Mice and voles
Seal first, then trap
Mice come in for the warm. Trapping without sealing just catches the ones that are already in.
Step 1: Walk the outside
Around pipes, under siding, at garage corners, along the foundation, up to the roofline.
Step 2: Seal every gap
Metal mesh and sealant that mice can't chew. You see a photo of each spot.
Step 3: Trap and check
Snap traps in closed boxes, set where pets and children can't reach, checked on a schedule.
Step 4: Close it out
I tell you what I found, what I closed and what to watch for.
Materials
What goes in the gap
Foam and caulk alone don't stop a mouse. Metal does.
I pack openings with steel mesh and cover it with sealant, so the repair outlasts the winter. Where a gap is too big for that, I tell you what a carpenter or roofer should do instead.
Steel mesh at pipes and vents
Door sweeps and corner trim where needed
Screened vents that stay open
Guarantee
If they come back through my work
60 days, in writing
If mice get in through a spot I sealed, I come back and fix it at no charge for 60 days after the visit.
It doesn't cover new gaps, work someone else did after me, or damage from a later renovation.
Mice questions
How long until the noise stops?
For most homes, within a couple of weeks of sealing and trapping, though it varies with how many mice got in and how long they've been there. I check the traps on a set schedule and tell you what I find.
Is it safe for kids and pets?
I can't promise any pest product carries no risk. I follow the label, tell you where and when to keep children and pets away, and for mice I lean on sealing and traps in closed boxes. Ask me for the product list and I'll send it.
What about rats?
Rats are uncommon here. If you think you have one, text me a photo before anything else, and I'll say whether it's a job I take.
Do I need to be home?
For the first visit, yes or someone you trust, so I can walk the house with you. For checks and outside work, a gate code or a key left with a neighbor is fine.
Hear something in the wall?
Text a photo of where, and I'll tell you what to do until I can come.