Are you hearing scratching noises in your walls or discovering droppings around your home or business?

Rodents like rats and mice are more than just a nuisance—they can spread diseases, damage property, and contaminate food supplies. Not only are they some of the most common pests, but also rats and mice are the most destructive.

House Damages from Mice

1. Structural Damage

Mice have strong incisors that continuously grow, leading them to gnaw on wood, drywall, insulation, and even concrete to keep their teeth sharp. This can weaken structures, cause holes in walls, and create entry points for more pests.

2. Electrical Wiring Damage (Fire Hazard)

One of the most dangerous consequences of a mouse infestation is their tendency to chew on electrical wires, which can expose live wires and increase the risk of electrical fires.

3. Contamination of Food and Surfaces

Mice urinate and defecate frequently, contaminating food storage areas, countertops, and cooking surfaces. This can lead to foodborne illnesses such as salmonella and hantavirus exposure.

4. Damage to Insulation

Mice often burrow into attic and wall insulation, shredding it for nesting material. This reduces the effectiveness of the insulation, leading to higher energy costs.

5. HVAC and Appliance Damage

Mice can nest inside HVAC systems, air ducts, and large appliances, blocking airflow and damaging mechanical components.

6. Chewed Pipes and Plumbing Issues

Mice have been known to chew through plastic and PVC pipes, leading to water leaks, mold growth, and increased repair costs.

7. Odor and Unpleasant Smells

A persistent mouse infestation leads to a buildup of urine, feces, and decomposing rodents, causing strong, foul odors that can spread throughout the property.

8. Damage to Personal Items

Mice will shred paper, clothing, upholstery, and stored items in garages or attics to build nests.

Typical Signs of Mice Infestation

Seeing a rat or mouse is rare because they are clever and avoid human encounters. They are most active after dark or when they believe no one is home.

Even if you can’t spot a mouse, there are other signs you can look for, such as the following:

• Droppings
• Gnaw marks
• Rat tracks
• Nests
• Holes or shreds in insulation
• Smudge marks on beams or walls

How We Get Rid of Mice

Critter Control provides comprehensive mouse removal and prevention services, including:

✔ Inspection & Identification – Locating entry points and infestation sources.
✔ Exclusion & Sealing – Preventing future infestations by sealing access points.
✔ Trapping & Removal – Safe and humane trapping solutions.
✔ Sanitation & Damage Repair – Cleaning contaminated areas and repairing gnawed structures.

Professional Rat Rodent Control

Rats breed throughout the year, reproducing seven or eight times yearly with seven or more offspring per litter. It doesn’t take long for your home to become infested with rats. The more rats you have, the more damage occurs. Calling a rat rodent control expert at the first sign of rodent activity is crucial.

Trying to control a rat problem yourself can lead to mistakes that worsen the situation. Using the wrong traps, insufficient traps, or the wrong bait can mean the rat population in your home will continue growing. Placing a trap in the wrong place may lead to a rat dying within your walls. The smell of decay can be intolerable.

Rat control experts devise a comprehensive plan consisting of an inspection, trapping, removal, exclusion, prevention, and sanitization. They have the proper tools to assess and implement the rat control plan so that you and your family are safe and do not have to worry about future rat problems.

Professional Pest Control Inspection

The mouse control process starts with a thorough inspection from a certified professional, like our Critter Control service technicians, who will look for signs of rats in your home, such as:

• Entry points that can be as small as a quarter
• Cracks and openings around doors and windows
• Droppings and urine trails along baseboards or appliances
• Nesting activities
• Gnaw marks on wood, plastic, vinyl, wires, etc.

Based on the inspection, we implemented a custom extermination and rodent control plan.

Rodent Trapping and Removal

Trapping is the most effective method of rodent control. The size of the population will determine the number of traps, the types of traps, and the bait to use. Infestation size also determines the process’s length, which can range from a few days to weeks. With a large colony, other control measures, including tamper-resistant bait stations, may be required around the perimeter of your structure.

The sooner you call the professionals for help, the sooner trapping and rat removal can begin. They take care of everything, including proper disposal and sanitization, so all evidence of rats is removed.

Post-Removal Cleanup

After removing the animal, the wildlife service technician applies sanitization agents to ensure the area is clean and won’t affect you or your family. Any traces of rat feces or urine can lead to unwanted consequences, including attracting more rodents and growing mold spores. Technicians will thoroughly disinfect where necessary, including removing dead rats. With that, you can breathe easier in your own home. Beyond sanitation, our specialists will help with certain repairs, such as replacing damaged insulation.

Rodent Exclusion for Rat and Mouse Control

If you successfully remove every rat in your home but do not implement exclusion and prevention techniques, your home is at risk for future rat activity. One of our technicians’ first exclusion methods is to seal up all quarter-inch or larger entry points.

A few common entry points include:

• foundation cracks
• loose-fitting screens
• holes for pipes
• chimneys
• loose soffits

Rats will likely gnaw through materials like plastic, wood, and caulking to enter your home. The professionals will use sealants, wire mesh, and other rat-proofing structures to safeguard your home.

Recurring Mouse Control Solutions

The rat removal steps above will give your home a much-needed reset. However, rats are clever and persistent and may try to reenter your home. Their search for food, water, and shelter may lead them back to your home, where they may try to create new entry points.

You can take management steps after completing the rat rodent control process to ensure your home maintains safety. For instance, regularly scheduled monitoring appointments with a professional can ensure you don’t experience future rat problems. Technicians search for new entry points and any signs of rat activity inside and outside your home. If they find something, they can fix the problem right away.