Keep Mice Out of Your Christmas Tree

Looking Out for Mice in Your Trees and Lights

When the seasons change, mice and other rodents make their way into your home to enjoy the warmth and survive the cold weather. Mice may take up shelter in the walls of your home, in your basement or garage, in your kitchen, or in other parts of your house where food and resources are available.

When you put up your tree, you’re introducing something that mice would love to climb. Mice can climb up your tree and jump from branch to branch. Trees allow access to higher levels, enabling mice to reach surfaces that they might not otherwise be able to access. When mice explore a higher place, it can cause mice droppings to fall onto your decorations and a variety of other undesirable locations. Not to mention mice can ruin your Christmas tree by gnawing on branches or knocking ornaments off that are placed higher up.

Your tree might also be the source of food and water for mice. Water at the base of the tree, along with edible decorations like candy canes, gingerbread, popcorn, or chocolate, can attract these critters wherever you place your tree. Because mice have teeth that grow fast, they love to gnaw on things to ensure that their teeth will not become overgrown, which means mice might also nibble on your Christmas lights. When mice chew on your lights, they not only ruin your painstakingly decorated tree, but they might also cause an electrical problem. This could become a major fire hazard if the problem isn’t caught quickly.

Preventing Christmas Mice Damage

You don't have to get rid of your tree to get rid of your rodent problem this winter! There are a few simple ways that you can prevent mice from affecting your holiday cheer. First, make sure you place your tree in a spot that is away from windows and doors. This way, it prevents rodents from getting to your tree without being seen. Clean the pine needles off the ground frequently, and make sure there's no food on or near the tree.

As for the lights, be sure to check that mice don't already have access to your wiring system. Check your plug sockets and air vents for any spaces that mice can access your wiring. You can also seal sockets and cable routes with padding. When getting Christmas lights or an artificial tree out from a box in the basement, make sure that there are no signs of rodents or rodent damage before setting it up in your main living space.

After you’ve done your best to deny their access, it’s time to make the area even less desirable to rodents. Repellents can be used near your tree to drive away any mice that still manage to get in. Our Victor® Plug-In Rodent Repellent is a discreet way to save your holiday season. By using a powerful mint scent, this fast-acting product can keep rodents out of the space for up to 45 days. Another great option is our Victor® PestChaser® Rodent Repellent With Nightlight. It uses a high-frequency sound that is unpleasant to rodents but is inaudible to humans and non-rodent pets.

Want to Learn More?

If mice have already invaded, our selection of snap traps, live traps, electronic traps, and more can help you take back your home this holiday season. You can also check out our other resources to learn more about how you can prevent mice from coming into your home. Have you conquered a mouse problem in your home during the winter? Share your stories with us on Facebook!