Get Rid of Rodents in the Walls
How to get rid of rodents in the walls
READ MORE:
Tell-tale scratching… chewed-up boxes and bags in the pantry… maybe you’re being haunted by an oddly hungry ghost. It’s more likely that you need to get rid of some rodents in your walls.
Keep reading this post for our expert tips on how to get rid of rodents in the walls and how to prevent future interlopers from finding their way in.
How to Get Rid of Rodents in the Walls
5 signs you have rodents
1. Rustling and Scratching
Rodents make a lot of scratching sounds as they build their nests and move around. Pay attention to those sounds and try to figure out where they’re coming from.
2. Droppings
Mouse and rat droppings look like small, black pellets. Seeing those on the floor or near walls is the biggest sign.
3. Chewed-up Fabric and Cardboard
Many rodents use these for preparing their nests inside your walls.
4. Tracks
rodents can leave greasy or dirty marks in the pathways they use to roam around your house, usually on the floor close to the walls.
5. Chewed-up Food Bags
Getting rid of rodents in your walls safely
Now that you’re certain you have rodents nesting in your walls, here are the steps to getting rid of them.
Figure out where they hide
To start, it’ll be helpful to know where these rodents are nesting, and what holes they’re using to come into your house. This will allow you to target them more effectively. Rodents can come in through the tiniest holes, from the roof or from the ground, through vents and pipes. They can even chew through piping to find their way in.
To figure out how they got in and where they hide, play detective and look for the signs we outlined in the section above. They’ll help you pinpoint the location of the infestation.
Tidy up
Your next order of business is to seal away all of the tasty treats the rodents are going for. Make sure to never leave crumbs or dirty dishes laying around. Move easy-to-chew-through food containers into the fridge or drawers that the rodents can’t access.
By making your home barren from convenient consumables, it’ll be easier to trap the rodents. In the future, it’ll keep your home from becoming an attractive destination for them.
Seal holes
Next, it’s important to seal most of the openings that the rodents are using to come into your home from the outside. Mice and rats, especially, can find their way in through the tiniest entrances, and they might be climbing in through the attic.
Depending on the entry points, you might be able to use caulk, steel wool, lath screen, or metal sheeting. It’s important to seal everything away so that you can trap the rodents effectively and prevent future infestations. Leave at least a few entry points inside accessible, which you’ll use to trap the rodents.
Traps
The next order of business is to trap the rodents. There are all kinds of traps available for catching rodents, from old-school snap traps to more humane bait cages. We recommend staying away from glue traps, however, as those tend to be the least humane option.
If you have already sealed entry-points and cleaned away food sources, a bait trap should work well. The rodents won’t be able to resist the easy access to food. Place the traps close to the entry points you’ve left unsealed.
Try to avoid poison
As a rule, we always suggest avoiding poison to get rid of rodents by yourself.
First of all, rodent poison can be extremely dangerous to children and pets in your household.
Second, while it can be effective at killing rodents, it doesn’t actively get rid of them. The mice or rats can end up dead in your walls, leading to a horrible smell that’ll be very hard to clear away without professional help.
Preventing future infestations
Whether you’ve done it yourself or used the help of a professional, from now on, these habits will help you prevent rodents from finding their way back in:
-
Continue to keep an eye out for potential rodent entryways, and seal them immediately
-
Keep your kitchen tidy and avoid leaving food accessible
-
Eliminate any leaks and clogs that might be causing excess moisture that makes things easier to chew through
For more advice, check out our quick guide for preventing rat and mouse infestations.
Professional rodent control
If this whole process sounds difficult or makes you squeamish, that’s perfectly reasonable! Getting rid of rodents in walls is meticulous work that highly depends on the unique situation in your home.
That’s why we offer a comprehensive rodent control process that eliminates all infestations and also makes your home rodent-proof for the long term.