Why the survey comes first.
People often call asking for traps or a sealing crew. Both can be the right answer, but neither should be bought before someone has looked. A survey separates a one-mouse problem from a colony in the attic and a minor gap from a rotten soffit that needs a carpenter.
It also protects you from repeat work. Sealing a hole that animals are still using traps them inside, and setting devices without knowing the species wastes weeks.
The route the technician walks.
- Outside first: foundation, roofline, vents, wires, utility sleeves, garage door and any palm or limb touching the house.
- Garage and storage areas, including the lowest shelves and the corner behind the water heater.
- Kitchen, laundry and bath cabinets where pipes enter the wall.
- Attic or upper spaces, if they are reachable and safe.
- Crawl space or under-floor access, where one exists.
Evidence is photographed and noted as the walk continues. If something is unsafe to enter, the report says so rather than guessing.
What the written note contains.
| Section. | What you read. | Why it helps. |
|---|---|---|
| Species. | Mouse, roof rat or Norway rat, with the clues that support the call. | Matches devices and mesh to the animal. |
| Entry list. | Each opening, its location and its approximate size. | Shows what must be closed. |
| Proposed steps. | Traps, sealing, cleanup, repairs, each as its own line. | Lets you approve step by step. |
| Other trades. | Roof leaks, rotten wood or drainage faults noticed in passing. | Flags work outside rodent control. |
Getting the house ready.
Clear a path to the attic hatch and open the garage. Move the items stored against the walls you are most concerned about. Put pets in a room they cannot leave, since an open door and a curious dog complicate the lap outside.
Spotting this at home? A single call brings out a crew.
(904) 675-6764What a survey cannot do.
A survey has no view inside a closed wall and cannot predict how many animals are left. It gives the best reading of the evidence, a plan and a price. When later work uncovers something new, the plan changes and you hear about it before any cost is added.
Federal cleanup steps, boiled down.
Dust from dried waste may carry hantavirus and other germs, so the routine below steers clear of anything that kicks it into the air.
- A single dry dropping can crumble and release a cloud nobody notices.
- Crack a window at opposite ends of the room to create a draft, and busy yourself elsewhere until time is up.
- Gloves go on at the start of the job and come off at the very end, directly into the trash bag.
- Make a fresh bleach mix for each session, since a stale batch loses strength.
- Pets stay clear of the tied bag until it is inside the outdoor bin.
- If a fever or muscle aches appear in the next few weeks, mention the rodent exposure to a doctor.
Agency guidance we followed.
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- CDC guidance for avoiding hantavirus: The origin of the gap-sealing and tidying advice on this site.
- How the CDC says to clean up after rodents: Standing time for disinfectant, protective clothing and the double-bag step.