How To Keep Mice From Invading Your Wood Pile
Posted on: 23 April 2020
If you have a wood-burning stove or a fireplace, then you likely store wood on your property. One issue that often comes up with woodpiles is that they become a living space for mice. The mice simply love building nests within the wood and using it for shelter. However, if you want to keep your home and yard pest-free, then you certainly don't want mice turning your woodpile into their home. Here are some mice control tips for people who store firewood.
1. Store the firewood on a rack or concrete blocks.
When you store wood directly on the ground, the bottom layer will get wet, which makes it easier for mice to chew into. When the bottom layer gets wet, you are also less likely to burn that layer, which means it gets left there—along with any nests mice have begun to build in it. Storing the firewood on a proper rack or concrete blocks can help keep the bottom layer dry so mice can't chew through the rot and so that you can more easily use and rotate through all of your wood.
2. Store it in a single line.
Do not stack your firewood in one big haphazard pile, and do not place several rows of firewood directly next to one another. The "deeper" the pile, the more hiding places it creates for mice. Store the wood in a single row, and develop a first-in, first-out system in which you add wood to one end, and use wood from the other end. This minimizes hiding places and ensures wood is not stored long enough for mice to build nests.
3. Don't cover the pile.
You might be tempted to cover the woodpile with a tarp to keep it dry, but this strategy typically backfires. The tarp will just trap moisture underneath, which will keep the wood moist and make the pile an even safer, more secluded space for mice to hide. Leave the wood exposed; it will get wet, but it will soon dry out, and the mice will feel too exposed to build nests.
If you follow the mice control tips above, you should have far fewer issues with mice in your woodpile. If you do suspect a mouse problem, contact a company like Anteater Pest Control to help you. Local pest control services can come trap or bait the mice before the problem gets worse.
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