Local rodent information

Rodent control in Louisiana

Learn what to look for around your property, explore your city, and ask about an inspection or a quote.

Rodents in Louisiana: what to know

Around Louisiana

Conditions vary across the state. Choose your city below, then describe what’s happening around your home or business.

What to note

Where you see rodents, how long it has been going on, and anything you’ve already tried are the most useful details to mention.

A useful next step

Ask about an inspection, what treatment would involve, and whether follow-up visits are included. You don’t need to identify the problem yourself before getting in touch.

Local research

Rodents in Louisiana: what the public record shows

Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which rodents actually live in Louisiana, when they are busiest, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.

larger than 0.5 inch

Rat-proofing gap size

LSU AgCenter: rat-proof all buildings by sealing all holes and openings larger than 0.5 inch.

LSU AgCenter

every 5-10 feet in heavily infested areas

Bait or trap spacing for mice

Mice hide anywhere and do not move far from nests; glue boards and traps work where baits are not acceptable.

LSU AgCenter

at least 3 ounces of bait

Minimum bait per placement

All rodenticides should go in tamperproof bait stations per the LSU guide.

LSU AgCenter

Rodent species recorded in Louisiana

House mouse (Mus musculus) — Enters at 1/4 inch; 5-10 litters per year; eats about 200 small meals a night.
Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) — Burrowing rat of basements, sewers and ground floors; tail shorter than head plus body.
Roof rat (Rattus rattus) — Climber of attics and trees in warm and coastal regions; tail longer than head plus body.

LSU AgCenter's guide treats Norway rats, roof rats and house mice together; mice nest in appliances and chew wiring and can carry the same diseases as rats.

Rules that apply in Louisiana

LDAF Structural Pest Control Commission licensing (LP1 General pest control, LP2 Commercial vertebrate control)

For context, nationally

1/4 inch (the width of a pencil) — Smallest gap a mouse can enter. CDC
890; 35% fatal; 94% west of the Mississippi — Hantavirus cases reported since 1993 (through 2023). CDC

Sources: LSU AgCenter; CDC; Pest Notes: House Mouse; Pest Notes: Rats. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources

Explore Louisiana cities

Alexandria

Humid Subtropical · suburban setting

Rodent control in Louisiana

Rodents in Louisiana: what to know

Around Louisiana

What to note

A useful next step

Rodents in Louisiana: what the public record shows

Rodent species recorded in Louisiana

Rules that apply in Louisiana

For context, nationally

Explore Louisiana cities

Alexandria

Baton Rouge

Bossier City

Hammond

Houma

Kenner

Lafayette

Lake Charles

Monroe

New Iberia

New Orleans

Ruston

Shreveport

Slidell

Gretna

Ask about rodent control in Louisiana