Rodent Exclusion and Control

About Rats and Mice

Rodents found in homes, such as rats and house mice, can spread disease, contaminate food, and cause costly structural damage. They are found in all areas of the County. Learning to recognize signs of rodent activity, and how to prevent and control rodent problems can protect you and your home.

The Vector Control Program provides educational rodent inspections FREE to County residents. It includes a Rat Control Starter Kit and instructions on how to properly implement rat control techniques. The Vector Control Program is not a pest control company and does not trap, bait, or remove rodents as part of the inspection, and does not provide poison bait.

We do not assist with gophers or squirrels, but more information can be found on the UCIPM pest resource page.

Signs of Rodent Activity

Droppings in garages, storage buildings or other sheltered areas
Gnaw marks on food, food containers, or insulation inside walls and electrical wires
Nests built from fine shredded paper and other fibrous materials or shredded areas
Rub marks caused by greasy rat fur
Bark stripped from plants and trees
Piles of cut snail shells hidden under plants or piles of wood
Sounds in the attic, floor, and walls

Prevention and Control

Rats cannot live without food, water, or shelter. Here's how to get rid of rat problems.

Rodent proof your home and storage buildings

Check the outside of your house for holes or gaps the size of a quarter or larger
Repair all openings using rodent proof materials: 1/4-inch, 18-22 gauge wire hardware cloth
Install metal weather stripping under doors to remove gaps

Remove food sources from your property

Always keep garbage cans covered
Pick fruit, nuts, and vegetables as they ripen, and throw away or compost fallen fruit on the ground
Feed pets during daylight hours only, and remove uneaten food right away
Avoid storing food in garages and storage sheds at night unless in rat-proof covered metal containers
Avoid feeding birds, or clean up any fallen bird seed around feeders

Get rid of rat habitat

Remove all trash and debris
Stack woodpiles, lumber, and household items at least 18 inches above the ground and 12 inches away from fences and walls
Trim trees, bushes, and vines to at least 4 feet away from the roof
Remove heavy vegetation such as ivy, bougainvillea, and pyracantha from buildings and fences
Thin vegetation to allow daylight in and remove rat hiding places

Inside your home use traps, not poison bait

Use snap traps indoors since poisoned rats may die inside walls or attics, creating odors and attracting flies
Place traps at entry points, or where you have seen rat droppings
Use CAUTION when placing traps around children or pets
Bait the traps with peanut butter or the food the rats have been eating
Tie down traps to prevent injured rats from dragging the traps away and dying inside your walls
Check traps at least twice a week

Outside your home use traps (and poison bait if necessary)

Place traps where rodent activity has been observed
Keep bait away from children and pets
Rodent proof your home BEFORE using poison bait
Always read the label and follow directions when using poisons
Place poison bait in an enclosed bait station, where you see rats and their droppings
Make sure bait is in a protected area, such as under woodpiles or thick vegetation where rats may be hiding
Check bait stations twice a week and add bait when necessary
Place dead rats in sealed plastic bags and put them in the trash

Educational Inspections

The Vector Control Program provides educational rodent inspections FREE to County residents (inspections are performed on the exterior of buildings and only in San Diego County). This inspection includes a free Rat Control Starter Kit. The kit enables you to control rats yourself and provides examples of materials needed. It includes:

Tamper-resistant Trapping Station and key
Rat Control Brochure
1 Rat Snap Trap
1/4" Sample Hardware Cloth (used for exclusion)

The Vector Control program is NOT a pest control company and does NOT trap, bait, or remove rodents as part of this inspection, and does not provide poison bait.

To request a rat inspection contact the Vector Control Program.