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Rodent Prevention: A Recent Job & Some Homeowner Tips

Category: Holiday

Published: 03 July, 2026

By Jerry, Owner, Extermatrim Exterminating, Inc

What I Walked Into

July is usually when I start getting more rodent calls around Southwest Louisiana. A lot of people expect mice and rats to show up once the weather turns cold, but summer is often when they start getting comfortable around a property.

One call recently came from a homeowner in Sulphur who had been hearing scratching noises in the garage late at night. At first, they thought it was probably something outside. After hearing the same sounds several evenings in a row, they decided it was time to have someone take a look.

When I arrived, the property looked well cared for. The yard was clean, the landscaping was in good shape, and nothing immediately suggested there was a rodent problem.

The first thing I did was ask where they had been hearing the noise. That helps narrow down where to start looking.

Inside the garage, I found a few things that caught my attention right away. There were storage boxes stacked along one wall that had not been moved in quite some time, and behind them I found clear signs that rodents had been spending time there.

The Problem

Rodents are usually looking for the same three things: food, water, and a place where they will not be disturbed.

What we found was not one major issue. It was several small ones.

There were droppings behind the storage bins and chew marks on a cardboard box that was being used for storage.

An open bag of pet food had been left against the garage wall, giving rodents an easy food source.

Outside, I also found a couple of small gaps where utility lines entered the home. They did not look like much, but rodents can fit through openings that surprise most homeowners.

The homeowner told me the hardest part was not knowing what was making the noise. Every evening they wondered if there were more rodents moving around in the garage or inside the walls.

That uncertainty is usually what bothers people the most. Once you start hearing scratching after dark, it is hard not to think about it every night.

The Process

I walked the property with the homeowner before getting started so I could show them what I was seeing.

We began in the garage by identifying where the activity was concentrated. Once those areas were confirmed, I placed rodent control products where they would be most effective.

Next, I sealed the gaps around the utility lines to help stop additional rodents from getting inside.

We also talked about pet food. It was moved into a sealed container, and we reorganized a few storage areas so there were fewer places for rodents to hide.

Outside, I walked the perimeter of the home looking for other potential entry points and pointed out a few landscaping areas where trimming back vegetation would reduce cover along the house.

The point is not just to deal with the rodents that are already there. The point is to remove the conditions that made the property attractive in the first place.

The Outcome

When I finished, the homeowner said they already felt better knowing what had been causing the problem.

I explained that activity would not disappear overnight, but they should start noticing fewer signs as the treatment and exclusion work took effect.

About a week later, they let me know they had not heard any more scratching in the garage and had not found any new droppings.

They also mentioned they had started storing pet food differently and keeping the garage a little more organized.

That is always good to hear because those small changes make it much harder for rodents to come back.

DIY Advice I Shared

Here are a few things I recommend homeowners check during the summer:

1. Store pet food, bird seed, and grass seed in sealed plastic or metal containers instead of bags or cardboard boxes.

2. Keep garages and storage rooms organized so rodents have fewer places to hide.

3. Walk around the outside of the house every few months and look for small gaps around utility lines, vents, doors, and other openings.

4. Trim shrubs and vegetation back from the house whenever possible to reduce sheltered travel paths.

5. Make sure trash containers stay closed and outdoor food sources are cleaned up regularly.

Most of these things only take a few minutes, but together they make a property much less inviting to rodents.

"It's brighter than before!"

— Megan

Professional Insight

One thing I tell homeowners all the time is that the rodent you hear is usually only part of the story.

By the time scratching noises or droppings show up, rodents have often been using the property for a while.

That is why every inspection should include more than just treatment. Around Southwest Louisiana, I pay close attention to entry points, food sources, storage practices, and landscaping because it is usually a combination of several small conditions rather than one obvious problem.

When exclusion work, sanitation, and targeted treatment are all handled together, the results tend to last much longer.

Closing Thoughts

Most of the rodent calls I handle in July begin with someone hearing a strange noise or finding a few droppings and wondering if it is worth worrying about.

More often than not, it is.

If you're in Southwest Louisiana and you've noticed scratching sounds, droppings, chew marks, or other signs of rodent activity, it is worth taking a closer look before those small warning signs become a much bigger problem.