Rats and mice both come inside looking for food and shelter. Roof rats have become a real problem across the Las Vegas Valley, climbing palm trees and citrus into attics, while house mice slip through gaps the size of a dime once the cooler months arrive.
Which rodent do you have?
- Roof rat. Sleek and dark, with a tail longer than its body. It climbs trees, fences, and walls and nests in attics, palm trees, and dense shrubs.
- Norway rat. Heavier and brownish, with a shorter tail. It stays low, burrowing under slabs and woodpiles and getting into garages.
- Pack rat (desert woodrat). Common in neighborhoods near open desert. It builds large nests of sticks and debris and is known for chewing car wiring.
- House mouse. Small and gray-brown, with big ears and a thin tail about as long as its body. It nests in garages, under sinks, behind appliances, and in wall voids, and breeds quickly.
Signs and sources
Rats and mice are active at night, so most people notice the signs before they see one. Here’s what to look for:
- Scratching or running sounds in the attic, walls, or ceilings at night
- Droppings in the garage, attic, cabinets, or along walls: rice-sized for mice, larger for rats
- Hollowed-out citrus still hanging on the tree, a classic roof rat sign
- Chewed food packaging in the pantry or garage
- Gnaw marks on wood, wiring, or irrigation lines
- Shredded paper, fabric, or insulation used for nests
- Greasy rub marks along walls and beams
- A musty smell in closed spaces
They get in through gaps at the roofline, vents, worn garage door seals, and openings around pipes and the foundation.
Fallen fruit, pet food, and birdseed are the biggest draws we see in Valley yards.
What our treatment does
We inspect your home and yard to find how rats or mice are getting in and where they’re feeding, set up control in the right places, and show you which entry points need to be sealed.
What treatment can’t do
We’ll be straight with you: killing rodents without closing the way in just makes room for the next ones. Rats travel between yards along fences and trees, so if your neighbors have fruit trees or palms, new rats can keep moving in. Mice will find any gap that’s left open. Control takes care of the ones already inside, but sealing entry points is what makes the results last.
What actually helps
- Seal the gaps. Close openings at the roofline, vents, and around pipes. Pack steel wool into small gaps and seal them with caulk. Rats fit through a hole the size of a quarter, and mice through one the size of a dime.
- Fix the garage door seal. Replace worn bottom seals and side weatherstripping, and keep the garage door closed, especially at night.
- Pick up the fruit. Harvest ripe citrus and pick up fallen fruit every day.
- Trim the trees. Cut back palm skirts and keep branches several feet from the roof.
- Lock up the food. Store pet food, birdseed, grass seed, and pantry staples in sealed metal or hard plastic containers. Mice chew through bags and cardboard easily.
- Clear the clutter. Keep garage and storage items off the floor in sealed plastic bins.
Common questions
Do I have rats or mice?
Start with the droppings and where you find them. Mouse droppings are about the size of a grain of rice; rat droppings are much larger, about half an inch or more. Noises in the attic and hollowed-out citrus point to roof rats, while droppings in drawers and pantry shelves usually mean mice.
How do I know if I have roof rats?
Listen for scratching or running sounds in the attic at night, and check your citrus: fruit hollowed out while it’s still hanging on the tree is a classic roof rat sign. Droppings in the garage or attic and chewed irrigation lines are other common clues.
Can rats get into the attic from a palm tree?
Yes. Roof rats nest in the dead fronds of palm tree skirts and use trees, fences, and utility lines as highways. Branches or fronds touching the roof give them an easy path to vents and gaps along the roofline.
Do rats and mice carry disease?
They can. Rats and mice can carry diseases and parasites, and their droppings and urine can contaminate food and surfaces. Some wild mice in the Southwest carry hantavirus, so never sweep or vacuum droppings dry. Follow the safe cleanup steps in the tips below.
How small a gap can a mouse fit through?
A house mouse can squeeze through a gap about the size of a dime, roughly a quarter inch. If a pencil fits, a mouse can too.
How can I tell if they’re still around?
Fresh droppings are dark and soft; old ones are gray and crumbly. Clean up the old droppings safely (see the tips below), then check the same spots a few days later. New droppings mean they’re still active.
Why do mice come inside in the cooler months?
As nights cool off in fall and winter, mice look for warm, sheltered places to nest, and garages, attics, and wall voids fit the bill. Pet food and birdseed stored in the garage make it even more inviting.
Tips and tricks
Check your citrus. Roof rats love oranges and grapefruit. If you find fruit still on the tree with the inside eaten out and just the rind left hanging, you almost certainly have roof rats nearby, even if you’ve never seen one.
Clean up droppings safely
Rodent droppings and urine can carry disease, and some wild mice in the Southwest carry hantavirus. Sweeping or vacuuming can stir it into the air, so follow the CDC’s guidance instead:
- Open windows and doors and let the area air out for 30 minutes.
- Wear rubber gloves, and spray the droppings with a disinfectant or a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water).
- Let it soak for 5 minutes, then wipe it up with paper towels and throw them away in a sealed bag.
- Wash your gloved hands, then remove the gloves and wash your hands again.
Get help with rats and mice
Hearing noises in the attic or finding droppings? We’ll find how they’re getting in, set up control, and give you an honest plan.
Other pests we handle: Scorpions, Cockroaches, Ants, Spiders, Crickets, Stinging Insects, Bed Bugs, Flies & Gnats, Mosquitoes, Ticks & Fleas, Beetles, Centipedes & Millipedes, Silverfish, Pillbugs & Sowbugs. See the full pest library.