Rodent Management
Rodent Control in Los Altos Hills, CA
101 Exterminators does exclusion-first rodent control in Los Altos Hills — roof rats in the oak canopy, pocket gophers in irrigated pasture, gray squirrels and raccoons in attics. We are CA licensed under SPCB Lic. #9119 and have worked Santa Clara County since 2005. With Rancho San Antonio and Byrne Preserve on the town boundary, the source population never leaves, so sealing the building is the part that lasts.
Warning Signs
Signs You Need Rodents Service in Los Altos Hills
Our program combines three components: (1) Exclusion — sealing gaps in foundations, pipe penetrations, vents, and roof eaves using hardware cloth, copper mesh, foam sealant, and sheet metal as appropriate. (2) Trapping — placement and monitoring of snap traps, live traps, and glue boards in active areas. (3) Exterior bait stations — tamper-resistant bait stations positioned along perimeter rodent runways for ongoing population management.
Droppings along walls, in cabinets, behind appliances, or in attic insulation
Gnaw marks on wiring, wood, plastic pipes, or food packaging
Grease marks along walls or baseboards — oil from rodent fur rubbed repeatedly on surfaces
Nesting materials (shredded paper, insulation, fabric) in hidden locations
Scratching or scurrying sounds in walls, ceilings, or under floors at night
Burrows in landscaping, mulch beds, or under concrete slabs
Citrus or avocado fruits with bite marks — a classic roof rat indicator
Pet acting alert at walls or cabinets when no visible cause exists
How It Works
Our Rodents Process in Los Altos Hills
Every job follows the same methodical approach — no shortcuts, no guesswork. Here is what to expect when you work with us in Los Altos Hills.
Inspection & Runway Mapping
We identify gnaw marks, runways, burrows, droppings, and grease trails to map rodent activity throughout the property — interior and exterior.
Exclusion
We seal all discovered entry points with durable materials appropriate to the opening — hardware cloth, copper mesh, sheet metal flashing, or foam sealant for smaller gaps.
Trapping & Bait Placement
Interior snap traps and exterior tamper-resistant bait stations are positioned along active runways. We monitor and service these on a schedule until activity ceases.
Follow-Up & Monitoring
We return to clear traps, replenish bait, check exclusion work, and confirm that the population has been eliminated before closing out the service.
Why 101 Exterminators
Rodents You Can Count On in Los Altos Hills
Exclusion-First Methodology
Without sealing entry points, any rodent removed will simply be replaced by another. We seal the structure before or concurrent with trapping — not as an afterthought.
No Unmonitored Poison Bait Indoors
We do not place loose rodenticide indoors where rodents can carry it to walls and die inaccessibly. Interior work uses traps with daily monitoring during active treatment.
Regional Species Knowledge
Norway rats, roof rats, and deer mice behave differently and require different approaches. We identify the species present before selecting treatment methods.
Sanitation Recommendations
After resolving an infestation, we advise on harborage removal, vegetation management, and food storage to prevent reinfestation — not just a repeat service call.
Common Questions
Rodent Control FAQs for Los Altos Hills
Something runs in my Los Altos Hills attic at night. Rats or squirrels?
Time of day is the fastest tell: gray squirrels are active in daylight and go quiet after dark, while roof rats run at night. Squirrel entry is also usually a chewed, ragged hole at a roof edge, gable vent or chimney surround, where roof rats slip through gaps you would not notice. Both are common here because the preserves on the town boundary hold permanent populations. We confirm with droppings and entry-point evidence before setting anything.
Can gophers really be eliminated from an irrigated pasture in Los Altos Hills?
On an actively irrigated acre, sustained management is the honest goal rather than permanent elimination — the surrounding pasture and open space keep repopulating the ground. Trapping active tunnel systems is the most effective method, and we work them until activity stops. For vineyard rows, specimen trees and irrigation infrastructure, buried hardware-cloth baskets protect specific areas long term. A maintenance schedule keeps mound counts down instead of restarting the fight every spring.
Do I have to cut down my oaks to keep roof rats off the roof?
No — you need clearance, not removal. Roof rats travel limb to roofline, so trimming branches back about three feet from the roof edge and gutter breaks the bridge without harming the tree. Around Los Altos Hills that also means checking arbors, trellises, wisteria, ivy on chimneys and any vineyard wire running toward the house. Once the aerial routes are gone, screening the vents and closing eave gaps finishes it.
Local Pest Pressure
Common Pests We Treat in Los Altos Hills
Every area has its own pest profile shaped by climate, housing, and geography. These are the pests we see and treat most often in Los Altos Hills — tap any one to learn how to identify it and what treatment involves.
Rodent Control · Los Altos Hills
Free Limited Rodents Inspection in Los Altos Hills
CA licensed and insured. Written estimate before any work begins. Same-day response available for urgent situations in Los Altos Hills.