Why traps alone don’t work
Traps catch the rodents already inside, but as long as the ways in are open, new ones keep coming. The fix is to close every entry opening we find. More in why traps alone don’t work.
Roof rats come in high
The University of California (UC IPM) describes roof rats as agile climbers that nest in trees, shrubs and ivy outdoors and favor attics and wall voids indoors, and advises trimming tree limbs back from the roof. So besides the openings low on the house, we check the roofline: vents, eaves and roof gaps.
How we seal
Galvanized steel mesh, putty and concrete, inside the attic, crawl space and garage and on the outside of the house. We seal the small gaps too: the CDC notes a mouse can fit through a hole the width of a pencil, about 1/4 inch. You get photos of every opening we find.
Traps and the follow-up visit
For rats and mice we set traps where the signs show they travel; for larger animals we seal the openings so they can’t get back in. We come back at least two weeks after the job to check the traps. Rodent proofing comes with a warranty.
What it often comes with in Milpitas
Based on our finished jobs in Milpitas, rodent proofing is the second most booked service here, right after attic cleanup and sanitizing. Once the ways in are closed, the attic is cleaned out and, often, re-insulated. See attic cleaning in Milpitas.
Sealing, cleanup and new insulation can all be quoted together. The free inspection in Milpitas covers the attic, the crawl space, the garage and the openings outside, and the written quote is usually ready 30–60 minutes after the inspection, the same day at the latest. Booking two or more services takes 10% off; jobs over $2,000 take $300 off (one discount per job).