The problem with mice is that they are small. This means mice get in to homes and business with very little effort. They can enter beneath doors and squeeze through the smallest spaces. Not only that, they can even enter in through places like your chimney.
Mice can scale chimneys because they are agile
These pests are extremely good at climbing. In fact, they’ve even been known to climb vertical walls. As long as the wall has a rough surface, they can cling onto it. This means they can very easily enter in through your chimney. Their agility and size makes mice control very tricky indeed.
Another way that mice get in through chimneys is that they fall in. These pests have light bodies. This means they can fall a great distance and not be hurt (about 10 feet without getting injured). What happens is that they explore your chimney, looking for an entrance point. They then slip, fall, and end up in your home.
What can you do about the fact that mice get in this way?
First, get your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected. This will help you determine if there are cracks and holes in the chimney. Mice and other roof pests may be using these to get in.
You should also install a damper, if you do not already have one. This is basically a type of steel window which fits inside the chimney. These are usually used for airflow, but also keep mice out of the chimney. They’re also useful for preventing debris from falling down the chimney.
Something else you can do is ask advice from a roofer about the possibility of covering the entry of your chimney with mesh that has no gaps for mice to squeeze through. When doing this, it may also help to get them to cover the entrance hole of gutters with mesh too. This will prevent them from climbing up them. You may also want to get a chimney cap installed if your roofer says that can be done safely.
Finally, you need to make your home less appealing to a mice infestation. The reason why they are trying to get down your chimney is because they can smell food. Clean your home thoroughly, and remove all sources of accessible food. In addition to this, tidy up all clutter in your home. Mice will hide in this and use it to build their nests.