Mice & rats · Identify
10 min read
Can Mice Climb Walls? How High Mice and Rats Can Jump
Yes, mice can climb walls: brick, wood, pipes and wires, and they jump about a foot. See what stops them, how rats compare, and which gaps to seal first.
Tag
Attic
Guides for pests in the attic: the signs to look for up there, how they get in, and how to clear them out.
Mice & rats · Safety & Cleanup
9 min read
Mice in Insulation: Do You Need to Replace It All?
Mice in insulation don’t always mean a new attic: trap and seal first, then bag only the soiled patches and top them up. Full restoration runs $3.30–$5.50 per sq ft.
Rats · Get Rid of Pests
9 min read
How to Get Rid of Rats in the Attic
Rats in the attic are usually roof rats. Pre-bait rat-size snap traps on beams and pipes for a few nights, then set them; trim branches back from the roof, seal gaps at the roofline and vents, and clean up droppings the CDC way.
Mice · Repellents
10 min read
Do Mothballs Keep Mice Away? What the Label Says
No. Mothballs are labeled for fabric pests in tightly closed containers, not for mice or rats. Why they fail, the health and legal risks, and what works instead.
Rats · Get Rid of Pests
10 min read
How to Catch a Rat: Set, Bait and Place Rat Traps
Use rat-size snap traps, about $3.59 each: bait with a pea-sized amount, leave them unset for a couple of days, then set them all at right angles to the wall.
Mice & rats · Identify
8 min read
What Do Mice Sound Like? How to Tell Mice From Rats
Mice sound like light scratching, scurrying and gnawing in walls and ceilings at night, with the odd high squeak. Rats are louder. Confirm with droppings, then trap nearby.
Rats · Traps & Baits
10 min read
Best Rat Bait for Traps (Food, Not Poison): What Works
A pea-sized dab of chunky peanut butter, or a nut, raisin or bit of bacon tied to the trigger. Leave traps unset until the bait is taken, then set them all.
Mice & rats · Get Rid of Pests
10 min read
Mice or Rats in the Attic? How to Get Rid of Them Yourself
Snap traps along the eaves, metal over every roofline gap and a wet cleanup clear most attics. DIY supplies run about $57–71; shared pro sealing quotes run $1,400–$3,000.
Rats · Get Rid of Pests
12 min read
How to Get Rid of Rats: A Step-by-Step Plan for Your House
Rats need bigger traps and tougher sealing than mice. Here's the plan, step by step, for about $65–87 in supplies; shared pro quotes for sealing jobs run $1,400–$3,000.
Fall invaders · Get Rid of Pests
9 min read
How to Get Rid of Cluster Flies in the Attic and Windows
Vacuum or swat the sluggish flies at your windows, use a UV light trap in the attic, and seal cracks on the sunny upper walls by mid-August. Fly paper and lawn sprays don’t help. About $5 in caulk.
Fall invaders · Get Rid of Pests
9 min read
How to Get Rid of Ladybugs (Asian Lady Beetles) in Your House
Vacuum them into a knee-high stocking instead of crushing them, then seal the cracks they use before they fly to the house next fall. Indoor sprays don’t help. Supplies run about $15.