I can usually cope well with most common household pests (spiders are a breeze) — but I absolutely draw the line at mice or any other rodent. And since the colder weather marks the onset of 'peak rodent season', I've made a point of mouse-proofing my home and gathering all the essential supplies to keep mice away.

Not only are these rodents notoriously hard to get rid of, but they can cause severe damage to your building's structure and property.

Yet in my bid to remove the obvious things that attract rats and mice to your home, it turns out I had completely missed several unexpected entry points.

According to pest experts, these particular entry points frequently go unnoticed — so let my surprise serve as your lesson: here's what you need to look for.

While I typically focus my mouse-proofing efforts on inspecting baseboards and ground-level entryways, I don’t ever think to look up. However, the roof is one of the most overlooked and surprising access points where mice can enter your home.

“The roofline is probably the most underestimated entry point,” states Ed Dolshun, Vice President of Business Development and Technical Director at Catchmaster.

“Homeowners instinctively look at ground level, but mice climb — walls, utility wires, tree branches — and enter from above. Roof rats are commonly found along piping, fences, and shrubbery, working their way up rather than in from the ground”.

To prevent rats from entering through your exterior walls or roof, you need to seal off gaps with steel mesh or hardware cloth combined with sealant to block any holes.

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