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Rodent Prevention: A Recent Job & Some Homeowner Tips

Category: Holiday

Published: 03 July, 2026

By Kyle Deal, Co-Owner, Deal Pest Control LLC

What I Walked Into

July is usually when I start getting more calls about rodent activity around Avondale & The West Valley.

A lot of people think rodents are only a winter problem, but that is not always the case here in Arizona. Our summers can still drive them toward homes, especially when they are looking for food, water and a cooler place to hide.

Not long ago, I visited a home where the homeowner called because they had started hearing scratching sounds at night.

At first, they were not sure what it was. They thought it might have been something outside, or maybe even noise from the roof. But then they found a couple of droppings in the garage near some storage boxes, and that was enough for them to call us.

When I arrived, I could tell right away why they were concerned. The home was clean and well maintained, but there were a few small areas where rodents could still find access.

That is something I always explain to homeowners. Rodent activity does not mean your home is dirty. A mouse only needs a small opening, and if it finds food, water or shelter, it may try to settle in.

The Problem

The first thing I noticed was a small gap around one of the exterior utility lines near the home.

Most homeowners would walk right past it. It did not look like a big deal, but to a mouse, that kind of opening can be enough.

I also found some activity near the garage storage area. There were a few droppings, some light gnaw marks and a couple of spots where the rodents had clearly been moving back and forth.

One thing I explained to the homeowner is that rodents rarely stay in one place. Once they find a quiet route, they use it again and again. They are usually looking for food, water, nesting material and a safe place to stay hidden.

The homeowner told me they were not really worried about seeing a mouse once. What bothered them was lying in bed at night wondering what was moving around their house. I completely understood that.

Once you hear scratching at night, it is hard not to listen for it every evening.

The Process

The first thing I wanted to know was how the rodents were getting inside.

There is no point only dealing with the rodents if you leave the same entry points open. That is how the problem keeps coming back.

I walked around the outside of the home together with the homeowner while I checked the roofline, vents, utility penetrations, garage edges and other common rodent access areas.

As I inspected, I showed them what I was seeing. I always like doing that because it helps the customer understand the problem instead of just being told there is an issue.

Inside the garage, I followed the travel routes and focused on the areas where activity was most noticeable.

From there, I put together a treatment plan, addressed the active areas and gave the homeowner a few practical steps to help reduce the chances of rodents returning.

This included cutting back some overgrown vegetation near the house, storing pet food properly and keeping garage storage lifted and organised where possible.

The goal was not just to get rid of the rodents that were there at the time. It was to make the property less inviting moving forward.

The Outcome

Over the next couple of weeks, the homeowner noticed the biggest change at night.

The scratching stopped.

When I checked back with them, they told me they were finally sleeping through the night again without listening for noises in the attic.

That is something I hear a lot after rodent jobs. Most people are not just worried about the rodents themselves. They are tired of wondering what is happening inside the walls, garage or roof space.

The homeowner also followed through on the recommendations we discussed, and that is always good to see.

Small changes around the property can make a big difference when it comes to keeping rodents from coming back.

DIY Advice

Here are a few things I recommend homeowners check during the summer:

1. Walk around your home and look for small gaps around doors, vents, pipes and utility lines.

2. Keep garage storage organised and avoid stacking boxes tightly against the walls.

3. Store pet food, bird seed and other dry goods in sealed containers.

4. Trim shrubs and tree branches away from the house whenever possible.

5. If you hear scratching more than once or keep finding droppings in the same area, do not ignore it.

Some of these things only take a few minutes, but they can help you catch a problem before it turns into something bigger.

"It's brighter than before!"

— Megan

Professional Insight

One thing I have learned over the years is that rodent activity usually gives you a warning.

A strange noise.

A couple of droppings.

A chewed bag of pet food.

A small opening near the garage.

Most of the time, those little signs show up long before the problem becomes serious.

Around Avondale & The West Valley, I pay close attention to rooflines, attic vents, garage areas, utility penetrations and landscaping because those are often where rodent problems begin.

If you can catch the activity early and close off the entry points, solving the problem is usually a lot easier.

Closing Thoughts

That job was a good reminder that rodents do not wait for winter.

Summer is often when the first signs show up, and those early signs are usually the easiest ones to deal with.

If you are hearing scratching in the attic, finding droppings in the garage or seeing signs of chewing around your property, it is worth checking it out before a small problem becomes a bigger one.

Thanks for reading,