A mouse does not need an open door. A gap the width of a pencil is enough, and it does not wait for the first freeze. Bug Zero handles rodent control across Southwest and Southeast Missouri, and September is when the calls pick up. Here is how mice get into houses, and how to keep mice out of your house before winter.
How Small a Gap Can a Mouse Get Through?
About a quarter of an inch. If a pencil fits through the gap, a mouse fits through the gap.
A house mouse has a flexible skull and a body built to compress, and it gnaws any opening that is slightly too small. Mice also climb brick, siding, and downspouts, so mouse entry points are not limited to ground level.
Where Mice Get Into a House
- Gaps around pipes, cables, and utility lines entering the wall
- Dryer vents and crawl space vents with damaged or missing screens
- The bottom corners of garage doors, where the seal pulls away
- Worn thresholds and missing door sweeps
- Foundation cracks and gaps where siding meets the foundation
- Soffit and roofline gaps, reached by climbing a downspout or overhanging limb
When Do Mice Come Inside in Missouri?
Late September through November. Entry starts when nights drop into the 50s, not when days do, so mice are already moving while Missouri afternoons still feel like summer.
A female house mouse produces five to ten litters a year, and those pups breed at six to ten weeks old. A pair that gets in during September is a population by Christmas.
Signs of Mice in Your House
- Droppings the size of a rice grain, dark and pointed, along walls and in cabinets
- Gnaw marks on food packaging, baseboards, and stored boxes
- Greasy rub marks along baseboards, left by oil in their fur
- Scratching in walls or ceilings after dark
- Shredded paper, insulation, or fabric tucked into corners
Not sure whether you have mice or rats? Droppings and gnaw damage tell the difference.
Why Traps Do Not Solve It
Traps deal with the mouse in your kitchen. They do nothing about the opening it used or the ones behind it. Keeping mice out of your house comes down to two things: sealing the structure and controlling the population outside before it reaches the wall.
Rodent Control in Springfield and Cape Girardeau
For Bug Zero customers across Southwest and Southeast Missouri, rodent control is built into InsectaShield®, Bug Zero’s year-round pest service, at no additional cost. Tamper-resistant rodent stations are placed around the perimeter of the home, designed so the bait cannot be shaken out and stays safe around children and pets.
- Year-round coverage, every other month (6 services per year)
- General pests: ants, spiders, silverfish, crickets, centipedes, earwigs
- Rodent control (mice), including tamper-resistant exterior rodent stations
- Termite monitoring and spot treatments at no additional cost
- Add-ons available: Japanese beetles, brown recluses, snakes, fleas
Core service starts at $120/service for most homes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How small a hole can a mouse fit through?
When do mice come into Missouri homes?
Do mice go away on their own?
If I see one mouse, does that mean there are more?
Does Bug Zero treat for mice in Springfield and Cape Girardeau?
What Bug Zero Customers Are Saying
“Dylan came to my house today to administer my first service. He was extremely thorough, knowledgeable, confident in what he needed to do, and was very pleasant to interact with. I cannot think of anything more that could have been done to make me feel more satisfied. I’m glad that I chose Bug Zero.”
January H. | Southwest Missouri
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Shut the Door Before They Move In
Mice are looking for a way in while it still feels like summer. InsectaShield® is available now across all Bug Zero locations in Southwest and Southeast Missouri.
Springfield Area: (417) 831-7378
Cape Girardeau Area: (573) 803-7828