Mice and rats in Portland homes
Where they get in, and what we do about it.
Mice need a gap the size of a pencil. Rats need one the size of a quarter. In a wet city they come in when the weather turns, through the garage, the crawl space vents and the places where a pipe goes through a wall.
Why we seal before we trap
Traps without sealing catch the mice that are in the house today and do nothing about the ones outside. We close the gaps first, so what we catch is what is left.
What we can and can't tell you
We can tell you where they are getting in and what we've closed. We can't promise every gap has been found in a house we couldn't fully reach. If an attic or crawl space needs cleaning or insulation, we say so and give you the next step.
Signs we look for
Scratching in the ceiling or walls
Usually at dusk and after dark.
Droppings along a wall or in a drawer
We photograph them where they lie, and we handle the cleanup with the right protection.
Gnawed packaging or chewed wire
Dry goods in the pantry and storage in the garage.
Greasy marks along a baseboard
Rubbing from the same route, again and again.
What we do
- 01Step 1
Step 1: Look
We walk the outside first, then the garage, crawl space, attic and kitchen, and photograph every gap we find.
- 02Step 2
Step 2: Close
We seal with steel mesh, metal flashing and exterior sealant, and name every material on your quote.
- 03Step 3
Step 3: Watch
Snap traps go in covered stations. We check them at set visits and write down what each caught.
- 04Step 4
Step 4: Treat
If trapping isn't enough, a bait product is placed in a locked station, away from pets and children, with the label followed. Stations come out at the last check.
Questions about mice and rats
Will you clean up after them?
We clean up droppings we find along the route and tell you what's beyond our scope, such as attic insulation.
How many visits is it?
Usually an inspection and sealing visit, then two or three check visits over a few weeks. Some houses take more.
What if they come back?
If the pest we treated comes back in the same place within 60 days, we return and re-treat at no charge. It doesn't cover a pest we didn't treat, or a way in we told you to close that is still open. The terms are written on your quote before work starts.
Hearing something in the walls?
Text where and when you heard it, or a photo of what you found.