Why empty chalets attract rodents
An unoccupied home is quiet, often slightly heated and full of hiding places. Mice and wood mice, which leave fields and forest at the first frosts, settle in undisturbed. The infestation is often found on return: droppings in cupboards, chewed mattresses or insulation, gnawed cables.
The checklist before closing
Remove food
- Empty cupboards of any opened food: cereal, pasta, biscuits, pet food.
- Store what remains in sealed glass or metal containers.
- Empty and clean the bins and take them out of the chalet.
- Don’t leave bird seed or bags of pet food in the garage.
Close the gaps
- Fill holes around pipes and cables with steel wool and sealant.
- Fit door sweeps on outside doors and the garage door.
- Put mesh over vents, ventilation inlets and the chimney flue.
- Check where the roof meets the walls, often damaged in the mountains.
Tidy outside
- Move firewood away from the walls.
- Cut back plants touching the chalet.
- Bring cushions, blankets and textiles indoors: they are used as nesting material.
Mouse, wood mouse or dormouse?
In mountain chalets, the noise in the loft is not always a mouse. The edible dormouse, recognisable by its big eyes and bushy tail, tends to move into attics in spring and summer and spends the winter hibernating. It makes a lot of noise at night. It is not dealt with in the same way as a mouse: have it identified before taking any action.
On your return: signs to check
- Black droppings along walls, in drawers and behind appliances.
- Shredded insulation, paper or fabric.
- Greasy marks along skirting boards.
- A smell of urine in a closed cupboard.
At the slightest sign, don’t set dozens of traps at random: a colony may already be established. I offer complete rodent control with secure stations and proofing, plus preventive visits for second homes and holiday rentals.