How to Keep Animals from Getting Into Your Cottage Over the Winter

An empty, quiet cottage looks a lot like shelter to a mouse, squirrel, or raccoon once the weather turns. A bit of prevention in the fall is far easier than dealing with an infestation come spring.

Start on the outside with a slow walk around the whole building, looking for gaps. Mice can fit through an opening the size of a dime, so check where pipes, wires, or vents enter the building, around window frames, and along the foundation. Steel wool or a proper mesh cover works well for small gaps, since animals can chew through simple caulking.

Chimneys and vents need a cap or screen if they don’t already have one, and any roof or soffit vents should be checked for damage that could let something in. Woodpiles stacked against the building are worth moving a short distance away too, since they’re a common entry point and an attractive nesting spot.

Inside, empty the fridge and cupboards completely rather than leaving anything that could draw attention, and take out the garbage rather than leaving it for the season. Some owners also set a few traps as a precaution, even with no signs of a problem, simply because it’s easier to deal with the odd mouse than a full nest that’s had all winter to grow.

If you’ve had animal trouble in past years, it’s worth having a pest control company do a proper inspection before you close up. Finding the entry point once usually solves the problem for good.

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