Mice enter through spaces under doors in Jersey City complex | Mice control & removal in Jersey City, NJ

Challenge

I was dispatched to one of our commercial residential communities located in Jersey City. Property management had received several complaints from residents about mice activity in and around their units. Upon arrival, I met with the property management team to gain a better understanding of the problem and determine how to modify and augment our current rodent control program to deal with the increasing (or, at least more visible) rodent population. I was comfortable with our currently instituted rodent control program because we have not any rodent infestation problem with this residential complex in years. My suspicion, which turned out to be correct, was that the rodent sightings inside the building were due to a “weak link” around the perimeter of the property. The rodents had found one or more entry points, and I was determined to locate them during my inspection.

This particular Jersey City community sits right on the waterfront. The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway is a wonderful location where the residents live in an area rich in history and are able to savor the stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. Unfortunately, while its a great location for people, mice and (and even worse, rats) also thrive in this environment.  Everything they need is there for the taking: food, water, and harborage. Rodent infestations happen with more frequency as temperatures drop and they are looking to escape the harsh winter elements. We can’t stop rodents from living around the waterfront. It’s their home. Our goal for our commercial residential communities is to prevent any rodents from gaining access to the building in the first place. We create a perimeter defense to block the rodents from entry by setting rodent bait boxes in strategic locations around the exterior, with a special focus on easy entry points like exit doors and overhead garages. As a second line of defense, we set up rodent bait boxes on the inside of the building as well, focusing on those areas where rodent harborage is common such as parking garages, utility rooms, and compactor rooms. Mice and rats prefer to nest in dark secluded areas where there is little chance of disturbance, and in areas where nest bedding material like insulation is readily available. 

While inspecting the the building, my “weak link” suspicion was correct. Our rodent control program was more than adequate. There was a rodent problem because some entry points had developed, specifically, several exit doors and overhead garage doors had large gaps under them. These new rodent and pest entry points needed to be addressed. Not surprisingly, mice only need a very small space, about 1/4”, to enter a structure. Often, there are gaps at least this size under doors and around pipes. Often, its just a matter of replacing some deteriorating weather stripping and sealing some holes. Since mice don’t have collarbones, their only limitation for squeezing through holes and gaps is their skull. And mouse skulls are tiny considering that it only needs to protect a mouse brain that weighs about .014 ounces, the weight of half a raisin! 

Solution

To prevent rodent infestations, you have to treat your property as a fortress and make sure that there are no ways for rodents to breach the perimeter and gain inside access. Management assured me that these areas would be addressed ASAP.  When I return for my next service, I’ll follow-up and make sure these entry points are properly sealed. I’m confident that once these minor repairs are completed, in conjunction with our rodent control program, there will no longer be any further rodent and pest entry. I will work hand-in-hand with property management until these residents are no longer dealing with the stress and anxiety of spotting a mouse scurrying about.