What Rodents Do During Winter

Serving Pompano Beach, Boynton Beach, and surrounding areas

Winter is a tough time for rodents. It’s cold outside and food gets scarce. To stay alive during winter, mice and rats will find a place to hunker down, conserve their energy, and avoid predators. Unfortunately for you, your property has everything they need to survive – food, water, and shelter.

What exactly do rodents do during winter, and how can you protect your property from them? The Petri Pest Control Services, Inc. team is here with valuable information to help you secure your home or business against rodents.

Common Places Rodents Shelter in Winter

Rodents aren’t picky about where they settle in. They’re just looking for somewhere warm and dry with nearby food and water supplies. You might find them in any of the following places:

• Underground burrows. Some rodents dig underground to escape cold temperatures.
• Attics. These are a perfect combination of shelter and safety, and are often near food and water sources. On top of that, there is usually abundant nesting material stored here.
• Basements and crawl spaces. These areas provide shelter and easy access to the rest of the structure. People are also unlikely to venture here.
• Inside walls. The insulation provides warmth, and the walls provide safety and easy access to the rest of the home.
• Garages and sheds. These are secluded areas with plenty of available nesting material. Stored pet food or bird seed provides easy nutrition.
• Under appliances. It’s warm underneath your stove or fridge, and there is food and water nearby.
• Outbuildings. Barns, chicken coops, and storage sheds are out of the way and provide easy food access, shelter, and nesting material.

Do Rats and Mice Hibernate During the Winter?

No, rats and mice do not hibernate. They spend most of their time hidden away, conserving energy, and will only venture out to forage when they need food. They will stockpile food during fall so they won’t have to leave as frequently during winter. Their metabolic rates also slow down in cold weather, which makes it easier for them to conserve energy and makes their food stores last longer.

Why Are Rodents More Common in the Winter?

Rodents don’t get more common during winter, but it might seem that way since they move indoors to stay warm. During the rest of the year, rodents are more likely to stay outdoors, but when the weather cools down, they look for a warm place to stay and a safe place to forage. Their natural food sources, such as seeds and insects, become less available. That’s why they turn to human food for sustenance. During winter, rodents are closer at hand than ever, and they depend more heavily on us for food; therefore, they might seem like they’re everywhere you look.

Winter Rodent Control in South Florida

Rodent activity indoors can become more noticeable as temperatures cool and rats and mice look for food and shelter. Petri Pest Control provides professional rodent control throughout South Florida to address current activity and help reduce the risk of future problems.

Give us a call to get started with a free estimate today!