Rodent Management
Rodent Control in Los Gatos, CA
101 Exterminators handles rodent control in Los Gatos by sealing the structure first and trapping second. CA licensed under SPCB Lic. #9119, working Santa Clara County since 2005. Roof rats (Rattus rattus) reach hillside homes in Surmont and Belgatos through the tree canopy off St. Joseph's Hill rather than up a storm drain. That changes where the entry points are, and it changes where we start.
Warning Signs
Signs You Need Rodents Service in Los Gatos
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 Gatos
Every job follows the same methodical approach — no shortcuts, no guesswork. Here is what to expect when you work with us in Los Gatos.
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 Gatos
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 Gatos
Why do I hear something running across the ceiling of my Los Gatos hillside home at night?
That is almost always a roof rat, and the ceiling is the giveaway. Roof rats travel at height and nest in attics and soffits, so in Surmont, Belgatos and the Kennedy Road hills you hear movement overhead from dusk through the first few hours of dark, not down in the walls at floor level. Mice sound lighter and more constant, and a Norway rat is more likely to turn up in a crawl space or garage. Which one it is decides the trap type and where it goes.
Will trimming the oaks and fruit trees around my Los Gatos house keep rats out?
It helps a great deal, but it does not finish the job on its own. Cutting branches back at least three feet from the roofline removes the bridge roof rats use to reach your eaves from the canopy off St. Joseph's Hill, and picking fruit before it drops removes the reason they came. The structure still has to be sealed at the vent screens, eave gaps and roof-to-wall junctions, because rats already inside keep using those openings, and a neighbor's trees you do not control will still put them on your roof.
Do rats damage anything besides the attic insulation in a Los Gatos home?
Yes, and the expensive damage is usually wiring and ductwork rather than insulation. Roof rats gnaw constantly to manage incisor growth, and in a 1970s Los Gatos attic that means romex jackets, low-voltage runs, and flex duct that then leaks conditioned air into the attic. They also chew irrigation lines and, on hillside properties, landscape lighting wire. We photograph what we find so you know what needs an electrician before we close the entry points.
Local Pest Pressure
Common Pests We Treat in Los Gatos
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 Gatos — tap any one to learn how to identify it and what treatment involves.
Rodent Control · Los Gatos
Free Pest Evaluation in Los Gatos
CA licensed and insured. Written estimate before any work begins. Urgent situations in Los Gatos are prioritized.