Hermitage's Exclusion-First Rodent Team

Rat droppings run larger, roughly rice-grain size or bigger; mouse droppings are smaller and more pointed, and noise timing differs too. A full inspection covers roofline and chimney access alongside the foundation, since rodents use whichever gap is easiest.

Exclusion is the permanent piece; trapping without it just resets the clock. A thorough seal job on the first visit is what actually prevents a second call a few months later, which is why we'd rather spend extra time sealing than rush to the next job.

We'd wait — disturbed droppings can aerosolize particles, and our crew handles that with proper PPE.

Most homes wrap in one visit for trapping and sealing, with a follow-up a week or two out to confirm.

Mechanical trapping and sealing come first, especially around pets and kids; bait stations are reserved for specific situations like commercial perimeters.

Easy food access, standing water, clutter, and unsealed foundation gaps are the usual suspects. It's worth checking your attic access panel periodically, since that's a common secondary entry point we find at follow-ups.