Rats and mice in Valley homes
Roof rats are the rodent every Valley homeowner with palm trees, ivy or overhead power lines eventually meets. They travel above ground, not just through the yard, and a female can have several litters a year. Norway rats and house mice show up too, closer to the ground around sewers, garages and stored boxes.
Rats and miceHow to tell it's this one
- Roof rats are about the size of a fist with tails longer than their body, and they travel along power lines, fences and palm fronds instead of the ground
- Droppings the size of a grain of rice with pointed ends, clustered where they feed
- Norway rats are heavier bodied and stick close to the ground, sewers and crawl spaces
- Scratching and running sounds in the attic right after dark
- Grease marks and rub trails along beams where the same route gets used night after night
- House mice leave smaller, pointed droppings, more scattered than clustered
Where it hides in Valley homes
- Attics reached by palm fronds, ivy or overhead power lines touching the roof
- Wall voids and the space above the insulation
- Garages and stacked storage boxes
- Crawl spaces under the house
- Dense ivy or stacked firewood against the exterior wall
When it shows up
From our own route records, month by month.
What to do right now
- 1Trim palm fronds and tree branches back at least 3 feet from the roofline
- 2Pick up pet food and birdseed at night
- 3Store dry goods in the pantry in hard sided containers, not bags
- 4Don't set your own snap traps once you've called us, mark where you've seen activity instead so we can find the entry point
How Facility handles rats and mice
We start with an inspection to find every entry point, roofline gaps, vents and pipe chases, then seal what we can and place bait and traps to label in the attic, garage and perimeter. We clear old droppings and nesting material where it's accessible and keep checking stations on a set schedule so a new entry point gets caught early. Every visit is backed by our 30 day guarantee: if activity returns we re treat the problem areas at no additional charge.
Rats and mice questions
What do rat droppings look like?
Rat droppings are about the size of a grain of rice with pointed ends, usually clustered wherever the rat has been feeding or traveling regularly. Fresh droppings are dark and slightly shiny, older ones turn gray and crumbly. Finding a cluster near the pantry, attic access or under the sink is a strong sign of active, not old, activity.
Why do I hear scratching in my attic at night?
Roof rats are nocturnal and most active right after dark, which is when homeowners usually hear scratching, running or gnawing overhead. They travel along power lines, fences and palm fronds to reach the roofline, then nest in the attic where it's warm and dry. The scratching means they're already settled in, not just passing through.
Are roof rats dangerous?
Roof rats can spread disease through droppings and urine, and they chew through electrical wiring, irrigation lines and stored belongings, which creates a real fire and water damage risk. They breed quickly, so a pair in the attic can become a much bigger problem within a few months if it isn't addressed.
How do rats get onto my roof if there's nothing to climb?
Roof rats are excellent climbers and use palm trees, overhead power lines, fences and tree branches that touch or overhang the house as a bridge to the roofline. Trimming branches back at least 3 feet from the roof removes their easiest route, though a determined rat can still find another way up.
Will mouse traps alone get rid of an infestation?
Store bought traps can catch individual mice or rats but rarely solve an established infestation, especially with roof rats that have multiple entry points and nesting sites. Finding and sealing how they're getting in matters as much as trapping what's already inside, otherwise new rodents just replace the ones you catch.
Ready when you are.
Call, text, or send a quote request and Katie or Sam calls you back during office hours. No visit fee, no contract.
