If I took a wild guess at the percentage of homes I inspect that have a rodent problem, I would say it’s upwards of 60 percent of homes. Over half of homes in the Seattle/Tacoma area I inspect have rodents in the crawlspace or attic; or worse, in the house! When I tell that to my clients, they are shocked at that number. Here are the two keys to getting rid of your rodent infestation:
- Find the entry points and seal them off. Common entry points to the crawlspace that I find are: a poorly sealed exterior crawlspace hatch, and holes in crawlspace vent screens. How do rats get into the attic? I get that question all the time. If there are bushes or trees touching the house or roof, it makes for easy access to any hole in attic vent screens, or gaps between exterior walls and roof trusses. So find where your rodents are getting in and cover those openings so they can’t get in anymore.
- Kill them off! Or if you aren’t that cold-hearted, you can trap them and let them go in the wild. There are a variety of options here. From your traditional mouse trap, to glue pad or little boxes that they are lured into then can’t escape. Another option is to put out a bait that when eaten dehydrates the rats and makes them run out of the house to find water where they will die. If this method is done, do this, set the bait then seal off the entry points a few days later as to not to trap the rats to die in the crawlspace of attic.
Many home owners go years without even thinking about their crawlspace or attic, let alone inspecting these areas. This should be done every few months to check for any kind of infestation. There are plenty of pest control companies out there that would be happy to help you with your rodent problem.
