How to get rodents out of the attic

Rodents enter the attic to live and nest. Squirrels scamper about all day but rats and mice leave at night in search of food. These creatures carry harmful diseases and can cause fire hazards since they chew on electrical wiring. They can also chew through drywall and wooden furniture. It is imperative to remove rodents for health and safety reasons.

The first step in removing the rodents is to thoroughly examine the roof and attic for any entry points. These are small holes and gaps, usually measuring half an inch or the size of a quarter. A black light can be used to search for urine which may guide you to their entry and exit points. Pay attention to all vents, pipes, walls and surrounding architecture. Examining the house from top to bottom is also a good idea.

You would then have to seal up all these holes and gaps to trap them inside, or make it difficult for them to return. Use steel to block off all these areas because rodents cannot chew through it, and use caulk or sealant to stop airflow because rodents are sensitive to air coming through spaces. Sealing is very important otherwise you would have to keep trying to get rodents out forever.



After sealing off the attic, you would then have to set traps to catch the ones that are still inside. Rodents usually run the same pathway so you may notice droppings or brown grease. You can even sprinkle powder to pick up the trail. Lay traps throughout the attic, especially along any of the pathways found. Bait such as peanut butter, cheese, chocolate etc. may be used, but it is not necessary once there are sufficient traps, usually around a dozen or so, the more the better, that are strategically placed across their pathway.

Stay away from glue traps and poison as these are inhumane and may not always work. Some rodents may not die with poisoning, depending on the type of rodent or type of poison, but having it around the house is especially harmful if there are kids around.

Check the attic every day to monitor the traps and remove any that are caught. Use gloves and masks when removing the dead rodents. Reset all the traps until you are certain that there are no more rodents. To be certain, you must check frequently for droppings or chew marks and listen for noises such as scampering, scratching and running.

The final step is the cleanup. Once you are sure there are no more rodents, replace all wiring, do the necessary repairs and decontaminate the area. Check again for bite marks and droppings. If you notice more of these then you would have to re-examine the area for holes and gaps. Repeat the entire process again.

You can also contact a pest control company to permanently remove the rodents and prevent them from returning. The house should be examined at least once a year thereafter, for any holes or gaps.


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