, for example, irritate the mice without killing them. Unfortunately, these devices are not as effective as the old-fashioned trap that kills mice.

The key to controlling an infestation with mice and rats is due diligence. Place sticky, smelly foods on the trap and eliminate the rodent as soon as it’s caught. Reuse the traps every few weeks to eliminate all mice. Remember, it only takes three weeks for mice to birth a litter of up to a dozen more.

Need Help? Learn About Our Year-Round Rodent Program

 

At Greenleaf Pest Control, we realize mice and rat control in Toronto all year long is a big job. For this reason, we offer an annual mouse rebaiting program that does more than your average “extermination.”

We work thoroughly to protect you, your home, and the environment at large. Unlike some pest control services, our annual mouse rebaiting program isn’t just a one-time visit.

We come to your home and set live, effective traps in areas where mice are likely to scurry and build nests. At later dates, we return to check the traps and remove any rodents found inside. This process continues until you are 100-percent free of an infestation.

Contact our team to learn more about the rebaiting program and how you can live rodent-free all year.

About the Author:

Daniel Mackie, co-owner of Greenleaf Pest Control, is a Toronto pest control expert and a regular guest on HGTV. He is renowned in the industry as an innovator of safe, effective pest control solutions. Mackie and business partner Sandy Costa were the first pest control professionals in Canada to use detection dogs and thermal remediation for the successful eradication of bed bugs. In his free time, he is an avid gardener.