Effective rodent control combines trapping or tamper-resistant baiting with exclusion, which means sealing the gaps mice and rats use to get inside. Signs include droppings, gnaw marks, nests, and scratching sounds in walls or ceilings. Without sealing entry points, rodents often return, so ask whether exclusion work is included and warrantied.
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Mice and rats are among the most common reasons Middle Tennessee homeowners call a pest control company, especially when fall nights turn cool and rodents look for warm shelter. Rodents contaminate food, chew wiring and insulation, and can carry diseases, so it's worth acting on early signs.
Signs of rodents
- Droppings in cabinets, drawers, along walls, or in the attic or crawlspace.
- Gnaw marks on food packaging, wood, or wiring.
- Scratching or scurrying sounds in walls or ceilings, often at night.
- Nests made of shredded paper, fabric, or insulation.
- Grease marks along walls and baseboards where rodents travel.
Mice, Norway rats, and roof rats
- House mice are small and can fit through openings about the size of a dime.
- Norway rats are larger and tend to burrow, often nesting in crawlspaces, under slabs, and along foundations.
- Roof rats are agile climbers that can enter through rooflines and travel along tree limbs and utility lines.
Knowing which one you have changes where the technician looks and how the home is sealed.
What professional rodent control usually includes
- Inspection of the attic, crawlspace, garage, and exterior to find activity and entry points.
- Population reduction with traps and, where appropriate, tamper-resistant bait stations placed by a licensed technician.
- Exclusion: sealing gaps around pipes, vents, garage doors, and rooflines with durable materials like hardware cloth, metal flashing, and sealant. Without this step, rodents tend to return.
- Follow-up visits to check traps and confirm activity has stopped.
Clean up safely
Don't sweep or vacuum rodent droppings, which can stir up dust and germs. Public health guidance generally recommends ventilating the area, wearing gloves, wetting droppings and nesting material with a disinfectant or bleach solution, and wiping them up with paper towels. For heavy contamination in an attic or crawlspace, ask whether the company offers cleanup or insulation replacement.
Prevention tips
- Store food, pet food, and birdseed in sealed metal or hard plastic containers.
- Keep garbage in lidded cans and away from the house.
- Trim tree limbs back from the roof.
- Keep firewood and clutter off the ground and away from the foundation.
- Install door sweeps and repair torn vent screens.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Does your plan include exclusion work, and is it warrantied?
- How do you keep baits away from children, pets, and wildlife?
- How many follow-up visits are included?
Hearing noises in the walls? Request a pest control company and tell us where you've seen signs.
Frequently asked questions
How small a gap can a mouse fit through?
House mice can squeeze through openings about the size of a dime, and young rats through openings not much larger. That's why sealing small gaps around pipes, vents, and doors matters.
Why do I have more mice in the fall?
As nights cool, mice and rats look for warm shelter and food, and homes are an easy target. Fall is a good time to seal entry points and check the attic and crawlspace.
How should I clean up mouse droppings?
Don't sweep or vacuum them. Ventilate the area, wear gloves, wet the droppings with a disinfectant or bleach solution, wipe them up with paper towels, and dispose of them in a sealed bag. Wash your hands afterward.