Why trap placement is half the job.
A misplaced trap catches nothing and only makes the animal warier. A trap on a worn lane along a wall, beside a pipe or at the mouth of a burrow can work within a night or two. The difference comes from reading the evidence before any trap leaves the truck.
Mice tend to follow edges, so the best spots are flush with the wall. Rats walk identical lanes night after night and avoid anything novel, so boxes that fit the lane and a patient timetable count for more than a heap of traps.
Choosing the trap.
- Snap traps in covered boxes, for mice in kitchens, pantries and garages where pets are present.
- Enclosed stations with a tamper-resistant lid, for rats along foundations and fences.
- Multi-catch devices in quiet outbuildings, when a larger group is likely.
- Monitoring stations with no trap or bait, to confirm that an area has gone quiet.
The right tool depends on the animal, the room and the household. A shed with no pets nearby allows more options than a kitchen. We explain the choice and show you where each device sits.
Logging and checking.
Every device gets a number and a spot on a simple sheet. On each return visit we record what was caught, whether any bait or lure was taken and whether new droppings appeared nearby.
| Day. | What we do. | What it tells us. |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0. | Place devices on marked lanes. | Starting positions and a baseline of activity. |
| Day 2 to 3. | First check, adjust positions. | Which lanes are live and which are cold. |
| Day 6 to 8. | Second check, add or move devices. | Whether the count is falling. |
| Final check. | Confirm quiet, pull devices. | Whether sealing can finish the job. |
Removal does not end at the last catch.
Once catches slow, we seal the openings the animals used. Sealing too early traps animals inside a wall, and sealing too late lets new ones arrive. The timing comes from the log, which is why it exists.
Cleanup of soiled attic or cellar areas follows. See attic and crawl space cleanup and exclusion and sealing for how those stages work.
Not sure what a walk-through includes? A dispatcher will explain it while you are on the line.
Dial (888) 686-4821What to do at home between visits.
Keep pets and children away from device locations and do not move anything. If a trap springs while we are away, wear gloves, bag the animal and call us to reset. For droppings left behind, the CDC page linked below describes the wet cleanup method.
Store food in lidded containers and keep the kitchen clean at night. Fewer easy meals make traps more attractive, and that shortens the whole job.
Before you call, a safe cleanup sequence
These steps need no phone call. They are the same ones agencies give anyone who finds droppings at home.
- Fast, hard scrubbing lifts dust, so go gently and keep everything wet.
- A garage, shed or attic that has been shut up holds stale air, so open it wide and stay away for thirty minutes.
- Wear gloves from the first minute, because unwashed hands carry waste to the mouth, and finish with soap and water.
- Drench the pellets and the surface beneath them in disinfectant, or in bleach mixed with water, and let it stand about five minutes.
- Towels and carcass can share one knotted bag, and thin plastic calls for a second bag around it.
- Lingering fever or breathlessness after an exposure belongs in front of a doctor.
Read the agencies' own words
When a detail matters for your household, compare it with the originals listed here.
- CDC steps for lowering hantavirus risk: CDC guidance on limiting contact with rodents in and around houses, sheds and vehicles.
- CDC walkthrough for cleaning up after rodents: The CDC's own wording for venting, soaking and bagging, in that order.