Local rodent information

Rodent control in Virginia

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

Rodents in Virginia: what to know

Around Virginia

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 Virginia: what the public record shows

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

between 50 and 150 feet radius around the nest

Rat territory around the nest

If need be, rats will travel 1300 feet or more daily for food and water.

Virginia Department of Health

between 12 and 16 ounces

Norway rat weight

Rats destroy approximately ten times more food through urination and defecation than they actually eat.

Virginia Department of Health

every 15-30 feet for rats and every 8-12 feet for mice

Interior bait station spacing

Exterior stations go every 30 to 50 feet around the building perimeter.

Virginia Department of Health

Rodent species recorded in Virginia

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.

VDH Norfolk describes the house mouse, Norway rat (nests near floors and in foundation burrows) and roof rat (elevated areas, prefers seeds and fruit); the Norway rat is better suited to colder climates than the roof rat.

Rules that apply in Virginia

VDACS Pesticide Business License

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: Virginia Department of Health; CDC; Pest Notes: House Mouse; Pest Notes: Rats. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources

Explore Virginia cities

Alexandria

Humid Subtropical · urban setting

Rodent control in Virginia

Rodents in Virginia: what to know

Around Virginia

What to note

A useful next step

Rodents in Virginia: what the public record shows

Rodent species recorded in Virginia

Rules that apply in Virginia

For context, nationally

Explore Virginia cities

Alexandria

Blacksburg

Charlottesville

Chesapeake

Danville

Fredericksburg

Hampton

Harrisonburg

Leesburg

Lynchburg

Manassas

Newport News

Norfolk

Petersburg

Portsmouth

Richmond

Roanoke

Suffolk

Virginia Beach

Winchester

Ask about rodent control in Virginia