Rodents: More Than a Nuisance, a Real Health Risk

Name: 101 Exterminators Inc.
Address: Salinas, CA, 93901, US
Telephone: (831) 500-1613
Price range: $$
Rating: 5

Scientific name: Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus, Mus musculus

Rodents in your home or business are not just unpleasant — they are a genuine health and safety concern. Rats and mice contaminate food and food preparation surfaces with droppings and urine carrying bacteria including Salmonella and Leptospira. They gnaw through electrical wiring (a leading cause of house fires), damage insulation, and can introduce fleas and ticks into the home. Central California's combination of agricultural land and urban sprawl creates significant rodent pressure across all four service counties.

Rodent Control (831) 500-1613

★★★★★5.0·400+ Google reviews

Visual Guide

How to Identify Rodents

Size

House mouse: 6-8cm body. Roof rat: 16-20cm body. Norway rat: 20-25cm body.

Color

House mouse: gray-brown. Roof rat: dark brown to black above, light gray/cream below. Norway rat: brown above, gray below.

Body Shape

Slender body with a long tail equal to or longer than body length (mice and roof rats). Stouter body with shorter, thicker tail (Norway rats).

Distinctive Features

Roof rats have large prominent ears and a pointed nose; long, thin tail. Norway rats have a blunt nose, small ears, and a thick tail shorter than body length. House mice have large ears relative to body size.

Biology

Behavior & Lifecycle

Roof rats are agile climbers — they enter structures from tree branches, utility lines, and roof edges. They nest in attics, rafters, and wall voids above the first floor. Norway rats are burrowers — they dig underground burrows, enter at foundation level, and occupy lower floors, crawl spaces, and basements. House mice can enter through gaps as small as a dime and can establish inside walls, under appliances, and in any small enclosed space. All species are nocturnal, most active from sunset to sunrise.

Commonly Found In:

Homes near agricultureAtticsCrawl spacesRestaurantsMulti-family housing

Local Knowledge

Rodents in Central California

Salinas Valley's agricultural landscape creates seasonal rodent migration patterns — as summer crops are harvested and fields are disked, displaced Norway rats and house mice move into adjacent residential properties in September and October. Roof rats thrive in Monterey County's tree-lined neighborhoods and in Santa Cruz's forested areas. San Jose's older urban neighborhoods along storm drain corridors have endemic Norway rat populations. Field mice from surrounding open space are a consistent pressure in San Benito County.

Why This Matters Here

Rodents carry and transmit diseases directly (Hantavirus, Leptospirosis, Salmonella, Rat-bite fever) and indirectly via fleas, ticks, and mites they host. Their constant gnawing includes electrical wiring — the National Fire Protection Association identifies rodent gnawing as a significant cause of structure fires of undetermined origin. A single rodent in a commercial kitchen can result in health inspection closure and substantial liability.

Our Rodent Control service

Prevention

How to Reduce Your Risk

The most cost-effective pest control is prevention. These steps reduce the likelihood of rodents problems — particularly important for properties in our service area where the conditions favor this species.

01
Seal all gaps larger than 1/4 inch (mice) or 1/2 inch (rats) in foundations, walls, and around pipes
02
Install door sweeps on all exterior doors — gaps under doors are a primary entry point
03
Keep firewood, debris piles, and overgrown vegetation away from the structure — they are harborage
04
Store food in hard-sided sealed containers — cardboard boxes are easily gnawed through
05
Remove fallen fruit, pet food, and bird seed from outdoor areas — these are primary rodent attractants
06
Trim tree branches to at least 3 feet from the roofline — roof rat primary access point
07
Repair leaking outdoor faucets and drainage issues — water is a key rodent attractant

When to Call a Professional

Call as soon as you have evidence of rodents — droppings, gnaw marks, sounds in walls at night, or a sighting. Rodent populations increase rapidly; a pair of house mice can produce 50+ offspring in a year under favorable conditions. Early intervention with professional exclusion stops the cycle.

Call (831) 500-1613 Request a Free Inspection

Service available in:

Monterey CountySan Benito CountySanta Cruz CountySanta Clara County

Active Service Areas

Where We Treat Rodents

Salinas Gonzales Soledad Greenfield King City Gilroy Morgan Hill Marina Watsonville View all areas

Common Questions

Rodents FAQs

How do I know if it's rats or mice?

Droppings are the easiest indicator: mouse droppings are 3–6mm, rice-grain sized. Rat droppings are 12–20mm, capsule or spindle-shaped. Gnaw marks: mice gnaw small, clean holes; rats gnaw much larger, more ragged openings. Sound: rats are louder — heavy scurrying and thumping. Mice are more subtle — soft scratching. If you hear activity in the attic, it is almost certainly rats (roof rats in most of our service area).

Can rats get in through the sewer?

Yes — Norway rats are strong swimmers and can travel through sewer lines to emerge from floor drains in older plumbing systems. This is called "sewer rat" entry and is most common in structures with older cast-iron or clay drain pipes. If you find rodent evidence near floor drains with no other obvious entry point, sewer entry should be investigated.

Professional Treatment

Ready to Address Your Rodents Problem?

Our licensed technicians serve Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties. Free inspection, written estimate, no obligation.

Our Rodent Control Schedule a Free Inspection

Or call us directly: (831) 500-1613