The first cold nights hit Sacramento, and you hear it. A scratch in the attic. A rustle in the wall. Something small running across the garage floor.

Mice and rats spend summer outside. When it gets cold and the rain starts, they look for a warm, dry place with food close by. Your home checks every box.

The good news? You can shut the door on them. We call it rodentproofing.

What Is Rodentproofing?

Rodentproofing means closing every way a mouse or rat can get into your home. Traps and bait deal with the rodents you already have. Rodentproofing stops the next ones from moving in.

Pest pros call this rodent exclusion. It is the one step that keeps mice from coming back every winter.

Why Mice Keep Getting in Your House in Winter

If mice keep getting in your house every year, it's not bad luck. It's an open door you haven't found yet.

• They need warmth. Attics, walls and garages stay warmer than the yard.

• They need food. Pet food, bird seed, pantry goods and trash are easy meals.

• They squeeze through tiny gaps. A mouse can fit through a hole the size of a dime. A rat can fit through a hole the size of a quarter.

• Roof rats climb. In older Sacramento neighborhoods, roof rats run along tree branches, fences and power lines to reach your roof.

Your Rodentproofing Checklist

Grab a flashlight and walk around your home. Check these spots in order.

1. The Garage

The garage is the number one way in. Close the big door and look for daylight along the bottom and sides. If you can slide a pencil under it, a mouse can get in. Replace a worn bottom seal and add weatherstripping to the sides. To keep rats out of the garage, keep the door closed at night and don't store pet food there in open bags.

2. Doors

Check every outside door, including the one from the garage into the house. Add a door sweep if you see a gap at the bottom.

3. Vents

Look at foundation vents, attic vents and dryer vents. Cover open vents with 1/4 inch hardware cloth, which is a stiff metal mesh. Window screen won't work. Rodents chew right through it.

4. Pipes and Wires

Find every spot where a pipe, cable or wire goes into a wall. That includes your air conditioner lines, outdoor faucets and cable box. Pack the gap with steel wool or copper mesh, then seal it with caulk. Don't use spray foam alone. Mice chew through foam in one night.

5. The Roofline

Roof rat prevention starts above your head. Look where the roof meets the walls and around the eaves. Trim tree branches back from the roof so rats can't jump across. Keep vines and bushes off your walls.

6. Cracks in the Foundation and Siding

Small cracks in the foundation or siding are open doors. Patch them with mortar or an outdoor sealant made for the job.

Take Away Food and Shelter

Sealing gaps works best when your yard stops inviting rodents in.

• Store pet food, bird seed and chicken feed in metal bins with tight lids.

• Pick up fallen fruit from citrus and fruit trees.

• Keep firewood off the ground and away from the house.

• Use trash cans with lids that close all the way.

• Clear out clutter in the garage, where mice love to nest.

Signs You Missed a Spot

You did the checklist, but mice are still getting in. Look for these clues:

• Small, dark droppings in drawers, cabinets or along walls

• Chewed food boxes, wires or insulation

• Scratching in the attic or walls at night

• Dark grease marks along baseboards where rodents rub as they run

• Shredded paper or fabric piled in a corner

Any of these means there is still an opening you haven't found.

When to Call for Help

Some gaps are easy to fix. Others are hard to find, high up or buried behind siding. If rodents keep coming back, it's time to bring in a pro.

That's what our Exclusion Services are for:

• Whole home inspection. We check every corner of your home, inside and out, and find the openings rodents use most.

• Your patching plan. We show you every gap we found and how we'll fix it. We bring the materials and do the work.

• A fair quote. You get a clear price, far less than hiring a general contractor to redo a wall.

Book a whole home inspection for $200. Already have a pest control plan with us? You get a discount. Exclusion work is available for one story homes in Sacramento County.

Already have mice inside? Start with our rodent control. We'll clear them out, then seal the way they came in.

Rodentproofing Questions

Can I rodentproof my home myself? Yes, for the easy spots. Door sweeps, vent covers and sealed pipe gaps go a long way. The hard part is finding every opening. One missed gap is all a mouse needs.

How much does rodent exclusion cost? Our whole home inspection is $200, with a discount for plan customers. After the inspection, you get a quote based on what we find.

When is the best time to rodentproof? Fall, before the first cold nights. Once rodents settle in for winter, they nest and breed fast.

Rodentproof Your Home Before the Cold Sets In

Winter is when mice and rats move in. Fall is when you can stop them. Call (916) 500-0521 or book your whole home inspection (link → https://empyreanpest.com/exclusion-services) today. Same day service is available.