Good Lifestyle

That you diverted guests for a outdoor party , relaxing on your terrace with a book or working in your garden, your courtyard can serve as personal oasis - and you probably want to keep it so. Unfortunately, this space can also act as a paradise for parasites, especially mice, which can then easily find their way in your home. You don't know what could bring these critters? We have consulted pest experts to discover what things in your court can attract mice to your home. Continue to read to find out more about these mouse magnets.

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8 things in your court that attract mice

1. Bird sheets

If you have a bird feeder around your home, it can attract more than Robins and Bluejays. Megan Cavanaugh , an expert in antiparasitic and co -owner of Well -made pest solutions , previously told Better life that these too Rodent .

"Nuts and seeds are a favorite mouse food," she said. "Mice, like all animals, are always looking for food sources. If you have a food source in or around your home, they will be attracted."

Because the birds that these feeders attract do not tend to attack the mouse, the food source becomes a safe and easy stop for mice to take a free meal. Therefore, all bird feeders must be staged at 25 feet of structures, according to Jim Mchale , president of JP Mchale Pest Management .

2. Compost

Composting is a great way to produce organic fertilizers at home while keeping your waste out of discharges. But this pile of compost can also attract mice, according to The lawn group . First of all, it provides shelter. Second, it serves as a food source, they explain.

To reduce the chances of attracting mice into your battery, they suggest investing in a robust plastic compost cup that lifts your compost from the floor and locks it in a room that rodents cannot enter. (In addition, this method will bring your compost to the rich fertilizer phase.) And again, keep the composting zones at a safety distance from your home.

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3. Natural clutter

"A global theme to fight against the invasion of rodents is to reduce excess vegetation, frequent mowing, weed management and reduction in growth around" ecotone "areas (the area where the area of Managed lawn ends and the wooded area begins) ", explains Mchale.

The mice particularly revolve towards debris like twigs and leaves to find refuge with predators. Getting rid of all the excess will send them elsewhere to find a blanket.

If the mice integrate into the residence outside, it does not always mean that they will move inside, but it certainly increases the chances.

4. Animal food

Meg Pearson , director of training at Trutech Wildlife Service , Explains that mice are foragers and will look for opportunities to eat wherever they go. They don't necessarily care about what they eat, and pet food is as good as anything.

This follows the same logic as the bird feeder: the food you have for other animals makes an excellent snack for hungry mice, so keep it content. Mchale advises to store pet food in sealed plastic containers. This is particularly important if you keep it in your garage or basement, the places where mice tend to hide.

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5. Open with cost

Just as mice can find food in piles of compost or bird feeders, they can find it in non -sealed trash cans. Replace such bins with those with locking covers. In addition to ensuring that all waste is contained, Mchale suggests keeping the bins in a closed garage for additional precaution.

6. Non -sealed cracks and holes

Once you have inspected the items in your courtyard, check the outside of your home for cracks or exterior holes through which rodents can enter. The mice can sneak through holes as small as a quarter of a thumb, explains Pearson. Give yourself the best possible chances to keep them away by sealing all potential entry points, including vents, windows or chimneys - with a mesh or calculating. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

"Because mice have powerful teeth and are very motivated by available food and hot shelter, they can also easily create holes or enlarge the existing holes to penetrate," explains Pearson. She adds that they can climb textured vertical surfaces and jump more than one foot from the ground.

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7. Construction

If you are building or renovating, you could attract mice without knowing it, especially since they generally live in dirt.

"The new development causes digging in the ground, which often means that the mice leave their previous house and rather seek a new house like your home or your surroundings," said Sebastian Jania , Owner of Ontario properties buyers .

8. Standing water

Like mosquitoes, mice are attracted to stagnant water and benefit from dark and humid spaces. Any excess humidity of a storm, a fleeing hose, or especially everyone, a water fountain, could get more out of these rodents.

If there is not enough water in the courtyard, it is likely that the mice can go inside your house afterwards. "It is for this reason that if you are going to leave a vacant house, it is incredibly important to keep water out of time," shares Jania.

If you make mice spotted in your courtyard, Pearson says you want to act quickly, "because they can easily contaminate human food and water supplies." In these situations, it is always advisable to call a professional.