Mouse and Rat Removal: Trapping, Exclusion, and Sanitation
Why traps alone never solve the problem — and how exclusion does.
Trapping mice and rats catches the current population. Exclusion — sealing the entry points — prevents the next one. Skip exclusion and you'll be trapping forever. Professional rodent exclusion runs $550-$1,700 for a typical home.
The three-step process
1. Inspection: identify entry points (typically 6-15 per home), nesting areas, and travel patterns. A mouse fits through a 1/4" gap; a rat through 1/2".
2. Exclusion: seal entry points with steel wool packed with caulk, hardware cloth, copper mesh, or sheet metal. Foam alone doesn't work — rodents chew through it.
3. Trapping: snap traps remain the most effective tool. Avoid glue traps (inhumane) and poison baits (cause rodents to die in walls, creating odor problems).
DIY vs. pro
DIY exclusion is realistic for a handful of obvious entry points (utility penetrations, garage door gaps, dryer vents). Whole-house exclusion is a 1-2 day job that pros do faster and more thoroughly.
Sanitation after rodent activity matters for health. Vacuum droppings and nesting material with HEPA filtration; ventilate before extended cleaning. Hantavirus risk is real with deer mice in western states.