How Long Does It Take A Mouse To Chew Through A Wall?

If you live on the ground floor or even on the second floor, you will come across a mouse in your home at least once in your lifetime.

It is not because your house is messy or dirty, but mice will always find a way to get inside the homes and build a living area for them.

You will usually find them inside the walls or in cramped-up areas such as within boxes, behind wardrobes, or under the bed. However, you might be wondering how long it takes a mouse to chew through a wall, and this article will provide you with the answers.

How Long Does It Take A Mouse To Chew Through A Wall?

 

 

It takes much longer for mice to chew through a wall than it is for rats. It takes about 2 to 3 days of on-and-off chewing for the mouse to chew through a wall.

Certain factors contribute to the duration of a mouse to make a hole in the wall. Such as,

• If the mouse has access to food and water, if it is hungry, the animal will get tired quickly and finish the process faster.
• The material of the wall plays a significant role in the speed of a mouse chewing through it thoroughly; the heavier the wall, the longer it will take.
• The mouse has the habit of gnawing on things to maintain the sharpness of their teeth so that it will delay the hole.
• Sometimes, they chew on stuff to chew, and those times will also be slow for chewing through the wall.
• If more than one mouse is chewing through the walls.

Even after all these, the most crucial factor is the material of the wall. Here is a list of all materials on the wall and how they affect the chewing process of a mouse.

Concrete

To anyone’s surprise, mice can nibble through concrete, but only if the concrete is not cured correctly or non-cured. If the concrete has more water than cement, the mouse can get through it.

The mouse might not be able to make a hole in the concrete walls, but it can squeeze within the wall or form small openings. But cured or half-cured concrete is weak enough for mice to gnaw through it.

Glass Fibre

Glass fiber is a plastic material or FRP, which is known for the mouse to be able to chew through it. These wall panels or wall coverings are not strong enough to withstand the sharpness of a mouse’s teeth.

Moreover, rodents prefer fiberglass because it provides comfort and heat and protects them from predators. Mice use these walls to build a nest and live in them.

Within the fiberglass, you will not be able to hear a mouse moving through, making this a perfect place for the entire mouse family to live in. That is why it is essential to check your glass fiber walls now so there is no mouse infestation.

Drywall

Layers of fiberglass and paper, known as gypsum plaster, make up the panel’s drywall. This proves that drywall is weak and can be easily gnawed through by mice.

In this case, it will take a mouse only a short time to chew through a wall.

Drywall is very soft and edible for rodents, so they will not have trouble eating the pieces. It is comparatively easy for mice to destroy the crumbly core of these walls just by nibbling on them.

Wood

A wooden wall is effortless for homeowners and pests, including a family of mice, to pick their way through, especially if you have small holes or a pest problem in the exterior siding walls of your home. However, the presence of dead mice can exacerbate this issue, contributing to an unpleasant odor.

Look for signs of mice, as the thickness of the wood and the type of material it consists of also plays a role; if it is thick, then the mouse will have a hard time chewing through holes the size of a dime in the walls, vents, air ducts, and window frames and floorboards of your home in search of food. Even still, moisture can contribute to how mice and fleas, along with mouse urine and feces, can wreak havoc as they pick their way through hardwood and cardboard.

To combat this, consider using a high-quality sealant or snap trap to close gaps and prevent entry. However, that will take longer. Suppose you’re dealing with a mouse problem. In that case, your best option is to seek professional help to eliminate pests safely, especially using methods like steel wool to protect electrical wires and wiring from damage without using poison.

The wood pieces and shavings are suitable components for mice’s nests. So, not only will they get their way through it, but they will also find items that will make up their nest. This means mice are more drawn to wooden walls than any other.

Plywood

Just like wood, plywood is a feast for mice. It is slimmer and smaller, so mice can easily chew on it. Some plywood is made using soft materials, which can get soggy fast. Those are very easy for a mouse to chew through the plywood walls.

Plywood shavings are also used for the mouse’s nest, which makes such walls an easy target for these persistent pests.

How To Prevent Mice From Chewing Through A Wall?

• Set up mouse traps in your home to catch these pests; set them up in areas where it is easy to find the trapped mouse.
• Consult any pest control professionals to control the growth of these rodent pests in your house.
• Keep your house clean and tidy and less stuff so that mice do not find ways to build a nest.
• Wildlife troopers will find a way of getting the mouse inside a wall without damaging your house heavily.
• Secure any entry points for the mice so that new mouse infestation does not occur now and then.

Even after taking all the precautions, you are bound to find mice in your home; do not fall into despair.

Frequently Asked Question

How Long Does A Mouse Survive Inside The Walls?

A mouse can survive for 2 to 3 months without having water, but if they have no food access, they will not be able to last even a week. So, if the mouse can have food often, it will stay on the walls for a while.

How To Know If I Can Find Mice In My Walls?

If you can hear squeaking and scratches from within your wall, it means a mouse infestation within the walls. You can also feel those rodents moving through the walls by vibration from within.

Conclusion

The question of how long it takes a mouse to chew through a wall depends on the sort of wall they live in. If the wall is concrete, the chances are slimming of forming a hole by glass fiber or plywood will make it easy for mice to gnaw their way out.

Other factors such as food and water supply for mice and how many are there play a role in duration. Even still, there are some ways to prevent mice from inside the house and stop them from chewing through a wall.