Help With Rodent Problems

Hear scratching? Let's find out what's getting in.

Rats and mice get in through gaps a quarter inch wide. We'll help you spot the signs, understand what a proper fix involves, and ask the right questions when you get a quote.

A few details help: where you see rodents, when they appear, and how long it has been going on.

Mouse beside an exterior foundation vent

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By submitting your information, you agree to be contacted regarding home improvement information, using email, telephone or text - including the use of autodialed and/or prerecorded calls or messages to the telephone number provided above, including your wireless number, if provided. I understand that consent is not a condition of purchase.I agree that Rodent Exterminator may share my request with the local service partner that handles work in my area so they can contact me about it. Sending a request does not book an appointment.

Mouse at a gap beside a garage door seal

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Attached garage interior with shelving, boxes and light under the door

Rat Control

Norway rats burrow at ground level; roof rats climb into attics. Telling them apart decides where the traps and the sealing work go.

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Kitchen cabinet and pipe penetration prepared for inspection

Mouse Removal

House mice fit through a gap the width of a pencil. A trapping program along the walls, plus a close look at every pipe and vent, clears them out.

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Blank inspection checklist, floor plan and inspection tools

Rodent-Proofing

Sealing every gap with hardware cloth, copper mesh and sheet metal is what makes the fix last. Foam and caulk on their own get chewed through.

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Metal mesh and sealant around an exterior pipe penetration

Attic Cleanup

Soiled insulation and nesting material come out with HEPA equipment and respirators, the space is disinfected, and fresh insulation goes in.

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Why do rodents keep coming back?

Rodent problems rarely announce themselves. It starts with a few dark droppings behind the toaster, scratching in the ceiling after the lights go out, or a bag of rice with a chewed corner. By the time most people notice, the mice or rats have been there for weeks.

The good news is that rodents are a building problem, not a cleanliness problem, and building problems can be fixed. Trapping clears what's inside. Sealing the gaps with metal keeps the next ones out. Done together, the problem stays gone.

Use the pages here to tell mice from rats, check your own home for the usual entry points, see what a good quote looks like, and find out what rodent control typically costs. When you're ready, tell us what you've noticed and ask about an inspection or a quote.

What kind of rodent problem are you seeing?

Droppings and gnaw marks

Rice-sized droppings with pointed ends mean mice; raisin-sized ones mean rats. Fresh ones are dark and soft. Chewed food packaging, trim or wiring nearby confirms they're active.

Noises after dark

Scratching, scurrying or gnawing in walls and ceilings once the house goes quiet. Heavier thumps and running are more often rats; light, quick scratching is more often mice.

Rub marks and burrows

Dark greasy smudges along baseboards, pipes and the bottom of a garage door are fur oil from repeated trips. Outside, a smooth-edged hole along the foundation or under a shed is a rat burrow.

What should you ask before booking?

Ask what the visit includes, how much it costs, and whether a follow-up is included. It’s also helpful to know what you’ll need to do before treatment and when you can use the area again.

Have children or pets at home? Mention them when discussing treatment. For a business, let the company know your opening hours so you can talk about a convenient time to visit.

How rodent activity changes through the year

Spring: Rodents that spent the winter inside start breeding and moving between the house and the yard, so it's a good time to seal gaps while the attic is still cool enough to work in.
Summer: Activity shifts outdoors and into cooler parts of the building like crawl spaces and garages, which can make a problem seem to disappear when it hasn't.
Fall: This is the big move indoors. As nights cool, mice and rats test every vent, door seal and pipe gap along the block, and most winter infestations start now.
Winter: Noise in the walls gets loud enough to act on. Trapping works fine in cold weather, and there's no reason to wait for spring to seal the openings.

Keep exploring your options

Rat Control — Norway rats and roof rats — each needs a different approach.
Mouse Removal — House mice squeeze through dime-sized holes. Full perimeter inspection.
Exclusion Services — Seal every gap with rodent-proof materials. The only permanent solution.
Attic Restoration — Insulation removal, sanitization, and re-insulation after exclusion.
Contact and quote request — ask a question or request a quote.

Common questions about rodent control

How do I know if I have mice or rats?

Look at the droppings. Mouse droppings are the size of a grain of rice with pointed ends. Rat droppings are half an inch or longer and thicker. Mice are usually in the kitchen and walls; rats tend to be in the attic, crawl space or garage, and Norway rats leave burrows outside.

Will traps alone solve it?

Traps remove the rodents already inside, but new ones follow the same scent trails to the same openings. Trapping first, then sealing every gap with metal, is what ends the cycle. Without the sealing, you'll be trapping again next fall.

Is it safe to use poison in the house?

Indoors, it's a bad idea. A rodent that eats bait usually dies inside a wall, where the smell lasts for weeks, and loose bait is a risk for kids and pets. Pros use snap traps indoors and keep any bait in locked stations outside.

How much does rodent control cost?

Published ranges run from a few hundred dollars for a trapping program to several thousand when sealing work and attic cleanup are included. The biggest variable is how many openings need sealing, which is why a good quote follows an inspection.

Is it safe to clean up droppings myself?

A small amount, yes, with precautions. Open windows for half an hour, wear gloves and a fitted mask, wet the droppings with disinfectant and let it sit before wiping them up, and bag everything. Never sweep or vacuum dry droppings. Heavy contamination in an attic is a job for a crew with HEPA equipment.

What should a good quote include?

Separate lines for the inspection, the trapping program and how many visits it covers, each opening to be sealed and the material for it, any bait stations and how often they're serviced, and cleanup if it's needed. Also ask what happens if rodents come back and for how long that applies.

📚 More help with rodent questions

Explore these guides to learn more about rodents and treatment options.

CDC — Rodent Control & Disease Preventioncdc.gov

CDC resource on rodent-borne diseases, prevention strategies, and cleanup procedures.

EPA — Pesticide Safety & Regulationepa.gov

The EPA regulates pesticide registration, safety standards, and application requirements for professional pest control products.

The CDC provides authoritative information on vector-borne and pest-related diseases, including prevention guidance.

NPMA — National Pest Management Associationnpmapestworld.org

The NPMA is the primary US pest control industry trade association, providing research, standards, and consumer education.

EPA — Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Principlesepa.gov

The EPA's official IPM framework: the four-tiered approach to sustainable pest management used by professionals nationwide.

Ready to ask about your rodent problem?

Tell us what you’ve noticed and ask about an inspection or a quote. You decide whether to book after speaking with a company.

Go to contact Call +1 888 546 7983