You set traps and catch a mouse, then another appears a week later. In Bellevue, Kirkland, and the Eastside, that cycle usually means rodents still have a way inside. February and March are busy months as mice and rats look for warm wall voids, crawl spaces, and attic insulation. Traps handle the ones already indoors. Exclusion closes the doors they use to get back in.
What rodent exclusion means in plain terms
Exclusion is finding and sealing gaps where rodents enter. Mice can fit through openings roughly the size of a dime. Rats need a little more space, but they are persistent chewers. Common spots include garage door seals, pipe gaps under sinks, crawl space vents, and where wiring passes through siding. Materials matter. Foam alone is often chewed through. Metal mesh, sturdy flashing, and proper door sweeps last longer. The goal is not a perfect catalog of products. It is a home that no longer invites repeat visits.
How exclusion fits professional rodent control
Sunrise Pest and Turf Management treats rodent control as more than placing traps. Technicians inspect inside and out, note droppings and runways, and recommend sealing priorities you can fix now versus what needs a ladder or crawl space access. Many customers add perimeter pest control or full service pest control so rodents and insects are handled on one schedule. Our post on keeping rodents out of your home covers everyday habits that support exclusion, such as storing pet food in sealed bins and trimming vegetation away from the foundation.
Signs exclusion should be your next step
- You hear scratching in walls after traps have been set
- Droppings return in the same cabinets or garage corners
- You find gaps under doors or chewed vent screens you have not repaired yet
- A neighbor had rodents and your home shares fence lines or greenbelt access
Weekend checks that help
- Walk the exterior with a flashlight at ground level
- Look for daylight under garage doors and around pipe entries
- Store firewood off the ground and away from the house
- Fix vent screens before warm weather brings more activity
Work with Sunrise
We have helped Puget Sound homeowners since 1978. If rodents keep reappearing in your Bellevue or Kirkland home, call (888) 376-9109 or visit contact to schedule an inspection and talk through trapping, exclusion, and ongoing pest control options.