When temperatures drop, mice and rats look for warm, protected places to nest. In Cobb and Cherokee County, that often means your attic, crawlspace, garage or the wall voids in between. Sealing those entry points in fall is far more effective than dealing with a nesting problem in January.

Why Fall Is Rodent Season

Rodents aren’t looking for food alone in fall. They want shelter. Once they find a way in, they can nest, breed and chew through insulation, wiring and ductwork. House mice can squeeze through gaps about the size of a dime, and rats need a little more room. If you can see daylight through a gap, a rodent can probably use it.

Signs You Already Have Rodents

• Scratching or scurrying sounds in the attic or walls, especially at night
• Droppings in the attic, pantry, garage or along baseboards
• Greasy rub marks along walls
• Gnawed wires, boxes or insulation
• A musty or ammonia-like odor
• Tracks or tunnels in attic insulation

Mice in a crawlspace in Georgia are especially common because crawlspaces are dark, quiet and often connected to plumbing and utility penetrations.

Common Entry Points to Check

Attic and roofline

• Gaps where roof meets siding
• Damaged soffits, fascia and ridge vents
• Gable vents without screens
• Roof penetrations such as plumbing stacks

Crawlspace and foundation

• Damaged or missing foundation vent screens
• Gaps around plumbing, HVAC and utility lines
• Cracks in the foundation and areas where soil has washed out
• Loose or damaged access doors

Garage and exterior

• Worn garage door bottom seals
• Gaps around exterior doors
• Dryer vents and utility chases
• Tree branches that touch the roof

What Works for Sealing

Exclusion works best with durable materials rodents can’t chew through easily:

• Steel wool or copper mesh packed into small gaps and sealed in place
• Hardware cloth over vents and larger openings
• Metal flashing for damaged roofline areas
• Sealant or concrete patch over the material, for a permanent seal

Spray foam alone is not a rodent barrier, since rodents can chew right through it. Be careful about sealing before you know whether any rodents are still inside, or you may trap them in the structure.

Don’t Skip Cleanup

Rodent droppings, urine and contaminated insulation are a health and odor concern. Heavily affected areas may need cleanup and restoration. Our attic restoration and remediation service handles contaminated insulation and sanitizing after rodent or wildlife activity.

If the noises in your attic may be larger animals, such as squirrels or raccoons, see our wildlife control service for humane removal and exclusion.

Commercial Properties: Plan Before Winter

Restaurants, warehouses, offices and multi-family properties face the same fall pressure, with added risk from food, sanitation and documentation requirements. Our commercial pest control program includes inspection, prevention and documentation so you can catch problems before inspectors or customers do.

Rodent Control in Marietta and Woodstock, GA

Covenant Pest Services handles rodent problems through our pest control program, with a thorough inspection to find the entry points, treatment where needed, and exclusion work to keep rodents from coming back. We serve Marietta and Woodstock homes and businesses.

Hearing something in the walls? Request a free estimate or call (678) 437-1234 and we’ll look at your attic and crawlspace before winter sets in.