Rodents

- Small dark droppings in pantries, cupboards or along baseboards. - Gnaw marks on wood, plastic and electrical wiring; chew holes near foundation and utility entrances. - Scratching or scurrying noises in walls, attics or crawlspaces at night. - Greasy rub marks and footprints along walls or in dusty areas.

Integrated rodent management: seal all entry points (exclusion), snap traps or tamper-resistant bait stations inside, perimeter bait stations outside; sanitation improvements to remove food sources. Local integrated rodent management emphasizes thorough exclusion of entry points, strategic snap traps or tamper‑resistant bait stations inside, and perimeter baiting outside combined with sanitation improvements.

• Seal all gaps larger than a dime on exterior walls, foundations, and utility penetrations.
• Store food — including pet food — in sealed metal or heavy-plastic containers.
• Keep garbage in lidded bins and clean up spills and crumbs promptly.
• Trim vegetation and remove clutter that provides shelter within 3 feet of the home.
• Inspect attic, crawlspace, and garage regularly for droppings or gnaw marks.
• Seal holes larger than a dime around foundations, utility penetrations and rooflines—pay special attention to stone piers and crawlspace vents.
• Store pet food and pantry items in metal or heavy‑plastic containers.
• Keep shrubs and debris trimmed back at least 3 feet from the house on Asheville’s narrow lots.
• Secure garbage in lidded bins and clean spills promptly after outdoor events.
• Inspect attics and crawlspaces seasonally for nesting materials and droppings.

Highly adaptable; nest in wall voids, attics, crawlspaces, and underground burrows; opportunistically enter structures through gaps as small as a dime (mice) or a quarter (rats).

Rodent pressure in Asheville rises each fall as mice and rats move indoors; older homes on hillsides, stone foundations and properties with attic access are especially vulnerable.