In Illinois, seeing combines move through the cornfields is a sure sign of autumn. For many of us in farming towns or suburbs, harvest time is a beautiful season. However, it also marks a massive move for local wildlife.
As the stalks are cut down, thousands of field mice suddenly lose their food and their protection. These rodents start looking for a new place to stay before the harsh Midwestern winter arrives.
Your garage is often the first and most convenient stop on their journey. While a few mice might seem like a small issue, they can quickly damage your stored items and vehicles.
Reliable Pest Solutions specializes in protecting Illinois homes from these post-harvest invasions, making sure your garage does not become a winter hotel for the local mouse population.
The Great Illinois Field Mouse Move
Field mice spend most of the summer living a quiet life in the tall corn and soybean rows. These fields provide them with plenty of grain and places to hide from predators. When the harvest begins, their entire world is turned upside down in a few hours.
The heavy machines remove their cover, and the spilled grain is quickly eaten by birds. The sudden lack of shelter makes the mice feel very exposed.
Because Illinois nights turn chilly fast in October, these mice have a strong drive to find warmth. They look toward the nearest buildings, which are usually local homes and garages.
Why the Garage is the Perfect Target
For a mouse coming out of a cold field, a garage is like a luxury apartment. It is usually the easiest part of the house to enter. Many Illinois garages have small gaps under the door or around the side entrance.
Mice only need a space the size of a dime to squeeze through. Once they are inside, they find plenty of nesting materials. They love the cardboard boxes we use for storage and the insulation in our walls.
The garage is also a quiet area with very little foot traffic. This allows them to build nests and start having babies without being disturbed.
Protecting Your Cars from Rodent Damage
One of the biggest risks of having mice in your Illinois garage is the damage they do to cars. Mice love to crawl into engine bays because they stay warm after the car is parked. Once inside, they often chew on the wiring.
Many modern cars use wire coatings made from soy, which actually smell like food to a hungry rodent. Repairing chewed wires can cost thousands of dollars. They may also tear up the fabric of your car seats to make nests in the glove box.
If you have a classic car stored for the winter, it is at an even higher risk. Keeping mice out of the garage is the only way to keep your vehicles safe.
Sealing the Entry Points for Winter
To protect your Illinois garage from a mouse invasion, start by inspecting your property for potential entry points. Pay close attention to the rubber seals at the bottom of your garage door, as these often crack and allow rodents to squeeze inside.
You should also check your foundation for small gaps and plug them with steel wool, which acts as a permanent barrier mice cannot chew through. Removing tall grass and woodpiles near your walls further discourages pests from nesting.
If the local corn harvest has pushed rodents toward your home, Reliable Pest Solutions is ready to assist. Their team specializes in the unique rodent challenges faced by Midwest homeowners.
They provide professional inspections and customized plans to keep your property rodent-free throughout the entire winter season.