Virginia Rodent Control

Serving the Eastern Shore Areas of Virginia 

Are you or other members of your household suffering from allergies, but you can't identify the cause? Is there a strange smell in your kitchen after you return from work, but you're not sure where it is coming from? If so, there may be mice or rats in the house causing these problems. Get rid of your rodent problem as soon as possible by turning to your reliable experts here at Universal Pest & Termite.

A rodent infestation can get out of hand quickly, so don't hesitate to get in touch with us at the first sign of trouble. We will go above and beyond to assess the situation and use our many years of experience and top-of-the-line tools and products to eliminate your rodent problem completely and quickly. Furthermore, we will create a treatment program based on your family's health and safety needs, what biological science says about the survival habits of various pests, and laws and regulatory guidelines in your area.

Call us today at (757) 699-5166 to schedule your estimate with our professional, experienced and reliable team.

How Rodents Impact Your Health and Property

Rodents like rats and mice are more than just a nuisance—they pose serious health risks and can cause costly damage to your property. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rodents are known carriers of diseases such as Hantavirus, Salmonella, and Leptospirosis, which can spread through their droppings, urine, and saliva. These pathogens can easily contaminate food, surfaces, and even the air in your home.

Furthermore, rodents can wreak havoc on your property. Their constant gnawing can damage electrical wiring, increasing the risk of house fires, as well as destroy insulation and structural components. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that rodents cause up to 25% of house fires in the U.S. by chewing through electrical wires. Addressing a rodent problem early not only protects your health but also prevents the significant structural damage these pests can cause.

At Universal Pest & Termite, we use advanced diagnostic tools and strategies to not only remove existing rodents but to prevent future infestations. From inspecting your home’s weak points to recommending exclusion techniques, our team ensures long-term protection from these destructive pests.

Telltale Signs of a Rodent Problem

One of the first signs of a rodent issue in Virginia is the distinct and unpleasant smell of rat urine. When it collects in enclosed spaces like walls or kitchen cabinets, the smell can become overpowering. Our experts can help eliminate the unpleasant odors resulting from a rodent infestation, restoring your home to normalcy.

Other signs to watch for include:

• Tiny droppings on countertops or in drawers
• Gnaw marks on food packages or walls
• Scratching noises from within walls or ceilings
• Rodent nests in hidden places such as attics, basements, or behind appliances

Additionally, be wary if family members wake up with bite marks, which could be a sign of rodent bites. Should you observe any of these signs, contact us immediately to assess the situation.

How to Prevent Rodent Infestations in Your Virginia Home

• Prevention is the best defense against rodent infestations. By following a few proactive steps, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of rats or mice invading your home. Here are some tips:
• Seal Entry Points: Mice can fit through holes as small as a dime, so inspect your home for cracks, gaps, or holes in walls, foundations, and around doors or windows. Use caulk or steel wool to seal these entry points.
• Maintain Cleanliness: Rodents are attracted to food sources. Keep your kitchen clean by storing food in airtight containers and promptly cleaning up spills or crumbs. Don’t forget to empty trash bins regularly and store them away from your home.
• Trim Vegetation: Overgrown bushes or trees can provide rodents with easy access to your home. Keep landscaping tidy and trim back tree branches that are near your roof.
• Remove Water Sources: Mice and rats need water to survive, so fix leaky faucets or pipes and eliminate standing water around your property.

Analysts for a Rodent Nest

If a mouse or rat finds a convenient spot in your house to create a nest, they will take advantage of this opportunity. While a rodent will usually build their nest indoors, they aren't limited to this choice. Other places where they might choose to create their nests might not be a big deal to you, but this is only because you don't know how dangerous they really are. Some of the alternative places where >rodents like to create their nests include barns, garages, chicken coops, tree canopies, and any other place where mice and rats feel safe and hidden away from predators.

Some common places indoors where mice and rats create their nests include:

• In attics where their exposure to the outdoors is limited and they are completely safe from predators
  Under kitchens cabinets
   
• Inside walls, behind baseboards, inside large appliances like refrigerators, caulking, observation holes, and suspected utility lines
   
• Behind appliances and cabinetsand in just about anywhere else in your home where

Especially during colder months, a high, safe spot like your attic is a great place for a mother and its litter. It's easy for rodents to get into your home, as these animals can crawl through a hole about the size of the diameter of a dime, and your attic provides a rodent with warmth, place to store food, potential water source, and location for sleeping.

What Do Rodents Look Like?

When most people think of rodents, they often picture rats—large, dirty, and notorious for invading homes. These pests can scale walls, sneak through tiny openings, and quickly access your food stores. Whether it's a rat or a mouse, these pests are driven by a single goal: survival, which often leads to significant destruction in your home.

Rats and mice are more than just nuisances. Each one carries dangerous diseases, including flea-borne illnesses like murine typhus and salmonellosis. They can also trigger allergic reactions and worsen asthma symptoms. In addition to the health risks, rodents can cause extensive structural damage. They chew through insulation, wiring (posing a fire hazard), and even structural components, leading to costly repairs. Rodent droppings, saliva, and urine spread dangerous pathogens, including Hantavirus and Salmonella, making them a serious health threat in any home.

About Mice & Rats in Virginia + The Eastern Shore

True or False?

Is a clean home rodent-free? The answer: not always. While it’s true that cleanliness can reduce the risk of a rodent infestation, it’s not the only factor. Even well-organized, spotless homes can fall prey to rodents. Mice and rats need three things: food, water, and shelter. They’ll find a way in through the tiniest cracks, even scaling trees or walls to access your roof.

In Virginia and the Eastern Shore, rodents are especially common, driven indoors by cold weather or the search for food. Keeping areas tidy and reducing access to food sources—such as properly storing pantry items and taking out the trash regularly—can help, but it’s essential to also seal entry points and keep outdoor areas, like ivy or greenery, under control. Rodents are resourceful, and any available shelter could become their new home.

Protect your home from dangerous rodent infestations today! Contact our expert team at Universal Pest & Termite for fast, reliable rodent control services in Virginia. Schedule your inspection now!