Rodent Management
Rodent Control in San Francisco, CA
101 Exterminators offers rodent control in San Francisco, including trapping and exclusion under SPCB Lic. #9119. In an attached flat, the sound you hear and the opening a rodent uses may be in different places. An inspection can identify accessible routes before work is scoped.
Home maintenance
How do you rodent-proof a San Francisco home?
Close gaps wider than a quarter inch and take away food and cover. San Francisco's vermin guidance for owners uses the same quarter-inch rule as UC IPM and requires rodent-proof, watertight garbage containers. Attached rows let a rat travel the length of a block along rooftops and rear fences, so your openings matter to the neighbors too.
Seal outside gaps with metal
Walk the front of the garage, the gas meter and the spots where cable and phone lines enter the wall. UC IPM recommends steel wool, wire screen or sheet metal for gaps over 1/4 inch, and San Francisco's owner guidance uses the same size. Rats chew through foam.
Screen roof and gable vents
UC IPM specifies 1/2-inch galvanized mesh over vent openings and warns against chicken wire. On Victorian and Edwardian buildings, check attic vents under the cornice and any vent shared with the building next door, since one torn screen opens both roofs.
Use watertight cans with tight lids
San Francisco requires rodent-proof, watertight refuse containers for buildings. Keep lids closed on every cart, replace a cracked lid, and rinse the green compost cart after collection so food residue doesn't draw rats to the sidewalk or the side yard.
Fit a spark arrester on the chimney
UC IPM recommends covering chimneys with a spark arrester, which also blocks climbing rodents. Almost half of San Francisco's homes predate 1940. On an older building, have a roofer check the chimney cap whenever the roof gets inspected.
When to do it
Walk the exterior in September and again in March; UC IPM notes rats stay active all year.
Maintenance guidance: UC IPM: Rats
Warning Signs
When to Ask About Rodent Control in San Francisco
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
What to Expect from Rodent Control in San Francisco
Tell us where you hear activity or find droppings, and whether you can see a possible entry point. We can then plan where to check first.
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
Why Choose 101 Exterminators for Rodent Control in San Francisco
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 San Francisco
I hear scratching in the ceiling of my Richmond District flat at night. What is it?
It could be a rodent, but the sound alone is not a species diagnosis. Note when and where you hear it, avoid disturbing droppings, and ask for an inspection of accessible ceiling, roofline and shared areas.
Why do rats keep getting into the garage under my Marina District house?
A gap at the garage door, utility lines or a vent could be involved. The opening needs to be found at the property; proximity to a drain does not prove where rats entered. Ask for the proposed exclusion points in writing.
Is there a rat season in San Francisco?
Rodent activity can occur at different times of year. Record when you notice signs and whether rain or building work changes them. Inspection of the actual entry route is more useful than assuming one citywide season.
Local Pest Pressure
Common Pests We Treat in San Francisco
Every area has its own pest profile shaped by climate, housing, and geography. These are the pests we see and treat most often in San Francisco — tap any one to learn how to identify it and what treatment involves.
Rodent Control · San Francisco
Schedule Service in San Francisco
Tell us what you have found and where. If you're new to us, start a recurring plan and we'll take 10% off your first service.