Garages offer mice door gaps, residual warmth, cardboard, and stored food. Prevention works best when door sealing and exclusion are combined with closed storage and regular checks for new signs of activity.
Check for daylight around the garage door
With the door closed during daylight, look for light along the bottom and sides. A damaged bottom seal or corner gap can create a direct route even when the rest of the door appears to fit well.
Seal utility penetrations and wall joints
Inspect pipes, cables, vents, and the joint between slab and wall. Use mesh or other rodent-resistant materials where appropriate; soft foam alone can be easy for mice to chew through.
Store seed and food in hard-sided containers
Pet food, bird seed, and dry goods attract activity even when the original bag is closed. Hard-sided containers with tight lids reduce accessible food and make gnawing or tampering easier to notice.
Reduce cardboard clutter and inspect quiet corners
Cardboard stacked along walls creates shelter and hidden travel lanes. Elevate items where practical, leave inspection space along edges, and respond to the first droppings before activity spreads into the home.
Sources
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Integrated Pest Management — Integrated pest management using sanitation, exclusion, monitoring, and targeted control.