How to Identify
– Small droppings in cupboards, along baseboards, or in garage corners.
– Gnaw marks on wood, wiring, plastic, or food packaging.
– Scratching or scurrying noises in walls and attics, especially at night.
– Burrows or runways near foundation walls and under porches in sloped yards.
Habitat
Highly adaptable; nest in wall voids, attics, crawlspaces, and underground burrows; opportunistically enter structures through gaps as small as a dime (mice) or a quarter (rats).
Health Risks
Transmit Salmonella, leptospirosis, and hantavirus via urine, droppings, and bites; shed allergens linked to asthma; chew electrical wiring, plumbing, and insulation causing fire and structural damage.
Rodents carry pathogens (Salmonella, hantavirus) and allergens that are a local health concern, and chewing of electrical wiring in Asheville homes can create fire hazards.
Treatment
Integrated rodent management: seal all entry points (exclusion), snap traps or tamper-resistant bait stations inside, perimeter bait stations outside; sanitation improvements to remove food sources.
Bench 359 uses integrated rodent management: thorough exclusion (sealing entry points), strategic snap-trap placement and tamper-resistant bait stations, plus perimeter monitoring and sanitation advice tailored to each Asheville property.
Prevention Tips
– Seal all gaps larger than a dime on exterior walls, foundations, and utility penetrations.
– Store food — including pet food — in sealed metal or heavy-plastic containers.
– Keep garbage in lidded bins and clean up spills and crumbs promptly.
– Trim vegetation and remove clutter that provides shelter within 3 feet of the home.
– Inspect attic, crawlspace, and garage regularly for droppings or gnaw marks.
– Seal gaps larger than a dime around foundations, utility penetrations, and crawlspace vents before fall migration.
– Store bird and pet feed in sealed metal or heavy-plastic containers to avoid attracting rodents.
– Maintain a tidy 3‑foot perimeter around the home by trimming vegetation and removing stacked wood near foundations.
– Inspect attics and basements after storms for new entry points created on sloped lots or by foundation settling.
– Keep garbage in lidded containers and clean spills promptly, particularly in downtown multi-unit buildings.