Why Rodents Move In When It Gets Cold
Mice and rats are looking for warmth, food, and shelter. As temperatures drop, your home offers all three. Holiday guests, stored boxes in the garage, and a full pantry make it even more attractive.
Rodents do not need much room to get in. A mouse can pass through a gap about the size of a dime, and a rat through an opening roughly the size of a quarter. That is why setting traps rarely solves the problem on its own. If the entry points stay open, new rodents keep arriving.
Signs You May Have Rodents
One sign alone might be a passing visitor. Two or more usually point to established activity, and that is the time to call rather than wait.
- Droppings along walls, in cabinets, or in the garage
- Scratching or scurrying sounds at night, often in walls or the attic
- Gnaw marks on wood, wiring, or food packaging
- Greasy rub marks along baseboards and pipes
- Nests made of shredded paper, insulation, or fabric
- Pets fixating on a wall, vent, or appliance
A Pacific Northwest Detail: Earth-to-Wood Contact
In my experience, the most common entry point and structural weak spot in Pacific Northwest homes is earth-to-wood contact, where soil, mulch, or landscaping touches siding, trim, or the wood framing near the foundation. Moisture softens the wood, which hides damage and gives rodents an easy place to gnaw through. A problem showing up inside the house often started at a spot like this outside.
- Utility penetrations where pipes and wires enter the home
- Crawl space vents with damaged screens
- Garage door weatherstripping
- Gaps at the roofline, soffit, and fascia
- Exhaust vents
How I Handle Rodent Control
I don't believe in spray-first or trap-and-hope. My approach is prevention-first.
- 1Inspect. I go through the interior, attic, crawl space, and exterior, looking for activity and for how the rodents are getting in.
- 2Plan. You get a written plan specific to your property, not a one-size-fits-all program.
- 3Treat. Targeted trapping and baiting, placed with children and pets in mind.
- 4Seal. We close the entry points I identified so the problem does not return.
- 5Follow up. Some cases improve within days. Larger infestations need follow-up visits, and I stay with it until it is resolved.
Warranty and Safety
Treatments are covered by a warranty of 45 to 60 days, or for the life of a service plan. If the initial treatment does not get the agreed result within that period, I come back and make it right.
Simple Steps You Can Take Now
- Trim plants back from the house and keep mulch a few inches below the siding
- Store food, including pet food, in sealed containers
- Move stored boxes off the garage floor if you can
- Do not seal holes yourself before an inspection, since that can trap rodents inside
Who I Serve and When
Bugnation is licensed in Washington State for PCO General and PCO Structural work and carries $2 million in liability insurance. I serve Shoreline, Seattle, Bellevue, Lynnwood, and Edmonds, within about 15 miles of ZIP 98155. Same-day appointments are available.
Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. October through April, and 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. May through September. Monthly service plans run $75 to $150 depending on structure size and service frequency.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a rodent inspection cost in Shoreline?
An inspection is $195. I check the interior, attic, crawl space, and exterior, and then give you a written plan for your property.
Is rodent treatment safe for my kids and pets?
I place traps and bait with children and pets in mind and use eco-friendly, family and pet conscious methods. If anyone in your home has special sensitivities, tell me ahead of time and I will adjust the products and the plan.
Do you only serve Shoreline?
No. I am based in Shoreline and also serve Seattle, Bellevue, Lynnwood, and Edmonds, within about 15 miles of ZIP 98155.