Rodent Control
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Rodent Extermination Services
Stride Pest Control provides rodent control for homes and businesses across Central Texas, where house mice slip through gaps the width of a dime and roof rats travel the attics and fence lines of established neighborhoods. Rodents are hard to clear on your own because they breed year-round, hide in walls and attics, and learn to avoid traps they have already seen.
Stride treats rodents through the Stride Forward integrated pest management process, and the work centers on exclusion, sealing the gaps rodents use to get in, rather than baiting alone. Trapping and sanitation remove the population that is already inside while exclusion keeps the next one out.
Every treatment is backed by a same-day service option and a satisfaction guarantee. Because the droppings, urine, and gnawed food that rodents leave behind also draw insects, Stride handles cockroach control and general pest control to address the conditions rodents create.
Rodents In Central Texas
A few rodents account for nearly every home invasion in Central Texas, and where they travel and nest changes how they are trapped. These are the ones Stride handles most.
| Rodent | What To Know |
|---|---|
| House mouse | Small and gray-brown. Fits through a hole the size of a dime, breeds year-round, and nests in walls, pantries, and cabinets. |
| Roof rat | A sleek climber that travels power lines, fences, and tree limbs into attics and upper floors. Common in older, tree-lined neighborhoods. |
| Norway rat | Larger and stockier, burrows low, and nests in crawl spaces, sheds, and along foundations near garbage and clutter. |
Telling a mouse from a rat, and a climber from a burrower, decides where traps and exclusion go, which is why Stride identifies the rodent before treating.
Stride treats every rodent in Central Texas. For the one you are dealing with, see our dedicated pages: house mice, roof rats, Norway rats, deer mice, field mice, and white-footed mice.
Signs You Have Rodents
Rodents leave clear evidence once they move in:
- Droppings along walls, in cabinets, or in the pantry, often the first thing homeowners find.
- Gnaw marks on food packaging, wood, and wiring, since rodents chew constantly to wear their teeth down.
- Scratching or scurrying inside walls and overhead in the attic after dark.
- Greasy rub marks along baseboards and beams where rodents travel the same routes.
- Nests of shredded paper, fabric, or insulation tucked into quiet, hidden spaces.
Are Rodents Dangerous?
Rodents are more than a nuisance. They contaminate food and surfaces with droppings and urine as they travel, spreading Salmonella and other pathogens through a kitchen.
They also carry disease directly. Deer mice can spread hantavirus through their droppings and urine, and the NIH MedlinePlus overview of hantavirus explains why cleaning contaminated areas without stirring up dust matters. Rodents can also bring fleas and ticks in with them.
The other risk is fire. Rodents gnaw constantly, and chewed electrical wiring inside walls and attics is a recognized cause of house fires. A rodent problem is a structural and health issue, not just a pest one.
How We Get Rid of Rodents
Stride treats rodents through the five-step Stride Forward process, built around sealing them out rather than just knocking numbers down:
- Inspect. We find the droppings, runways, and rub marks, and trace the gaps and rooflines rodents use to get in.
- Identify. We confirm mice versus rats and how they travel, because a climbing roof rat and a burrowing Norway rat are trapped in different places.
- Recommend. We flag the entry points to seal and the food, water, and clutter feeding them.
- Treat. We set snap traps and tamper-resistant stations along active runways indoors, place exterior stations to intercept rodents before they enter, and seal gaps with steel and hardware cloth that rodents cannot chew through.
- Evaluate. We return to check traps, remove rodents, and confirm the exclusion is holding.
Our GreenPro certification guides this reduced-risk, exclusion-first approach.
How to Keep Rodents Away
Keeping rodents out comes down to sealing entry points and removing the food and shelter that draw them:
- Seal gaps around pipes, vents, garage doors, and rooflines with steel wool or hardware cloth, and add door sweeps.
- Store food and pet food in sealed, hard containers rather than bags and cardboard.
- Trim tree limbs and vines back from the roof, the bridge roof rats use to reach the attic.
- Clear woodpiles, clutter, and debris away from the foundation.
- Keep trash lidded and clean up spilled birdseed and fallen fruit.
Rodent Control Frequently Asked Questions
How are rodents getting into my house?
Rodents enter through gaps around pipes, vents, garage door corners, and rooflines. A house mouse fits through an opening the size of a dime and a rat through one the size of a quarter, so the gaps are often smaller than homeowners expect.
Should I use poison or traps?
Traps let us remove the rodent and avoid one dying and decomposing inside a wall. Bait has a place in exterior stations, but indoors a trapping-and-exclusion approach is cleaner and more reliable, which is why we combine both.
Does seeing one mouse mean there are more?
Usually, yes. Mice are social and breed year-round, so a single mouse in the open typically means a nesting population is already established nearby.
What are the scratching noises in my attic at night?
Roof rats and mice are nocturnal and most active overhead after dark. Scratching, gnawing, and scurrying in the ceiling or attic at night is one of the most common first signs of a rodent problem.
THE STRIDE FORWARD PROGRAM
Our Strategic ECO-BASED Protocol
Stride Forward is our Integrated Pest Management program where we partner with our clients in the long-term removal and prevention of pests. Keeping your property free of unwanted insects and rodents works best when we work together.
The program combines habitat manipulation, biological control, cultural behavior changes, and the targeted use of products designed to repel or eradicate pests. Our approach follows five steps, with non-chemical methods prioritized before any product application.
Our Certifications & Awards
Stride Pest Control holds QualityPro and GreenPro certifications through the NPMA’s Foundation for Professional Pest Management, and fewer than 3% of pest control companies nationwide hold both. QualityPro requires background checks on every service member, a drug-free workplace, and 16 standards that exceed state and federal requirements.
Our Austin and Round Rock office operates under Texas Department of Agriculture license TPCL #667951, with Burton Johnston as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our San Antonio office operates under TPCL #827449, with Alex Randall as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our office manager, Michael Honeycutt, is an Associate Certified Entomologist through the Entomological Society of America.
Founded in 2013, we have served nearly 12,000 customers across Central Texas and hold a 4.9-star rating across 2,400+ reviews with an A+ from the BBB.
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Stride Pest Control received an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars
based on 2,400+ reviews.
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4.9 stars across 2,400+ reviews | QualityPro certified | Satisfaction guaranteed