How do I choose a rodent control provider?
Licensing, a written plan, and exclusion. Those three separate good O'Fallon providers from the rest. Ask how they seal gaps and what materials they use. If the answer is foam or caulk alone, keep looking. Metal mesh and hardware cloth are what hold.
Is it safe to clean up droppings myself?
For a small amount, yes, with precautions. Wear gloves and spray the droppings with disinfectant or bleach solution. Let it sit, then wipe with paper towels and bag everything. Never sweep or vacuum dry droppings in an O'Fallon home, because that puts dust into the air you breathe.
Are rats a bigger problem than mice?
Generally, yes. Rats are larger, chew more, and avoid new traps for days. In O'Fallon, rat problems usually involve outdoor burrows or attic entry from trees and utility lines. Mice are easier to remove but reproduce faster.
Do I need to replace attic insulation?
Sometimes. If the rodents were in your O'Fallon attic for a season or more, the insulation is likely soaked and holding odor that will keep attracting new rodents. Short-term activity usually means spot cleanup rather than full replacement. Ask for photos of the affected areas.
Can I just seal the holes myself?
Ground-level gaps are a reasonable DIY project. Door sweeps, pipe gaps, and dryer vent covers are hardware-store fixes. Roofline gaps, attic vents, and crawlspace openings in O'Fallon homes are harder to reach and easier to miss, and those are where most rodents actually get in.
Do homes with rodents usually have other pests too?
Often enough to matter. Homeowners in O'Fallon ask about this often: the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 American Housing Survey (AHS) counted 2.9 million occupied homes that had seen both rodents and cockroaches in the preceding year, based on what residents reported noticing, not on verified infestations. If you are in O'Fallon, use this as a starting point for questions rather than a prediction for your home.
How many homes have a full rodent infestation?
Context for O'Fallon, not a local measurement: in the National Pest Management Association's (NPMA) September 2022 Harris Poll of more than 1,300 U.S. homeowners, 14% reported a multiple-rodent infestation over their lifetime, far fewer than the 37% who recalled a single animal. Providers serving O'Fallon should be able to explain how their recommendation fits what they actually found on your property.