When it comes to mouse exclusion I have mixed feelings. Of course if you can locate the entry points and seal them you will effectively stop rodents from traveling through this space. The trick is to locate all the ways these fury creatures gain entry into your home or business. It is not always so easy or obvious. Commercial spaces are constantly being renovated with additions made, walls torn down and put back up and a plethora of on-the-fly adjustments to get a project finished in time for the grand opening. In residential settings you often find additions like 4-season porches have been added or the garage was extended. While its lovely to have more space it also creates vulnerable cracks, gaps and spaces that mice will take advantage of. Once construction is completed it is difficult to pin point where the access points could be.
Bad-news is not always the case when dealing with rodent entry points. Sometimes you get what I like to call as the “smoking gun” spot. It’s obvious when you find it. It’s the “ah ha” moment when the whole thing makes sense. These are the magical areas i’m constantly on the lookout for. The irrefutable entry ways that mice are definitely using. It may not be the only source of travel for them but you know by sealing up this one you will be making a major blow to their entire operation. The picture here is one of those moments. Along the wall is a crack…well more of a space that is allow mice to scurry between the floor. This space is by design, it’s not a problem with construction but left there to allow the floor to move a little with the changing of temperatures. However, something needs to be done to stop the pathway from mickey’s clubhouse. These hairballs have caused too much grief and became too comfortable that intervention is needed. We can’t have pests around food or customers and measures needed to be taken to stop the flow of mice into the restaurant.