Rodent Pest Control in Northern Virginia

• House Mice: A small, round, gray-bodied rodent with a cream-colored stomach, a pointy nose, and large ears. These mice are typically about 4-6 inches long, including their tail. They breed year-round and are known to seek out structures with easy access to food, water, and shelter.
• Deer Mice: These mice are round with a brown body and white-colored feet/stomach. They are about 5-8 inches long (including their tail) and are commonly found in rural areas. They tend to make their homes in outdoor locations such as tree logs, leaf/log piles, and piles of debris. If they find their way into your home, they will likely choose areas with low foot traffic, such as attics, garages, basements, or barns.
• Norway Rats (Sewer Rat, Common Rat, Brown Rat): Norway rats are brown with speckled black bodies and light stomachs. They are around 7-9 inches long (including their tail), stocky, and have a blunt/rounded nose. As excellent climbers, they often enter homes through cracks in search of food, especially during the fall months.
• Roof Rats: These rats are brown or black with light-colored stomachs. They are smaller and thinner than Norway rats and typically measure 6-8 inches long. As their name suggests, they often enter through the upper parts of buildings and homes. Though they have poor vision, roof rats have a strong sense of smell and touch.

• Rodent Droppings: Small dark pellets typically found in cabinets, drawers, along walls, under sinks, and near food sources. These droppings can transmit disease, so it is important to handle them using gloves or other protective gear.
• Unusual Noises: Scratching, squeaking, or scurrying noises, particularly at night, could indicate rodent activity in your property.
• Visible Rodents: Sightings of live or dead rodents in your home or business are a clear sign of infestation.
• Unpleasant Odors: A urine-like smell, often from rodent droppings and urine, can be detected in certain areas of your home or business.
• Gnaw Marks: Evidence of chewing on electrical wires, insulation, furniture, or food packaging.
• Holes in Walls: Small openings or holes in walls or flooring that serve as access points for rodents to invade your property.
• Nests: Rodents often create nests from shredded paper, fabric, and cardboard found in your home or business.

There are numerous other signs of a rodent infestation, so it’s critical to stay alert and act quickly to prevent further damage and health risks. If you notice any signs of mice or rats in your home or commercial space, you should contact a reliable rodent exterminator in Northern Virginia. My Pest Pros can identify the source, provide tailored treatments, and offer future rodent prevention strategies.

Some common sources of rodent infestations in Virginia include the following:

• Food Sources: Rodents are attracted to food, including open containers, pet food, and garbage.
• Cracks and Gaps in Walls: Small openings or gaps around walls, windows, and doors provide easy access for rodents to enter your property.
• Garages, Sheds, Attics, and Basements: Rodents can enter these structures through small openings, often seeking food and shelter.
• Clutter: Shredded paper, cardboard, fabric, and other materials offer perfect hiding spots and nesting sites for rodents.
• Pet Doors: Unsealed pet doors create easy entry points for rodents if not closed or maintained properly.
• Outdoor Debris: Piles of leaves, firewood, or trash in your yard and around the exterior of your property can be nesting sites for rodents.