When Are Mice Most Active During the Day?

a mouse in the grassCommon signs that you have mice in your home are fecal droppings on countertops, scurrying sounds in the ceiling, and food boxes that have been gnawed through. But you may notice these signs without ever seeing actual mice running around. This situation leads many people to ask questions about when mice are most active and how to target them in the most timely and effective way.

 

Here are some tips from the mice extermination experts at Precise Termite & Pest Control to help you get rid of the mice in your house for good during the day or at night.

 

Are Mice Nocturnal?

 

The term “nocturnal” means being active at night rather than during the daytime hours. However, mice are not totally nocturnal because they are active during both the day and night. Mice are more active after the sun goes down, but that doesn’t mean they sleep all day either.

 

What Time Do Mice Come Out?

 

Mice are most active between dusk and dawn, but their peak activity typically takes place just after dusk. The exact time varies depending on when the sun sets during a particular season. Mice living inside a home usually become most active within the first 30 to 60 minutes after human activity subsides. For example, if everyone in your household is in bed by 10:00 pm, you can expect mice to start moving around by around 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm.

 

Why Mice Like the Nighttime

 

The evening hours are attractive to mice for several reasons. They have better protection from predators when there is less light. Mice generally do not have the best eyesight compared to other animals. However, their eyes are sensitive to light, and they may feel more comfortable foraging for food and seeking shelter in low-light conditions.

 

Like other animals, mice use all of their senses to navigate their way through a home and residential property. They don’t need a lot of light to find their way around because they rely heavily on their senses of sound, smell, and touch.

 

Timing Your Mice Removal Strategy Right

 

Mice tend to sleep up to 12 hours per 24-hour period, primarily during the daytime. You may have the best success catching mice when they are foraging for food, typically right around sunset and right after you go to bed. First thing in the morning is another great time to catch mice because they may be foraging then to find some final food scraps before household activity picks up and the sunlight becomes brighter.

 

Professional Pest Control at Any Time

 

Catching mice is more challenging than you might expect, so if you want to time it right and catch all of them in your house, you need Precise on your side. We offer mice control services to help New Jersey residents deal with their mice problems whenever they arise – day or night.

 

We’ll handle all the details of mice extermination so that you can rest easy and have peace of mind that your home is safe, clean, and mice-free. Using the most effective and humane techniques in the extermination industry today, our team will target mice when they are most active to produce the best and quickest results.

 

For your free mice inspection or to ask any questions, please call us at 866-971-2847 or fill out our online form.