Rodent Services: What to Expect When You First Discover Rats or Mice in Your Home
Hearing scratching in the attic. Finding droppings in the garage. Seeing a rat run across the yard at night. For many homeowners, discovering rodents in the home can feel stressful and overwhelming.
At Nature Pacific Pest Services, we believe the best approach is education, transparency, and a complete long-term solution — not just setting a few traps and hoping the problem goes away.
Our rodent control process is designed to not only remove rats and mice from your home, but also prevent them from coming back.
The Nature Pacific Pest Services Rodent Control Process
1. Thorough Inspection 🔍
Every successful rodent service starts with a detailed inspection.
Most initial inspections take approximately 60–90 minutes, depending on the size of the home and severity of the infestation.
During this appointment, our technician will inspect areas such as (in most cases):
- Attics
- Crawlspaces
- Garages
- Rooflines and eaves
- Exterior foundation areas
- HVAC and utility penetrations
- Storage spaces and sheds
We will also begin placing traps in active areas where rats or mice are present.
The goal of the inspection is to determine:
- How rodents are entering the home
- Where they are nesting
- The severity of activity
- What damage may already exist
- What steps are needed to fully solve the problem
Rodents can enter through surprisingly small openings. Mice can fit through holes the size of a dime, while rats can squeeze through openings about the size of a quarter.
2. Exclusion Repairs & Sealing Entry Points 🕳️ 🐀
After the inspection, the Nature Pacific technician will review all findings and provide a separate estimate for exclusion repairs.
This is the most important part of the rodent control process.
Without properly sealing entry points, rodents will continue to enter the home and create ongoing problems. In many cases, rats and mice avoid traps altogether because they still have easy access to outside food and shelter sources.
Exclusion repairs may include:
- Sealing roofline gaps
- Closing eave and vent openings
- Repairing crawlspace entry points
- Screening utility penetrations
- Replacing damaged vent screens
- Sealing siding or foundation gaps
- Rodent-proofing garage and door thresholds
- trenching and sealing around decks
A properly sealed home dramatically increases the effectiveness of trapping and long-term control.
3. Trapping Program
Once exclusion repairs are completed (or alongside exclusions), we begin a short-term trapping program.
Our technicians typically return every week or so to:
- Remove captured rodents & dispose of the rodents
- Reposition traps as needed
- Monitor rodent activity and report to client
- Adjust the treatment plan if necessary
The length of the trapping process varies depending on the severity of the infestation.
Typical trapping programs range from:
- 3–4 weeks for lighter infestations
- 5–7 weeks or longer for heavier infestations
Every home is different, and rodent activity levels can vary significantly.
4. Cleaning, Disinfecting & Sanitizing
Rodents do more than chew wires and damage insulation. Their urine and feces can spread bacteria and create unhealthy conditions in attics, crawlspaces, garages, and wall voids.
Another important fact many homeowners don’t realize is this:
Rodents rely heavily on their sense of smell.
If an attic or crawlspace smells like rodents, it can attract additional rodents from neighboring areas.
Nature Pacific Pest Services technicians will advise on any necessary cleanup and sanitation services.
These services may range from:
- Vacuuming rodent droppings
- Applying disinfectants and sanitizers
- Deodorizing contaminated areas
- Removing contaminated insulation
- Full insulation removal and replacement
- ducting removal and replacement
The recommended cleanup depends on the level of contamination and the condition of the affected areas.
5. Ongoing Maintenance & Periodic Inspections
After the inspection, exclusion work, trapping, and sanitation process are complete, the final step is transitioning into ongoing maintenance and monitoring.
Rodent control is not always a “one-time” service — especially in areas with heavy rodent pressure. Homes near creeks, open fields, or out in the countryside may need more frequent services.
Nature Pacific Pest Services offers maintenance plans including:
- Monthly
- Every other month
- Quarterly
- Twice per year
- Annual inspections
Exterior rodent stations may be installed to help monitor and control rodent populations around the home. Utilizing traps and bait which is non threatening to pets and wildlife as it is not an anti-coagulate bait.
Periodic inspections also help identify any new entry points rodents may create over time. Catch things early and it will save money 💰.
Preventative Measures Homeowners Can Take
Prevention plays a huge role in keeping rodents away.
Our technicians help educate homeowners on steps they can take to reduce rodent activity around the property.
Recommended preventative measures include:
Landscaping Maintenance
- Trim bushes, hedges, and shrubs so they are not touching the home
- Maintain a 2–3 foot gap between vegetation and the structure
- Trim tree branches away from the roofline
- Maintain approximately 4–5 feet of clearance between branches and the roof
Food Source Reduction
- Remove pet food and water bowls after feeding
- Avoid leaving food outside overnight
- Pick up fallen fruit from fruit trees
- Remove or properly maintain bird feeders
General Property Maintenance
- Keep storage areas organized
- Seal small gaps early before rodents enlarge them
- Inspect garages and sheds regularly
- Monitor for droppings or scratching noises
A Comprehensive Rodent Solution
At Nature Pacific Pest Services, we provide comprehensive rodent services customized to each client and their home.
Our goal is not just to trap rodents — it’s to:
- Identify how they entered
- Seal the home properly
- Remove active infestations
- Sanitize contaminated areas
- Help prevent future infestations
If you are hearing noises in the attic, finding droppings, or suspect rodent activity, early action can help prevent larger and more costly damage down the road.
Serving homeowners throughout Santa Rosa Sonoma County and the surrounding North Bay area.
