Living in Southern Ontario brings beautiful seasonal changes — but it also brings rodents indoors. If you’ve been wondering, “Are those sounds in my attic just the wind?”, it’s time to look closer. Discover the three most common signs that mice in your home might already be causing trouble.
If you’re spotting tiny, dark pellets that resemble grains of black rice, you’re likely looking at mouse droppings. These are usually:
1/8 to 1/4 inch long
Rod-shaped with pointed ends
Found along walls, under sinks, in drawers, or near food
Rat droppings, in contrast, are larger, with blunt ends and measure closer to 1/2 to 3/4 inch. They’re often found in basements, attics, and behind appliances.
In Southern Ontario, homes near greenbelts, ravines, or aging infrastructure are particularly vulnerable. When cold weather sets in, mice head indoors — and droppings are the first sign of contamination, disease (like salmonellosis or hantavirus), and nesting activity.
If you’re noticing gnawed cereal boxes, torn rice bags, or shredded granola wrappers, you’re not imagining things. Rodents chew through dry food packaging to reach easy meals.
Why is this common in Southern Ontario?
Fall harvests and bird feeders increase outdoor food availability
As temperatures drop, rodents seek indoor food sources
Older homes often lack fully sealed pantry storage
Chewed packaging signals an active infestation — and poses serious contamination risks for your family.
Mice are nocturnal — which means they come alive when you’re trying to sleep. If you’re hearing:
Scratching or scurrying in walls or ceilings
Thumps in attic spaces
Gnawing near baseboards or behind cabinets
…chances are high you have mice in your home.
They often move along electrical wires or plumbing, especially in homes with crawl spaces, basements, and attics. In Southern Ontario, seasonal shifts drive rodents indoors — and the damage to wiring and insulation can be costly if left unchecked.
Our region has:
A mix of older housing stock with easy access points
Abundant green spaces that serve as rodent highways
Harsh winters that push pests inside
If you’re in Mississauga, Brampton, or near the Credit River, your home could be prime real estate — for mice.
Before it gets worse:
Seal cracks and holes with caulk, steel wool, and wire mesh
Store all food in sealed, rodent-proof containers
Declutter to eliminate nesting zones
Eliminate outdoor food sources (birdseed, compost)
These steps dramatically reduce the odds of mice turning your home into theirs.
DIY efforts work — to a point. But if you:
See multiple droppings daily
Hear constant noise at night
Notice chewed wires or insulation
…it’s time to bring in the experts. At Pest Protection Plus, we offer discreet, fast, and effective rodent control for homes and businesses across Southern Ontario.
Don’t wait until mice in your home turn into damage in your walls.
Learn about our mouse control services:https://pestprotectionplus.com/rodent-control-gta/mouse-control-services/
Here is a helpful video:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/b_lTCXKUPs0
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