Rodent control: what works, what doesn't, and what it costs

By Dmitri Halford, Wildlife and rodent control pro, 12 years · 2026-02-15

Rodents are the #1 indoor pest call across the U.S. — and the one homeowners most often try to handle themselves. The math: DIY fails ~70% of the time within 6 months because exclusion gets skipped. Here's the framework that actually works.

Step 1: exclusion is 80% of the job

Mice fit through a 1/4-inch gap, rats through 1/2-inch. Until every gap around utility penetrations, foundation cracks, vents, dryer exhausts, and garage door seals is sealed with steel wool + copper mesh + foam, you're treating symptoms. A pro exclusion runs $400–$1,500 depending on home size. Skip this step and you'll be re-baiting forever.

Step 2: trapping vs. baiting

Snap traps and tin cats kill rodents on contact and let you confirm the kill. Bait stations work but rodents often die in walls, creating odor problems. Pros typically use both: snap traps inside, locked-bait stations outside. DIY snap-trap success rate is decent if you place 6–12 traps per 1,000 sq ft along walls (rodents follow walls, not centers of rooms).

Step 3: sanitation eliminates food sources

Pet food in sealed containers, no birdseed within 30 feet of the foundation, no clutter against exterior walls, no leaf litter touching siding, no overhanging branches within 4 feet of the roof. This sounds basic but is what determines whether they come back.

Pricing

Initial visit + setup: $200–$500. Follow-up visits (typically 1–3 over 30 days): $100–$200 each. Ongoing quarterly service: $50–$100/visit. Exclusion add-on (the part that actually solves the problem): $400–$1,500. Total first-year investment for a real fix: $800–$2,500.