Treatment
Mice and rats around the house and shop
Mice and rats come in when it gets cold, and they come in through gaps smaller than most people expect. The work is mostly finding those gaps.
Signs to look for
- Scratching in a wall or ceiling at night
- Droppings in a drawer, a cupboard or the corner of the shop
- Chewed feed bags, wiring or insulation
- A smell in a closed space that gets worse in warm weather
What I do
Four steps
- 01
Step 1: I find the way in
Gaps around pipes and vents, under overhead doors, along the foundation.
- 02
Step 2: I set traps
Placed along their runs, out of reach of children and pets. I check them on a plan we agree on.
- 03
Step 3: I seal what I can reach
Steel mesh and sealant in the gaps, from outside where I can.
- 04
Step 4: I write down what's left
Anything I couldn't reach or that needs a carpenter, so you can fix it.
Before and after
What you do, and what I do
What you do
Put feed in metal bins. Move wood piles and brush back from the walls. Tell me where pets, dogs and chickens spend their day.
Metal bins for feed and seed
Wood stacked away from the walls
Tell me where animals roam
What I do
I come back to check the traps and look at the sealing. I tell you when it's quiet and what I'd watch for.
A check on the traps
A written list of what I couldn't reach
A callback if the same spot reopens in 60 days
Questions about mice and rats
Will traps be a problem for my dogs or cats?
I place them where animals can't reach, and I tell you where each one is. Tell me about the pets and how they move around the house first.
Is bait okay?
Where bait is the right tool, I use stations that are closed and tell you where each is. Where there are children, dogs or livestock close by, I use traps instead.
How long until it's quiet?
It varies with how many are in and how many gaps there are. I tell you what to expect at the visit, not a date.
Do you fix the holes in the siding?
I seal small gaps I can reach with mesh. Larger repairs are a carpenter's job, and I'll write down where they are.
Send me a photo
A picture and where you saw it is enough to start.