Rats & Mice
Fast breeders that chew through everything.
Rats and mice want the same three things your home offers: warmth, food, and shelter. Once they're inside the walls or attic, a small problem multiplies quickly — and the chewing they do is both a fire risk and a health risk.
Where they come from
The Norway rat, roof rat, and house mouse all originated in Asia and spread worldwide alongside human trade. Along the California coast the roof rat is especially common, nesting high in attics, palm trees, and dense vines rather than in burrows. All three are "commensal" rodents — they've evolved to live right alongside people, which is why sanitation alone rarely keeps them out.
Life cycle
Rodents breed relentlessly. A house mouse reaches maturity in about six weeks and a female can produce up to eight or more litters a year, several pups at a time. Rats aren't far behind. That math means a single pair can become dozens within a few months, so an infestation that seems minor today can be a serious one by next season.
The damage they cause
A rodent's front teeth never stop growing, so it gnaws constantly — on wood, pipes, insulation, and electrical wiring, where the stripped wires become a genuine house-fire hazard. Rodents also contaminate food and surfaces with droppings and urine and can spread diseases including hantavirus, salmonella, and leptospirosis, while carrying fleas and ticks indoors.
Warning signs
- Dark, pellet-shaped droppings along walls, in cabinets, or in the attic
- Gnaw marks on food packaging, wood, or wiring
- Greasy rub marks where they travel along baseboards and beams
- Scratching or scurrying sounds in walls and ceilings at night
- Nests of shredded paper, insulation, or fabric in hidden spots
- A restless or fixated pet staring at a wall or appliance
Trapping alone is a losing game if the door stays open, so we start with exclusion — sealing every entry point — then combine strategic trapping and baiting with sanitation guidance and follow-up monitoring so they don't come back.
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