How Mice and Rats Stay Warm in the Winter

When temperatures drop, mice and rats don’t bundle up in tiny sweaters (as adorable as that sounds), but they do have some surprisingly clever strategies for staying warm. 

In fact, winter is when rodents become their most resourceful — and sometimes their most mischievous — as they search for shelter, heat, and steady food sources. If you’ve ever wondered where mice go in winter, understanding what they do when the cold sets in will give you a sneak peek into their survival instincts (that sometimes make them end up a little too close for comfort). 

Cozy Vibe Curators 

Think you know how to make the perfect cozy nook for a holiday movie marathon? Rodents are basically the HGTV stars of winter nesting. When temperatures drop, they collect anything soft and insulating — shredded paper, attic insulation, dried leaves, cardboard, even bits of fabric — to build dense, layered nests.

These nests act like rodent-sized puffer jackets, trapping warmth in and keeping the cold out. Their nests can be tucked into tree hollows, underground burrows, woodpiles, or unfortunately, the quiet parts of your home, like attics and garages. 

If you see shredded nesting material in these spaces, it’s one of the first signs of mice or rats in the home during winter, since indoor spots provide the kind of insulation nature just can’t match.

Welcome to Huddle House

One mouse alone gets chilly fast, but a group of mice becomes a tiny, fuzzy space heater. In winter, rodents pile together in their nests to share body heat, conserving energy and staying warm as a team. 

This behavior also helps explain why winter rodent sightings often mean more than one visitor. Rodents prefer to take on the winter in groups, not solo. If it brings to mind cozy images of mice tucked under quilts in a hideout over a fireplace, you’re not too far off. 

If You Let a Mouse Indoors...

As outdoor temperatures fall, rodents start actively searching for warmer spaces, and your home has everything on their winter wish list. Warm? Check. Dry? Check. Smells like yummy holiday snacks and treats? Double check.

Rodents use gaps in siding, cracks in foundations, pipe openings, dryer vents, and any small break in a home’s exterior to slip inside. All they need is an opening the size of a dime, and they’ll feel like they have everything they need to ride out the weather. (Just don’t give them a cookie. We all know how that story goes.)

A Winter Staycation 

Rodents don’t hibernate, so once they’re inside, they stay active — very active. And lucky for them, your home is basically a winter resort full of amenities. 

Even after they’ve found a warm nook, they’ll travel behind appliances, on attic beams, and in your walls looking for new cozy spots and the best food sources. 

During cold weather, outdoor food becomes scarce, so your garage or pantry becomes the new “foraging field.” This is often why you’ll hear late-night scurrying or find droppings, a classic sign of mouse nesting habits in cold weather. They essentially spend the winter wandering the hidden parts of your home looking for the best combination of warmth, protection, and snacks. 

Show These Furry Freeloaders the Door

As cute as these critters are, you probably already have enough visitors during the holidays. If rodents have turned your home into a winter bed-and-breakfast, contact us to reclaim your space.