Rats, mice, and squirrels (the most common rodents in South Florida) are not only pests but can also cause significant damage living inside your house. These critters can squeeze through tiny holes and can gnaw through most home construction materials. An established rodent population cannot be controlled with repellents or deterrents.
Most Common Rodent Entry Points
There are common areas these pests use as entry holes. During our rodent inspection, we make sure to check each one of these locations and devise an exclusion plan to stop future rodent infestations.
The Roof
This is the most common rodent entry point, especially for roof rats!
If you hear scratching or squeaking coming from the roof or attic, your first task is to head on up there and check out every square inch. If your roof is high, steep, or you are uncomfortable with heights, then please hire a professional. Just make sure they specialize in pest-proofing and one-way doors – always read reviews. Also, please don’t do this when it is raining…
Below are the common access-points on a roof:
Gutter lines
Gutter lines are one of the most common rat entry points.
The fascia (the board the gutter line is attached to) degrades quickly due to frequent exposure to moisture. Homes are built with a gap between the fascia and the roof decking for moisture control. There can be small gaps/seams at the inner and outer corners.
Rats will rarely pick a point off a flat board and start chewing, instead, they like to identify small gaps and flaws and exploit them.
At Critter Control, we check every inch of the gutter line, paying special attention to corners. We lift up the shingles to see how the roof decking meets the fascia. Signs of a roof rat access point is gnaw marks, droppings in the gutter nearby, and black grease marks from the rats’ fur.
To exclude a gutter line, simply cut long strips of steel mesh (usually 3-4? wide x 4? long) and screw them into the gutter line to cover the gaps. You might have to do a small section, or you might have to do the entire line. If there is any gap at all, we would recommend addressing it all.
Soffit angles
Soffit angles are where the soffit line of one roof section meets the shingles of another. These are difficult-to-reach places during construction, and sometimes there is little holding the soffit in place.
A variety of nuisance wildlife can gain access to the attic from the soffits. Raccoons will get in the angle and use their head to try to knock the soffit out of place – we hardly see a house with roof access in the Lower Mainland without dents in their angles! If it is an active access you’ll notice it easily, if it looks tight and clean then just give it a good push to test how strong it is. Not every soffit angle needs to be excluded, but if it is flimsy then you should address it.
These can be tricky to pest-proof. The key is to cut steel mesh the same width as the soffit line and about 4? long. Tack it onto the line, run tight into the angle, and then screw it down onto the shingles. Pick up some roof sealant to cover your screws to be safe, but usually, you’ll be under the cover of the soffit line above so leaks aren’t much of a concern.
Take a good look at your finished product, if there’s more than a 1/2? gap then you either need a bigger piece or just install some filler pieces. This doesn’t have to be pretty – you’ll hardly see it from the ground – but if you can pull it out of place then it likely won’t last. Don’t underestimate these things!
Chimneys
This is usually where people think the rats are accessing the roof, but it’s not as common as you would think. If there is no grating on the chimney hole then you have a few options. We usually cut a piece of mesh just slightly bigger than the opening and press it inside; the mesh will bite and hold with enough strength to be effective.
Plastic roof vents
Often overlooked, plastic vents are an easy access point for a variety of larger pests. Although they look sturdy from the outside, anything that squeezes underneath the overhang has only a plastic bug mesh to chew through. The best thing to do is to grab a flat nail-puller and gently pull the vents completely off the roof to expose the hole. If you don’t have an attic hatch, this is a great way to get a look inside!
Walls
Take an initial walk around and check your walls from the ground up – there likely isn’t a random hole in the middle of the wall, but look anyway. Take note of any plastic vents or metal vents that might have screens missing or loose.
Foundation
Holes in the foundation most often occur where the wood structure of the house meets the foundation. There might be an obvious hole, or it could be hidden underneath the siding.
If you can get your whole hand underneath your siding then you need to determine whether or not the siding is hiding weak infrastructure or not. The easiest way is to put on a glove and start feeling around. If you can’t find the top of the void then we would suggest excluding it. Fortunately, this is pretty simple. Cut some 3? strips of mesh and give them a bend down the middle (the long way), then push it up into the void and let it expand, that’s it!
Doors
Seems obvious, but it is often overlooked. Give all your doors and frames a good look – if there is a noticeable gap you can either cover it with mesh or flashing, or there are rodent-proof door sweeps that can be purchased and easily installed. These could be hard to get depending on your area; the company is based in the US and doesn’t have a huge presence yet.
Steps
Rats love nesting under steps, and if there is a void with an exposed flaw, you can bet they’ll try to exploit it.
You can usually tell if this is the problem by simply inspecting the perimeter of the step. Look for trails, digs, and droppings. If you think rats might be under the step and there is an activity that corresponds to the interior, then you should assume there is an access point behind it.
Large wooden steps often allow access underneath with a little work – this is the best-case scenario. Get under there and inspect the exterior wall, you’ll see an obvious access point if it is there.
If there is no access – such as a concrete step – then you’ll have to do some trenching. Dig a 1×1? hole around the perimeter of the step, and affix mesh from the step (just above the ground line) down into the trench, and then out, effectively creating an “L” shape. This can be tough if there are roots, but if it is necessary then you’ll just have to get through them. If you’re doing this with a concrete step, ideally you can get a hold of a concrete drill to affix the mesh. These can be rented for cheap, or we bet one of your neighbors has one. Punch a hole every foot and use concrete screws with washers to keep the screen tight to the step. This looks tidy and is as permanent as it gets.
Decks
Same deal as steps, but probably a little more common. If you think your deck is hiding an access point, you have a couple of options. If it’s high, crawl in there! If it’s low to the ground, you can pull up the boards close to the house and work that way – this often works!
How Critter Control Gets Rid of Rodents
Critter Control specializes in rodent removal and control. Rodent removal begins with a thorough inspection to determine how severe the problem is. The more established rodents are, the more involved the removal process will be. After inspecting, our wildlife specialist will build a custom solution to trap, remove, and seal all entry points.