Pest Control help in Southern Indiana

Mice and rats moving indoors, wasps, ants, spiders and termites. Mice and rats look for warm shelter from October through February, so fall is when most people first hear scratching in walls or ceilings.

A gray-brown house mouse with large ears and a long thin tail on rough concrete
Photo: Ahunt, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons

What to do first

Mice and rats leave clues before you ever see one: droppings along walls and in cabinets, chewed food packaging, gnaw marks, and scratching in walls or ceilings at night. Note where you find signs. That tells a provider where the animals travel and where they may be getting in.

  • Store pantry food and pet food in sealed hard containers.
  • Look for gaps around pipes, vents, garage doors and the foundation. Mice fit through very small openings.
  • Don't sweep or vacuum droppings dry. Health agencies advise wetting them with disinfectant and wiping them up with gloves.

When to call a provider

Call when you see signs in more than one room, hear activity in walls or the attic, find chewed wiring, or keep catching mice after a week or two of traps. Exclusion work (sealing entry points) is what keeps them from coming back.

Local guides by town

  • Pest Control in Evansville
  • BoonvilleTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • ChandlerTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • ChrisneyTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • CynthianaTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • DaleTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • DarmstadtTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • ElberfeldTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • FerdinandTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • Fort BranchTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • FranciscoTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • GrandviewTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • HaubstadtTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • HighlandTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • HollandTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • HuntingburgTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • JasperTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • LynnvilleTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • Melody HillTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • Mount VernonTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • New HarmonyTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • NewburghTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • Oakland CityTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • OwensvilleTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • PatokaTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • PoseyvilleTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • PrincetonTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • RichlandTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • RockportTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • Santa ClausTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.
  • St. MeinradTown overview for now. A local pest control guide is on the way.

Mice & Rodents

Warning signs

  • Droppings in cabinets and drawers. Rodent droppings can turn up anywhere rodents have been and are common in cabinets, drawers, and other areas out of plain sight. Source
  • What mouse droppings look like. Mouse droppings are 1/8 to 1/2 inch long, dark, and pointed at both ends. Source
  • Gnaw marks. Rats and mice gnaw to create access points and keep their teeth short, and their distinct gnaw marks are a good sign rodents have been active in the area. Source
  • Noises and damaged food. Signs of mice include the sounds of them running, gnawing, or squeaking, and damage to stored food. Source
  • Sounds after dark or early morning. One of the major telltale signs of mice is hearing them, especially shortly after dark or early in the morning. Source
  • Smudge marks along walls. Mice leave brown or gray smudges on walls and other surfaces where they travel. Source

When it happens

  • Fall migration indoors. Homeowners are especially likely to notice mice in winter, after the mice migrate indoors in the fall looking for warmth and shelter. Source
  • Cold weather drives mice inside. Pests such as mice that thrive outdoors in warm months must seek shelter as the weather becomes colder. Source
  • Breeding seasons. Mice may breed year-round, but when living outdoors they mostly breed in spring and fall. Source
  • Winter shelter in buildings. Especially during cold Illinois winters, mice take advantage of buildings for shelter. Source

Doing it yourself

  • Sealing entry holes. Fill small holes with steel wool held in place with caulk or spray foam, and use lath screen or metal, cement, hardware cloth, or metal sheeting to fix larger holes. Source
  • Snap trapping. CDC recommends traditional snap traps placed on the floor against the wall with the baited end touching the wall, kept out for at least 15 days and longer if rodents remain. Source
  • Avoid glue and live traps. CDC advises against glue traps and live traps because they can scare rodents into urinating, which can increase your chance of getting sick. Source
  • Safe droppings cleanup. Do not sweep or vacuum rodent urine, droppings, or nesting material; ventilate for 30 minutes, wear rubber or plastic gloves, and soak the area with a bleach solution (1.5 cups bleach per gallon of water) for 5 minutes before wiping up. Source
  • Ultrasonic repellers. Ultrasonic frightening devices are generally not effective against mice. Source
  • Poison bait caution. If rodenticide baits are used, extreme care must be taken to place them where children and pets cannot reach them. Source

Good to know

  • Opening a mouse can fit through (about the width of a pencil). 0.2 inches Source
  • How fast house mice reproduce. Litters of 5 or 6 young are born 19 to 21 days after mating, and a female house mouse may have 5 to 10 litters a year. Source
  • Food a single mouse can eat (about 1/10 of its body weight daily). 8 pounds per year Source
  • Damage mice cause in homes. Mice damage structures by gnawing and nest-building, and they often damage large electrical appliances by chewing wiring and insulation. Source
  • Health risks from rodents. Rodent droppings, urine, and saliva can spread disease when people breathe contaminated air or eat food contaminated with rodent waste; diseases linked to rodents include hantavirus, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis. Source
  • House mouse size. Adult house mice have a body length of 3 to 4 inches (nose to base of tail) and typically weigh 0.4 to 0.9 ounces. Source

What it costs

Pest Control cost ranges
JobTypical rangeSource
Mouse extermination (typical job) per job$450 to $600Fixr - Mouse Exterminator Cost (national)
Mouse extermination (typical job) per job$150 to $550This Old House - Mice Exterminator Cost (national)
Mouse/rodent treatment (typical job) per job$180 to $600This Old House - Pest Control Cost (national)
Rodent removal (one-time service) per job$225 to $500Fixr - Exterminator / Pest Control Cost (national)
Rat extermination (typical job) per job$500 to $750Fixr - Rat Extermination Cost (national)
Rat extermination (typical job) per job$395 to $1,500This Old House - Rat Exterminator Cost (national)
Rodent exclusion / sealing entry points per job$50 to $300Fixr - Mouse Exterminator Cost (national)
Rodent exclusion / sealing entry points per job$175 to $500Fixr - Rat Extermination Cost (national)
Rodent exclusion / sealing entry points per job$200 to $600This Old House - Rat Exterminator Cost (national)
Rodent droppings cleanup / sanitation per job$200 to $550Fixr - Rat Extermination Cost (national)
General pest control visit (one-time) per visit$158 to $288Fixr - Exterminator / Pest Control Cost (national)
General pest control visit (one-time) per visit$50 to $500This Old House - Pest Control Cost (national)

These are published estimates, not quotes. Prices depend on the house, access and season, and a provider should confirm the price before any work starts.

Sources

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