Fall Rodent-Proofing: Stop Mice Before They Get In
Rats and mice move indoors when temperatures drop. Seal the entry points now and you skip winter's biggest pest problem.
Fall is when rodent calls spike. As temperatures drop, mice and rats look for warm, dry harborage — and your home is the target. Get ahead of it with a fall inspection.
The dime-and-quarter rule
Mice can squeeze through a gap the size of a dime. Rats need something closer to a quarter. Walk the exterior of your house and look at every place a wire, pipe, or vent enters — those are the top entry points.
Common entry points
- Gaps around dryer vents, HVAC lines, and gas lines
- Garage door corners and thresholds
- Roof soffits and fascia joints
- Foundation cracks
- Chimney caps (missing or damaged)
Interior signs
Droppings in cabinets, scratching in walls or ceilings at night, gnaw marks on food packaging, and greasy rub marks along baseboards.
Trap-then-seal is the professional approach
A pro will place tamper-resistant bait or snap-trap stations inside, then seal exterior entry points with steel wool, hardware cloth, and sealant. Cost typically runs $200–$600. Free estimates.