Mice and Roof Rats in Ellis County: Keeping Your Home Rodent-Free This Season
When the weather cools off in Ellis County, mice and rats start looking for a cozy place to spend the winter. A little sealing and tidying can keep them from choosing your home. Here is what homeowners ask most, with answers from Texas A&M AgriLife.
What's making noise in my attic? Is it rats?
It could be roof rats. Texas A&M says roof rats are good climbers that prefer to live off the ground, in attics, roof spaces, walls, and trees. They are active at night and can go unnoticed for a long time. Signs to look for include scratching sounds, droppings, gnaw marks, and dark grease marks where they rub along walls and entry points.
How small a hole can a mouse or rat fit through?
Smaller than you'd think. A mouse can squeeze through a gap about the width of a pencil (about ¼ inch), and a rat can get through a ½-inch gap.
How do I rodent-proof my attic?
Roof rats usually get in from overhanging trees or power lines. Texas A&M suggests:
Seal openings larger than ¼ inch in foundations, walls, fascia, and roofs.
Screen vents and add door sweeps.
Trim tree limbs and shrubs back from the house.
Clear clutter and debris, and keep mulch and leaf litter away from the foundation.
Use trash cans with tight-fitting lids and fix leaks that leave standing water.
When cleaning up droppings, AgriLife advises good ventilation, avoiding stirring up dust, and wearing protective gear. The CDC adds: wear rubber or plastic gloves, don't sweep or vacuum droppings, and disinfect with a household disinfectant or a fresh bleach solution.
Why do rodents come inside when it gets cold?
Mouse problems can happen any time of year, but especially in fall as temperatures drop. Small openings leak warm air and food smells that draw rodents in. Texas A&M entomologists say to expect more pests looking for shelter as the weather turns colder.
Are rat populations increasing?
Maybe, but it's hard to say. When rat sightings rose across Texas in 2020, Texas A&M AgriLife IPM specialist Janet Hurley said the "population spike" was anecdotal for now; rats had probably always been around, and more people were home to notice them. Either way, her advice is simple: clean up food and water spills, store pet food in plastic bins, check for standing water, and seal entry points larger than a quarter inch.
Related guides: cockroaches · sealing gaps against scorpions
Local service: Pest control services in Waxahachie · Forreston pest control
Need a hand?
If you'd rather have a local pro take a look, Stroope Pest Control is happy to help. We're locally owned, right here in Ellis County, and we serve Waxahachie, Red Oak, Midlothian, Ennis, Ovilla, Glenn Heights, Italy, and Forreston.
When you have problems, we have solutions. Call (972) 938-2129.
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