Seeing a mouse scurry across your floor is not a welcoming sight, but what about seeing one climbing the side of your brick home? or one mouse getting through your air conditioner? If you stop to think about it, the thought is frightening. How exactly are they climbing the brick and is that even possible? What can you do to keep them out if they have that ability?
Table of Contents
Can Mice Climb?
Yes, mice can climb. Mice are smart animals so, not only can they climb onto small objects, they can definitely climb onto bigger obstacles like tables, beds, and walls too. However, unless you are dealing with a serious infestation, it’s very unlikely that you will see any mice jumping over your wall or bed.
In case you are wondering, mice make excellent jumpers and climbers. In fact, mice are known to be able to jump long distances. A house mouse can jump distances up to two feet, climb onto furniture, landscape features and roughened walls. Therefore, what might look like a climbing ivy or lovely trellis to a human, looks like a welcome sign to a mouse. Mice will occasionally use wires, pipes and tree branches hooked to your house as perfect pathways, they can quickly infest your property and cause some damage, feel free to call out mice control Toronto for full mice control and removal.
As tiny as they might seem, mice don’t fear heights and enjoy exploring areas that are close to their nest. They will climb on literally any object looking for food or material that they can use to build their nests. When attacked by predators, mice will jump on walls, branches, wires, walls instinctively, to getaway.
Can Mice Climb Walls?
Mice are smart little critters, and one of their skills is creativity during an invasion. It’snot surprising to see a mouse jump over ceilings, climb walls or countertops. Mice have a very impressive repertoire of physical capabilities that enable them to reach unexpected places and fit into tiny spaces that you might not have expected. Can mice climb walls?
Well, the answer to that question has a lot to do with what kind of texture the surface is made of. Since they are equipped with tiny claws, they are able to easily latch on uneven surfaces, particularly walls that have rough surfaces. Mice will easily climb over concrete walls since they have a rough outer surface. In case the pinholes made by the tiny air bubbles are big enough, mice are able to grip onto them with their claws and climb. Other surfaces that mice can climb include:
- Wood finish
- Shingles
- Stucco
Can mice climb on glass? No. Mice are unable to climb onto glass or smooth surface walls since their tiny claws won’t be able to grip on the smooth surface. Most homes have bare walls, but mice can still find opportunities to climb onto higher points. In case you have electric codding along your walls, it offers mice a perfect option to latch on. They will use their paws for grip and their tails for balance. Due to their weight, they can easily climb through your bare walls with the help of wire cords without falling.
How They Do It
Mice have sharp claws on the end of each of their toes and “fingers.” They make good use of those twenty sharp claws, too. They can use them to climb vertically up any rough surface, and brick is the perfect rough surface for that. Even concrete proves rough enough for vertical climbing.
Concrete may appear smooth, but the material forms small bubbles as it dries, which gives mice just enough texture for climbing. Brick is certainly not a smooth material, so it is far easier for them to climb brick in comparison to other materials. To prevent climbing, some homeowners will opt to place a smooth material part of the way up the base of their home before the brick.
Of course, even a smooth surface may not be enough to deter a mouse. They can jump approximately a foot high. They can also climb roughly a foot up a smooth surface, so what can you do? Just because a mouse has the ability to climb the exterior of your brick home does not mean you have to wave a white flag of surrender just yet.
Can Mice Jump?
Yes, mice can jump. Mice are agile, flexible little creatures that can jump up to 13 inches high. That’s just over a foot off the ground. They can run, climb, and jump their way up onto windowsills, countertops, and shelves. They can even make their way onto the roof by climbing the walls outside or jumping down from a branch. Mice can survive a fall from a distance of up to 12 feet. That’s over 300 times their body length!
Did you know that mice can swim, as well? Mice can swim long distances and tread water for up to 3 days. They can also hold their breath for up to 3 minutes, which helps them navigate sewers, swamps, and other wet areas. These are all-terrain rodents that can survive pretty much anywhere. Be wary of the rodents in your area and protect yourself.
Given their remarkable ability to climb, jump, and swim, it’s important that you store food properly. Mice can very easily get into the kitchen pantry. They can climb their way up the insides of the walls and jump their way into cabinets. Store food in glass jars, with tightly fitted lids. This way, your home will smell less like food and it will be impossible for the pests to reach what’s inside.
What to Do
Inspect the exterior of your brick home. Look for gaps and cracks between the bricks. Use a quick dry mortar mixture of silicone caulk to fill the gaps. Mice will climb the brick walls until they find a point of entry. Cracks and gaps serve as the best form of entry for them. If you fill them, it deters mice away from your home.
Make sure you also check areas where utility lines run into your home. For instance, search for gaps in the brick surrounding plumbing pipes or gas lines. Mice will use those weaknesses to their advantage to enter your home. Place silicone caulk around the gaps so mice cannot get in.
Finally, you will need to take care of your roof and around your windows. Make sure you have a tight seal around the windows of your home. If a mouse climbs the brick up to a vulnerable window, it can lead to an unwanted infestation of mice.
The same is true about your roof. If you have a damaged roof or even a chimney, you are giving mice a perfect way into your home. Address roof repair to ensure your roof does not allow mice into your home. If they climb the brick to your roof, they can also get in through a chimney.
Install metal sheeting around the base of your chimney so mice cannot climb the brick material and get inside your home. Metal sheeting is far too smooth for a mouse to climb, which provides you with a layer of protection to prevent against mouse infestations.
If a mouse does find a way into your home, make sure you use traps to get rid of it or call a professional for assistance with pest control. Call The Exterminators Inc. as we offer commercial and residential pest control services in Toronto and mouse control products. Call us 647-496-2211 now!
Article Updated August 31st, 2021
