Walk the outside of the house
How to read what you find
Mice fit through gaps about the width of a pencil; rats through openings about the size of a quarter; squirrels through holes not much bigger. Fresh chew marks look pale and clean, while old damage is weathered gray. Smudges of grease along a ledge or pipe show a regular rodent runway.
Use binoculars or a phone zoom for roof areas and photograph each spot. A marked-up photo of each side of the house is the most useful thing to hand a wildlife professional or roofer.
Clue and likely animal
- What you see
- Small gaps with dark smudges, tiny droppings
- Likely animal
- Mice
- What you see
- Burrows at the foundation, larger droppings
- Likely animal
- Rats
- What you see
- Chewed fascia or soffit, round holes high up
- Likely animal
- Squirrels
- What you see
- Torn vent screens, damaged shingles, large droppings in one spot
- Likely animal
- Raccoons
- What you see
- Nesting material in a vent cap
- Likely animal
- Starlings or sparrows
When to repair, and with what
Small gaps that only mice can use can be filled with copper mesh and sealant. Larger openings need hardware cloth, sheet metal or new trim, fastened firmly so squirrels and raccoons cannot pull it off. Vent screens should be metal, not plastic, which rodents chew through. Repairs high on a roof are usually a job for a roofer or wildlife professional.
Timing matters: avoid sealing large openings in spring and early summer, when young animals may be inside, until a professional confirms the space is empty.
Common questions
Can steel wool keep mice out?
Steel wool or copper mesh pushed into small gaps, covered with sealant, works well against mice in small openings. Larger gaps need hardware cloth or sheet metal.
How often should I walk the house?
Twice a year, in late summer and late winter, plus after any big windstorm or hail that could damage vents and trim.
General information for Sloan's Lake, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.