Mice and rats cause structural damage, contaminate food, and spread disease — and they are the most common wildlife pest in U.S. homes. This guide covers how to identify which rodent you have, how to eliminate an active infestation, and how to seal your home so they cannot return.
Start with the complete sealing guide: How to Seal Your House From Mice and Rats.
Identify the Rodent First
Mice and rats require different methods. House mice are small (2–4 inches), curious, and nest indoors. Norway rats are large, burrow outdoors, and enter through gaps as small as a quarter. Roof rats are agile climbers that nest in attics and trees. Squirrels and raccoons are larger wildlife that need exclusion, not trapping alone.
Our guide to mouse droppings vs rat droppings covers the most reliable identification method, and Norway rat vs roof rat explains the two rat species that cause most home infestations. If you’re hearing noises at night, noises in attic and walls: animal identification covers what each sound likely means.
How to Eliminate an Infestation
The method that works combines trapping and sealing. Snap traps are the most effective and humane for mice. Bait stations work for rats. Poison should be a last resort — rodents die inside walls and create odor problems. Critically, sealing entry points is what prevents the infestation from restarting after you trap the current population.
Our guide to humane mouse removal from house covers live trapping, and mouse trap placement for fast results covers where to put traps for maximum catch rate. For outdoor populations, best outdoor rat traps covers the options. For larger wildlife, how to trap raccoons covers the method.
How to Seal Your Home
Rodents enter through gaps as small as a quarter-inch. Walk the exterior of your home and seal every gap around pipes, vents, doors, and the foundation. Use copper mesh and sealant — steel wool rusts and mice push it out. Check the attic and crawl space for entry points.
Our guide to mice entry points: how to find covers the inspection process, and rodent-proof garage defense covers the most common entry area. If you’re dealing with a crawl space, crawl space rodent proofing and moisture control covers the full method.
Prevention
Remove food sources — store food in sealed containers, secure trash, and clean up fallen fruit. Reduce harborage — declutter storage areas, trim vegetation away from the foundation, and remove woodpiles. Keep outdoor pet food inside.
Our guides to preventing mice from coming inside for the winter and mice attractants in home and yard cover the seasonal prevention methods. For RV and camper owners, keep rodents out of RV and camper covers that specific problem.
When to Call a Professional
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