Rodents

Mice and rats are among the most destructive pests that can invade a home. Beyond contaminating food and spreading disease, rodents gnaw on electrical wiring — a documented cause of house fires. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates that rodent-damaged wiring is responsible for thousands of structural fires each year in the United States.

The two most common residential rodent species are the house mouse (Mus musculus) and the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus). House mice are small (2-4 inches body length), gray-brown, and incredibly agile — they can squeeze through gaps as small as 1/4 inch, roughly the diameter of a pencil. Norway rats are much larger (7-10 inches body length), brown, and prefer ground-level or below-ground habitation like basements and crawl spaces. Roof rats (Rattus rattus), more common in coastal and southern states, are slender, excellent climbers, and typically infest attics and upper floors.

Rodent reproduction is alarming. A single pair of mice can produce 5-10 litters per year with 6-8 pups each. In theory, a pair of mice can give rise to thousands of descendants in a single year if left unchecked. This is why early detection and swift action are critical.

Rodents carry and transmit over 35 diseases, including hantavirus (spread through droppings and urine), salmonella (through food contamination), leptospirosis, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM). Their droppings, urine, and nesting materials can contaminate insulation, ductwork, and stored items.

Effective rodent control requires a two-part approach: elimination (trapping or baiting to remove the existing population) and exclusion (sealing all entry points to prevent re-entry). Simply trapping mice without sealing gaps is a temporary fix — new rodents will enter through the same openings. Professional exclusion services inspect the entire building envelope and seal every gap larger than 1/4 inch with steel wool, hardware cloth, or expanding foam.