It usually starts after the first real cold snap. You hear something moving above the ceiling at night, or you find droppings next to the dog food in the garage. We hear it every winter from families in McKinney, Allen, Frisco, Plano, Prosper, and Melissa.
Back in October we put together a fall walk-around checklist to keep mice out. This post picks up where that one left off: the attic, the garage, and why newer homes aren't off the hook.
Why Mice Move In When It Turns Cold
Rodents are around all year, but they move indoors in bigger numbers during the cooler months. Mice don't hibernate. When the fields, greenbelts, and construction lots around us get cold, they go looking for warmth, food, and a quiet place to nest, like a warm attic or a cluttered garage.
A mouse can squeeze through a gap about the size of a dime, so an opening that looks like nothing to us is a front door to them. They're most active at night, which is why the first sign is usually a sound, not a sighting.
Mouse, Roof Rat, or Norway Rat?
Know who you're dealing with:
House mice are small and slender, with big ears and a long, thin tail. Their droppings are about the size of a grain of rice.
Roof rats are climbers. They use tree limbs to reach the roof and like high spots, so noise in the attic often points to roof rats. Their droppings are bigger, about half an inch. More in Keeping Roof Rats Off of Your McKinney Property.
Norway rats are heavier rats that stay low and burrow along foundations, fence lines, and under sheds. Our Norway rat guide covers them.
We identify what you have during the inspection, and our rodents page has more on each one.
Attic to Garage: Where They Get In
The spots we check first on North Texas homes, top to bottom:
Soffits and the roofline. Gaps where the roof meets the wall, especially at soffit corners.
Attic vents. Gable and roof vents with torn or missing screens.
AC lines and pipes. Where the AC line, plumbing, or cable goes into the wall. The foam around them often shrinks or falls out.
Garage door corners. Check both bottom corners and the side weatherstrip. If you can see daylight, a mouse can find the way in.
Weep holes and brick gaps. Weep holes need to stay open so the wall can drain. Use weep-hole screens instead of sealing them shut.
Decks and porches. The space underneath is a quiet place to nest right next to the house.
Newer Homes Get Mice Too
We hear it a lot in newer neighborhoods in Melissa, Prosper, and Frisco: "The house is brand new. How are mice getting in?" Many new neighborhoods sit on what used to be open land, so mice are already close by, and lots still under construction keep them on the move.
The gaps we find on new construction are usually simple ones: a garage door bottom seal or side weatherstrip that was never quite adjusted, foam around the AC line that has shrunk, an opening left where cable was added after move-in, and unfinished roofline corners. That doesn't mean your builder did a bad job. It just means a look is worth it in the first couple of winters. Whether it's new construction mice in Melissa, TX, or rodent exclusion in Frisco or Prosper, it usually comes down to finding a few small openings and closing them the right way.
Signs You've Got Company
Scratching or scurrying in the attic or walls at night
Droppings in the garage, pantry, under sinks, or along the attic floor
Gnaw marks on wood, wiring, food packaging, or pet food bags
Greasy rub marks along walls or rafters where they travel the same path
Tunnels or matted trails in the attic insulation
If you go up to look, take a flashlight and stay on the joists. Wear gloves and a mask to clean up after rodents.
Why Traps Alone Don't Fix It
Traps catch the mice already inside. They don't fix the gap they came through, so the next mouse can walk right in. That's why do-it-yourself rodent control often falls short.
Poison isn't the answer indoors either. We never recommend poison bait inside the home. It's a hazard for kids and pets, and a rodent that dies in a wall leaves a lasting smell.
What works is trapping and sealing together: catch what's inside, then close the openings so new ones can't move in. The order matters, because sealing first can shut mice inside the attic.
How We Handle Mice and Rats
One honest note: rodent control isn't part of our quarterly pest plan. It's its own service, and we treat it that way. Our rodent control starts with a thorough inspection to see how big the problem is and where they're getting in. Then we set traps inside along their routes and come back to check them, put dog-proof bait stations outside where they make sense, and seal the entry points, which often means getting up on the roof. Our rodent work comes with a warranty for as long as the current owners live in the home and keep an active maintenance plan with us.
We're a local, family-owned company. If you're dealing with mice in the attic in McKinney, TX, or anywhere around Collin County, the easiest way to get started is to request a free estimate online. If you'd rather, you can also call or text us at (469) 340-0200. We'll find a day that works for you.
Winter Mice FAQ
Is it mice or roof rats in my attic?
Attic noise often points to roof rats, but mice get up there too. Mouse droppings are about the size of a grain of rice; roof rat droppings are about half an inch. We'll confirm it during the inspection.
Is rodent control part of the quarterly plan?
No. Rodent control is a separate service: inspection, trapping, and exclusion. We'll walk you through what it includes before anything starts.
Can I seal the gaps myself?
Some of it. Door sweeps, a new garage door bottom seal, and weep-hole screens are good homeowner projects. Don't seal weep holes shut, and if mice are already inside, trap first. Roofline and attic work is where a trained tech helps.
Here's to a quiet attic this winter.
John Around the Block Pest Control (469) 340-0200 | aroundtheblockpest.com