How to Keep Rodents Out of Your House

Texas is known for its beautiful landscapes, warm weather, and vibrant communities. But it’s also home to a variety of pests, including rodents. Whether you're in a city like Houston, Dallas, or Austin, or even a rural area like Lubbock or Tyler, rodents can be a common problem. Mice, rats, and other pests are more than just a nuisance—they can damage your home, contaminate food, and pose health risks. The good news is that with the right preventative measures, you can keep these pests at bay.

This comprehensive guide will help Texas homeowners understand how to prevent rodents from entering your home and what to do if you’re already facing an infestation. Let’s dive into practical steps for keeping rodents out of your house in Texas!

The ten steps to prevent rodent infestations include:

1. Seal Entry Points to Prevent Rodent Access
2. Eliminate Food Sources
3. Keep Your Home Clutter-Free
4. Maintain Your Yard and Landscaping
5. Set Traps and Use Baits Safely
6. Inspect and Repair Your Roof and Gutters
7. Rodent-Proof Your Crawl Space and Foundation
8. Consider Professional Rodent Control

1. Seal Entry Points to Prevent Rodent Access

Rodents are expert climbers and can squeeze through surprisingly small openings—often as small as a dime. They are constantly searching for shelter, food, and water, and your home provides all three. In Texas, where weather conditions fluctuate dramatically (with hot summers and cooler winters), rodents are more likely to seek refuge indoors during extreme weather.

Make sure to check common areas such as:

• Doors and Windows: Ensure that doors close tightly and that window seals are intact. Consider installing door sweeps on exterior doors and checking for gaps in window frames.
• Utility Pipes and Vents: Look around plumbing pipes, air vents, and utility lines that enter the home. Seal any gaps with caulk or expandable foam, which rodents can easily chew through.
• Roofline and Eaves: Inspect your roof for holes, cracks, or missing shingles. Mice and rats are skilled climbers and may access your home from the roof, especially if there are tree branches hanging close by.
• Siding and Foundation:  Look around your home’s foundation and siding for cracks or gaps. Over time, settling or extreme weather conditions can cause small openings that rodents can exploit. 

2. Eliminate Food Sources

Rodents are opportunistic feeders, and if they find food in your home, they’ll settle in. Texas’ unique climate encourages outdoor pests to search for indoor food sources, especially in the fall and winter months when food can be harder to find.

Some helpful tips include:

• Pantry Organization: Store dry foods like cereal, pasta, and rice in airtight containers made of heavy-duty plastic or metal. Mice can chew through flimsy packaging.
• Pet Food: Don’t leave pet food out overnight. Store pet food in sealed, rodent-proof containers. If possible, keep pet dishes clean after meals.
• Trash Management: Always use tightly sealed trash bins, and take the trash out regularly. Avoid leaving bags of trash or food scraps outside near your home.
• Bird Seed and Gardening Supplies: Store bird seed, seeds for gardening, and pet food in metal or thick plastic containers with secure lids.

Rodents have a keen sense of smell, so even small crumbs or spilled food can attract them. Clean up any spills or crumbs in your kitchen, dining areas, and pantry immediately.

3. Keep Your Home Clutter-Free

Clutter provides rodents with the perfect hiding spots to nest, especially in areas like basements, attics, and garages. These spaces are often warmer or cooler than the rest of your home, making them an ideal shelter for rodents, especially during extreme weather.

Pay special attention to these areas:

• Basements & Attics: Remove piles of cardboard boxes, unused furniture, and clutter. If you store anything in these areas, make sure to keep it off the floor.
• Garages, Barnes & Sheds: Clean up your garage, barn, and shed to reduce hiding spots, as they are particularly prone to rodent infestations.
• Firewood: Make sure to keep firewood at least 20 feet away from your home and off the ground to reduce the likelihood of rodents nesting there and making their way inside.
• Yard Clutter: In Texas, overgrown lawns and accumulated yard debris can provide perfect shelter for rodents. Regularly trim bushes and shrubs and remove piles of leaves, branches, and any old furniture or equipment from your yard.

4. Maintain Your Yard and Landscaping

Your yard is more than just a beautiful space—it can also be an entryway for rodents if it's not properly maintained. In Texas, where heat and drought conditions are common, rodents may move toward your home for water and shade. By creating a buffer zone around your house, you can help deter them.

Here are some helpful tips:

• Trim Trees and Shrubs: Overhanging branches or dense shrubs near windows and rooflines create a perfect bridge for rodents to access your home. Trim back branches at least 3 feet from the roofline, and ensure that shrubs are not touching the walls of your home.
• Remove Food Sources: Fruit trees and vegetable gardens are attractive food sources for rodents. Harvest crops early and clean up fallen fruit to avoid attracting pests.
• Maintain Lawns: Keep grass cut short to reduce rodent hiding spots. Piles of leaves, grass clippings, or compost should be removed regularly.

5. Set Traps and Use Baits Safely

If you suspect rodents are already inside your home, you can use traps or baits to deal with them. In Texas, where rodents like to forage in cooler months, setting traps around your home’s perimeter is essential for early detection.

The most common types of traps include:

• Snap Traps: Traditional snap traps are effective for catching mice. Place them along walls, near rodent droppings, or other signs of activity. Be sure to check traps daily.
• Bait Stations: Tamper-proof bait stations are a safer alternative to traps, particularly in households with children or pets. Place them in areas where rodents are likely to travel but out of reach of other wildlife.

Pro Tip: Always read the label when using rodenticides (poison baits) and place them in areas that are inaccessible to pets and children. If you’re unsure, consult a pest control expert.

6. Inspect and Repair Your Roof and Gutters

Texas storms can be intense, and the heavy rain and wind can create gaps and weaknesses in your roof that are ideal entry points for rodents. Rats and mice are known to enter homes through damaged roofs, particularly around chimneys, vents, or gaps in flashing.

Key roof and gutter checks include:

• Gutters: Ensure gutters are clean and in good repair. Clogged gutters can cause water to pool, leading to rot, which can attract rodents looking for shelter.
• Roof Vents and Chimneys: Secure roof vents and chimneys with wire mesh or caps to prevent rodents from climbing up and entering through these openings.
• Roof Inspection: Look for any holes, cracks, or missing shingles that could allow rodents entry. Make repairs as soon as possible to prevent infestation.

7. Rodent-Proof Your Crawl Space and Foundation

In many Texas homes, the crawl space or foundation can be a common entry point for rodents, especially in older homes. Mice and rats can enter through small gaps or cracks in the foundation, especially if there's moisture or insulation in the crawl space. A crawl space may also provide warmth during the winter and a cool retreat during the summer. Make sure to regularly inspect your foundation and crawl space for signs of rodent activity, such as droppings, nests, or chewed wires and insulation.

Steps for Rodent-Proofing:

• Seal Vents: Install rodent-proof screens over any vents or openings in the crawl space.
• Foundation Repair: If there are visible cracks in the foundation, use caulk or expandable foam with hardware cloth to seal them. For larger cracks, consider hiring a professional to fill them properly.
• Elevate Stored Items: Keep stored items in your crawl space off the ground in rodent-proof containers.

If you spot any issues, consider setting up traps in the crawl space to catch any rodents that might be hiding. Rodents are notorious for chewing on insulation and wires, causing significant damage to your home.

8. Consider Professional Rodent Control

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, rodents can still find a way in. If you notice signs of a larger infestation—like gnawed wires, droppings in hard-to-reach places, or strong odors—it’s time to call a professional pest control service.

In Texas, professional rodent control experts like Justice Pest Services understand local rodent species, seasonal patterns, and the best methods for dealing with infestations. Our team of local exterminators can perform a thorough inspection of your home, identify hidden entry points, and implement long-term solutions to keep rodents away. 

If you’re local to Central Texas, contact our team to schedule your rodent inspection!