Pest dossier
Mice and rats
Droppings, scratching in walls or attic after dark, chewed food packaging, or grease marks along a baseboard. Typical US trapping and exclusion often $400–$1,400; attic cleanup can run higher.
Typical US planning band · $400–$1,400
Next step
Talk with a licensed operator
Structural, heat, tent, wildlife, and severe jobs are usually a licensed visit — not a consumer spray. We may earn if you connect through a referred provider.
One primary action. Ranges vary. Verify official sources. How we make money
What should you look at?
We do not publish unverified pest photographs. Wrong pictures teach the wrong pest. These are labeled slots until a credited, licensed image is in the repo.
Diagram slot
Dropping size comparison
Diagram slot
Common entry gaps
How do you tell mice and rats from squirrel / raccoon in attic?
| Trait | Mice and rats | Squirrel / raccoon in attic |
|---|---|---|
| When you hear it | Usually night, in walls or ceiling | Daytime attic thumps often mean wildlife |
| Droppings | Rice-grain (mice) to capsule (rats) | Larger, mixed with insulation for wildlife |
| Entry | Gaps around pipes, vents, garage doors | Roof, soffit, or chimney for wildlife |
What does a typical job cost?
Trapping-only jobs are often a few hundred dollars. Exclusion plus cleanup is where costs climb, and attic remediation can go far beyond that.
Snap traps and sealing obvious gaps are common first steps. If you hear activity in walls or attics, exclusion work is usually professional.
| Job type | Typical range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mouse removal | $150–$550 | Trapping-focused visit. |
| Rat trapping | $300–$600 | Trapping only, not exclusion. |
| Removal plus exclusion | $400–$1,400 | Sealing entry points is the lasting part of the job. |
| Attic cleanup | $600–$1,800 | Insulation replacement is extra, often priced per square foot. |
Planning bands only — not a quote. Home size, severity, and region change the number in the calculator.