The method
Seal first, trap second
Three steps, in this order. Each one has a reason, and skipping one is why mice come back.
1. Find every way in
A technician walks the outside with a flashlight and a ladder, then the basement, crawl space and attic. A mouse needs a gap about the width of a pencil. A rat needs a hole about the size of a quarter.
Foundation, sill plate and porch skirting
Utility lines, dryer and range vents
Garage door seals, soffits and roof edges
2. Seal what we found
Every gap gets steel mesh or metal flashing, then exterior sealant over it. Foam and steel wool alone don't hold, so we don't use them alone. You get a list of what was sealed, spot by spot.
Steel mesh in vents and larger holes
Metal flashing at the sill and door bases
Sealant rated for outdoor use
3. Trap what's inside, then check
Snap traps go where the activity is, in covered stations. We return to check them, count what is left and confirm nothing new is coming in. The job ends when a check shows no new activity.
Covered stations, placed out of reach of children and pets
A check visit after the first trapping
Traps and stations picked up at the last check
What we skip
No poison left loose in your walls
Where mice die inside a wall they leave a smell for weeks, and loose bait can be found by pets and children. So we trap first, in covered stations, and we use bait only where trapping can't reach, in locked stations that we label and list.
We also don't spray for mice. Spraying doesn't close a gap.
Snap traps in covered stations
Bait only in locked stations, listed for you
No spraying for mice
Before the visit
What to do before we come
Clear the way
Move boxes away from basement walls and from under the stairs so we can reach the sill plate.
Put food up
Pet food, birdseed and pantry bags go into hard containers with lids until the last check.
Tell us what you heard
When and where: the kitchen wall at night, the attic at dawn. It tells us where to look first.
Before the first hard frost
Book a fall inspection
Mice start looking for a way in when nights turn cold. An inspection now means the gaps are sealed before they do.