Can Mice Climb Glass Doors?

Can mice climb glass doors? Mice are incredibly creative at finding their way into our homes, reaching heights and fitting through impossibly small gaps. These tiny rodents are excellent climbers, but a glass door will challenge them as they have nothing to grip with the tips of their claws. Today I’ll take a closer look at the incredible climbing abilities of mice and tell you how you can keep these critters from entering your home.

Contents

• Why do mice come into our homes?
• How would I know if I had mice in my home?
• Can mice climb?
• What surfaces can mice climb on?
• Can mice climb glass doors?
• How can I get rid of mice in my home?

Why Do Mice Come into Our Homes?

Mice come into our homes for two main reasons – food and shelter. If someone doesn’t tidy up their home properly and there are bits of food waste on the floor and surfaces, that will attract mice more than anything. Mice also look for shelter, especially during the chilly winter months, so a well-heated home with lots of hiding places to raise their young is the perfect place, especially if it is untidy!

How Would I Know I Had Mice in My House?

Mice are nocturnal creatures. So, signs of their presence in your home may be subtle at first. However, once their family grows, you can spot the telltale signs more easily. A mouse will only come out at night to search for food. So you may hear scratching sounds in the ceilings and walls when lying in bed, which can be somewhat unnerving for most people!

But one of the first things you will probably notice is mice droppings scattered around the home, which are small and dark. You may find their faeces in your cupboards, window sills, and kitchen counters. If you have a heavy mice infestation, you may see urine pillars of hair, grease, dirt and mice urine. Other signs include grease rubs against doors, walls and furniture, mice smells, and damage to foodstuffs, wires and your furnishings.

Can Mice Climb?

Mice are excellent climbers. They can climb vertical surfaces and shimmy their way up drainpipes. They have no fear of heights and can climb up to two meters, climbing up furniture, staircases, counter tops and walls. And, they can even survive falls of 10 to 12 feet!

These tiny rodents have extraordinary athletic abilities and can jump distances of two feet onto surfaces such as kitchen worktops, tables and shelves. So, if you are curious how some sneaky mice got into your attic, you know they would have jumped and climbed their way up! Mice can also move at speeds of 8 mph, even over wires making them better than any human tightrope walker! It also explains why they are so difficult to catch.

How Do Mice Climb?

Most baby mice have fully fledged climbing skills by the time they are two weeks old. These tiny rodents have small, sharp claws on each toe, which allow them to climb up textured surfaces while their tails help them balance. Mice also use their whiskers to sense whether a surface is rough or smooth and if it is suitable for climbing.

A mouse has five toes on their front feet and four on its back feet, giving them extra stability when climbing. They also have sweat glands in the pads of their feet. These glands release a scent as the mouse moves around to leave scent trails that give other mice a path to follow, potentially attracting more mice into your home.

What Surfaces Can Mice Climb On?

Mice can climb most surfaces and structures with relative ease. Still, they must have something they can grip and dig their claws into. So the interior or exterior must have a slightly rough or uneven surface, including walls with a particularly porous finish.

Trees are easy for mice to climb as they have a well-textured surface that they can grip easily. So wood is no problem for these cheeky rodents, and you may see them climbing on your wooden furniture. The rough texture of brick allows mice to climb efficiently, but although builders might attempt to make concrete walls smooth, they contain hundreds of tiny air bubbles that create a rough surface that mice can easily grip and climb.

However, as mice like to stay out of sight, most will move around inside your home’s walls. These walls are full of insulation, wires, pipes and support structures, making it easy for mice to move around the house. Plus, the insulation provides many nesting opportunities.

Can Mice Climb Glass Doors?

Although mice can climb most structures easily, glass doors present too much of a challenge for these small rodents. Glass doors have a smooth surface giving them nothing to grip onto. This will deter even the most determined of mice! Some households have glass cupboards and tables that can prevent mice from climbing them and infecting food. Smooth metal and smooth plastic structures are also impossible for mice to climb.

How Can I Get Rid of Mice in My Home?

One of the reasons mice are in the home is because of food sources. So, store grains and other dry food in glass or metal containers that they cannot chew through, clean up crumbs and spills and don’t leave pet food out for long periods. Dispose quickly of household recycling like cardboard, which they can use for nesting and secure all your trash cans and garbage.

Work out how the rodents are getting in and seal entry points. Mice can fit into the smallest openings. A good rule of thumb is, if you can place a pencil into a hole, crack, or another gap, a mouse will fit through it.

Finally, use mouse traps using mouse-approved foods like bacon, peanut butter or dried fruit. Place them where you have seen signs of mice, placing them perpendicular to the walls and moving their positions every couple of days to keep mice curious. But if you can’t get rid of those pesky mice, then the best action is to call in a pest removal company.

Can Mice Climb Glass Doors?

Although mice cannot climb glass doors, they can easily climb other textured structures and fit through small gaps and holes. Following this advice will hopefully keep these sneaky little rodents from coming into your home!

Find Out More About Keeping Your Home Pest Free

• Why are there pill bugs in my house?
• Do termites cause problems?
• What do mice nests look like?
• Getting rid of bed bugs

References

• Ishiwaka, R. (et al), ‘Early Development of Climbing Skills in Harvest Mice’, Animal Behavior (1999)
• ‘3 Ways Mice Spread Disease in your Home’, American Pest Professionals (2020)
• Costall, B. (et al), ‘Spontaneous Climbing Behavior of Mice, its Measurement and Dopaminergic Involvement’, European Journal of Pharmacology (1982)
• Bradford, A. ‘Mouse Facts: Habits, Habitat & Types of Mice’, Live Science (2014)
• ‘How to Identify Mouse Droppings’, Orkin