Mice and rats: the short answer
The CDC's approach is simple: seal up, trap up, clean up. Close the gaps rodents use to get in, trap the ones already inside, and remove the food and shelter that drew them. Mice can squeeze through a hole about the size of a nickel, so sealing is the step most people skip. Call (334) 555-0147 to speak with a local pest control company in the Prattville area.
Signs of mice or rats
- droppings in cabinets, drawers, along walls or in the attic
- scratching or scurrying sounds in walls or ceilings, often at night
- gnawed food packaging, wires or wood
- nests of shredded paper or insulation
For other pests, see our guide to pest control around Prattville.
How urgent is it?
Treat rodents as a health issue, not just a nuisance.
The CDC says rats and mice are linked to more than 35 diseases worldwide, and in the US can spread hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, rat-bite fever, leptospirosis and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, which poses a particular risk to pregnant women. Penn State Extension adds that mouse and rat hair and waste can trigger asthma.
Seal up, trap up, clean up
- Seal: close holes and gaps. The CDC says mice fit through a hole about the size of a nickel and rats through one about half the size of a quarter. Penn State suggests stainless steel or copper mesh sealed with caulk for larger holes.
- Trap: use snap traps in and around the home, placed flush against walls where rodents travel and out of children's reach.
- Clean: remove food and water sources and clutter that gives rodents shelter. Don't sweep or vacuum droppings, which can stir up dust. Wet them with disinfectant first and wear gloves.
Our guide to keeping mice and rats out covers the common entry points.
What happens during treatment
Inspection
The technician finds entry points around the foundation, roofline, vents, garage and utility lines.
Trapping or baiting
Traps or tamper-resistant bait stations placed where rodents travel.
Exclusion
Gaps sealed with durable materials, often quoted as a separate job.
Follow-up
Traps checked and removed, and activity confirmed gone.
What affects the cost
- Number of entry points and how hard they are to reach.
- Exclusion work: sealing is often the biggest part of the price, and the part that keeps them out.
- Attic cleanup: removing contaminated insulation adds cost.
See the cost guide.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Where are they getting in, and will you seal those spots?
- Will you use traps, bait stations or both, and where?
- Does the exclusion work come with a warranty, and for how long?
Rodents around Prattville
Homes next to fields and woods, like parts of Kingston Hills and Pine Level, see more mice when nights turn cold, and so do older homes near Downtown Prattville and in Millbrook.
What to have ready when you call
- where you've seen droppings, damage or heard noises
- whether it's mice or rats, if you know
- whether anyone in the home is pregnant or has asthma