If you’re hearing scratching in the walls, it’s probably not the house settling. In Alberta, that sound is often the first clue that mice have moved in.
When Alberta homeowners notice any of these warning signs, it is time to contact Poulin’s Pest Control for an inspection and a targeted mouse-control plan to be put in place before the infestation grows worse.
Early Audible Signs: What Scratching Really Means
In Alberta homes, the first sign of a mouse infestation can be sounds. Light scratching, scurrying, gnawing, or tapping noises in walls, ceilings, or under floors, especially at night, can indicate mice exploring, eating, and nesting. These sounds are often more noticeable in quiet rooms such as bedrooms and basements, and can repeat in the same spots as mice can follow a routine.
Visual and Scent-Based Clues You Shouldn’t Ignore
Visual and odour cues will appear when a mouse infestation develops in Alberta. A strong indicator that mice are active are small, dark droppings similar in shape and size to grains of rice that can be found where mice go in search of food and nesting places. Droppings are often around along baseboards, inside kitchen cabinets, on countertops, in closets, behind furniture, and near food. You may also notice shredded insulation, paper, or fabric pushed into hidden spaces as nesting material. A stale, musky smell can be from urine and droppings.
How Mouse Activity Changes with Alberta’s Seasons
In Alberta, mouse infestations can follow a seasonal pattern, so knowing when pressure is highest helps you act early and call Poulin’s Pest Control at the right time.
In the fall, mice are most desperate to get indoors. As temperatures drop, they squeeze through gaps in and around foundations, utility lines, under doors, and through garages to reach warmth and food. This is when scratching on walls and ceilings often begins. Fall is a good time for Alberta homeowners to have Poulin’s Pest Control seal entry points and set up professional control for mice so a few fall invaders do not turn into a major winter infestation
In winter, it can be difficult to find out how mice found a way into homes from outside. Existing populations can be controlled with traps and poison.
In spring, new mice can move in from outdoors. Mice resume exploring structures and can use decks and attached garages as access points. This is an ideal season for an exterior inspection from Poulin’s Pest Control to prevent new mice from moving in and remove established populations.
In summer, mouse activity can shift to outdoor areas, but infestations can still thrive indoors, especially in areas with food. When homeowners are outdoors or away from home more often, early signs indoors can be overlooked. Regular monitoring and maintenance visits from Poulin’s Pest Control keep traps, baits, and exclusion measures working even when you are not thinking about mice.
Pests with Similar Infestation Patterns
Some other pests behave in ways that are similar to a mouse infestation. Squirrels in attics can create loud scratching and thumping during dawn, day, and dusk, and may also chew on wiring and wood. Voles can dig holes around foundations. Raccoons in roof spaces or attached garages can cause heavy movement noises and damage.
Poulin’s Pest Control handles mice, squirrels, voles, raccoons, and more. If you are unsure what is causing the disturbance, a professional inspection is the safest way to identify the culprit and choose the right treatment.
If scratching in your walls has you worried, do not wait for the problem to grow. Contact Poulin’s Pest Control today to schedule a mouse inspection for your Alberta home and get a customized plan to stop a mouse infestation before it grows.