Rodents
Winter Mice in the Attic: Signs, Damage, and the Fix
Published 12/28/2025 · 6 min read
Attic mice are almost universal in Hudson Valley winters. Here's how to spot them early and shut it down.
The three signs you have attic mice
Scratching or scurrying overhead at dusk and dawn. Droppings on insulation, along beams, or near stored boxes. Chewed wire insulation — a serious fire risk.
The damage adds up fast
Mice urinate roughly 3,000 times per year each. Soaked insulation loses R-value, HVAC systems pull contaminated air, and chewed wiring is a documented cause of attic fires.
The right fix, in order
Exclusion first (soffits, ridge vents, gable vents). Snap traps second (never bait indoors). Insulation remediation last if contamination is heavy. Skipping exclusion is why DIY attic mouse jobs always come back.