Mouse and Rat Control in Fort Worth and White Settlement, TX

Good mouse and rat control starts with an inspection to find where the rodents are getting in, then closes off those entry points, deals with the animals already inside, and takes away the food and shelter that drew them. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says to act as soon as you see or hear even one mouse, because one pair can grow into a full infestation fast.

You can book online or call (817) 715-2595 to have a technician from our licensed company look at your home.

How do I know if I have mice or rats? #

The most common signs are droppings, gnaw marks, and scratching noises at night. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) says you can tell rodents are around even if you never see one.

• Droppings turn up near food, in cabinets and drawers, and along walls. They look like dark grains of rice.
• Gnaw marks show up on wood, plastic, wiring, and chewed packaging.
• Grease or rub marks are dark, oily smudges left on beams, pipes, and baseboards where fur brushes past.
• Nests are made of shredded paper, fabric, or insulation and tucked into hidden, sheltered corners.
• Scratching is heard inside walls, ceilings, or the attic, mostly at night. Rodents are busiest in the first couple of hours after dusk.
• Burrows appear beside foundations or beneath woodpiles, with smooth, clean entrances.
• Tracks show in dusty areas, and rats may be seen running along fence tops or utility lines at dusk.

Noise in the attic during the day may point to a squirrel. See our wildlife control page for that.

Is it a house mouse, a roof rat, or a Norway rat? #

Texas A&M names three rodents of concern for homes: the house mouse, the roof rat, and the Norway rat. Droppings size and nest location help tell them apart.

Roof rats are common over most of Texas, especially in towns, and they climb well. Norway rats are widespread across the state and dig burrows along foundations. Knowing which one you have helps point to where to look.

How do mice and rats get into a house? #

Rodents fit through far smaller gaps than most people expect. A mouse can squeeze through a dime-sized hole or a quarter-inch gap beneath a door. Rats need roughly a quarter-sized hole or a half-inch gap.

The CDC's inspection checklist is a good map of the usual entry points:

• Gaps around pipes under sinks and around washing machines
• Dryer vents and floor air vents
• Space under and behind kitchen cabinets and around the fireplace
• Where the floor meets the wall
• Crawl space vents and the gap between the foundation and the ground
• Doors and windows without weather stripping
• Roof gables, eaves, and soffits
• Spots where electrical, plumbing, cable, or gas lines enter the house

Roof rats often reach the roof from tree limbs, fences, and overhead utility lines. Trimming branches back from the roofline and thinning dense climbing vines helps cut off that route.

What is rodent exclusion, and why does it matter? #

Exclusion is the work of closing off the gaps rodents squeeze through to enter. Trapping deals with animals already in your home, but it does nothing to stop new ones from coming in. Texas A&M and the University of California both recommend sealing gaps larger than 1/4 inch.

Material matters. Plastic, foam, wood, and caulk are weak choices on their own because rats can gnaw through them. The CDC suggests steel wool packed into small holes and held in place with caulk or foam. For larger openings it suggests metal, hardware cloth, or cement. Texas A&M recommends covering vents with 1/4-inch hardware cloth and adding door sweeps. The CDC's seal-up guide walks through the details.

Exclusion works best alongside sanitation and trapping, since no single step does the whole job alone.

What should I do before the technician arrives? #

A little preparation helps the technician find entry points and activity faster. Before the visit:

• Write down what you have noticed: where you hear noises, when, and where you found droppings or gnaw marks. Mice usually stay within about 30 feet of their nest, so droppings can point toward it.
• Don't sweep or vacuum droppings or nests. The cleanup steps below explain why.
• Clear access to the attic hatch, under-sink cabinets, the garage, and any crawl space door.
• Put food away. Use sealed containers, and don't leave pet food out overnight.
• Move stored items away from walls in garages and closets so the baseboards and corners can be seen.
• Look outside. Note trees touching the roof, woodpiles against the house, and overflowing trash cans near doors.
• Mention fleas or pets. DSHS advises treating for fleas before starting rodent control, because rodent fleas can carry disease. Our flea and tick control page explains more.

How does Spyder Pest Solutions handle mouse and rat problems? #

Every job starts with an inspection. After it, the technician explains what they found and the options available, so you can decide what to do. Pricing is quoted after the inspection, so please call for pricing.

Spyder Pest Solutions is a family-run, owner-operated company. The licensed name is Spyder Pest Solutions LLC, Texas Department of Agriculture structural pest control business license TPCL #0954843. Our office is at 112 N Las Vegas Trail, Fort Worth, TX 76108, open Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm. The office confirms your appointment time after you book online or call.

Are mice and rats dangerous? #

Yes, they can be. According to the CDC, rodents can spread disease through bites, through contact with their waste or saliva, and through contaminated food. The CDC lists hantavirus, leptospirosis, and rat-bite fever among the illnesses spread by rodents, and UC IPM links rats to salmonella. The CDC notes the most common hantavirus that causes HPS in the U.S. is spread by the deer mouse. DSHS says reported cases in Texas are rare. See the CDC's hantavirus overview for symptoms.

Rodents are also tied to flea-borne typhus. DSHS says rats and their fleas are the natural reservoirs, and that new areas with the disease have appeared in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Its flea-borne typhus page has more.

Damage is a concern too. Rodents shred insulation for nests and gnaw on wiring. The University of California notes that many fires of unknown origin are believed to be caused by rodents chewing wires. If you develop a fever after contact with rodents or their waste, DSHS advises calling a physician and telling them about the exposure.

How do I clean up rodent droppings and nests? #

Do not sweep or vacuum them. The CDC says that can stir particles into the air where you can breathe them in. Its method is:

• Open doors and windows for 30 minutes first, and leave the area while it airs out.
• Put on rubber or plastic gloves.
• Spray droppings, urine, and nesting material with a disinfectant mixed fresh and used as the CDC describes.
• Let it soak for 5 minutes, or as the label directs.
• Wipe it up with paper towels and put them in a covered garbage can.
• Disinfect the surrounding hard surfaces.
• Bag dead rodents, nests, and used traps in two tied plastic bags before throwing them out.
• Wash your hands with soap and warm water.

The full steps are in the CDC's guide to cleaning up after rodents. DSHS says a large amount of waste indoors may call for respiratory protection and suggests contacting a pest professional.

Can I get rid of mice and rats myself? #

For a small mouse problem, you can try traps and sealing, but be realistic. Texas A&M's guidance combines inspection, sanitation, rodent-proofing, traps, and baits, and no single step works alone.

If you try it yourself:

• Use snap traps. The CDC recommends them for homes and cautions against glue traps and live traps, which can frighten rodents into urinating and raise the risk of illness.
• Use a pea-sized bit of bait and place traps along walls where you see activity. For roof rats, place traps off the ground on ledges, shelves, or fences.
• Expect trap shyness from rats. UC IPM suggests leaving traps baited but unset until the bait has been taken several times.
• Check traps daily and keep them away from children and pets.
• Skip ultrasonic gadgets. UC IPM reports little evidence they drive established mice out.
• Be careful with poisons. UC IPM says rodenticides are toxic to people, pets, and wildlife, and poisoned rodents can die inside walls and cause odors.

Call a professional when droppings keep showing up, noises are in the attic or walls, you suspect roof rats, or you can't find where they are getting in.

Which areas do you serve? #

We provide pest control services for homes and businesses in White Settlement, west Fort Worth, Westworth Village, River Oaks, Lake Worth, and Benbrook. If you aren't sure whether your address is covered, call (817) 715-2595.

We do not offer termite or lawn and ornamental services. Our category is general pest control, including rodent control, mosquito control, bed bug treatment, and wildlife exclusion.

For professional help, see our rodent control service page. It explains what the service covers, how a visit goes and what to do before the technician arrives.

Frequently asked questions #