A place that sits empty is a place without noise, light or movement. For a mouse or a rat, that is an invitation. Pantries, cupboards, cabins, boats and campers all offer shelter, and with nobody about, animals can settle in for weeks unnoticed.
The checklist below is built for a seasonal house, a vacation cabin, a boat or trailer in storage, or any space that is unused for a while. It is general, so adapt it to your property.
Before you leave.
- Empty the pantry and fridge of open food, and bag trash out of the building.
- Store dry goods, pet food and seed in sealed plastic or metal bins.
- Wash dishes and wipe counters and the stove.
- Close vents and chimney openings with mesh where appropriate.
- Move cardboard and fabric into plastic totes, off the floor.
- Check the garage door seal and the base of exterior doors.
Silverdale sits near Dyes Inlet, and a boat kept in a yard or storage area may sit next to trees or brush. Cabin cupboards, locker spaces and wiring chases are warm and quiet, so empty them of food and wipe them down before you leave.
Have someone look in.
A neighbor or caretaker can do a quick check every week or two. Give them a short list: look at counters and floors for droppings, check for gnawing on cartons, listen for sounds and sniff for odd smells. Ask them to call you before cleaning anything.
If you have a vehicle in the garage, ask them to lift the hood and look for nests now and then. Our vehicle page lists the signs.
Signs to watch for on return.
- Droppings on counters, in drawers or on shelves.
- Gnawed boxes, soap, candles or wiring.
- Shredded paper, fabric or insulation in corners.
- A musty or ammonia smell.
- A vehicle or boat that will not start or has a warning light.
Spot any of these? Stop and make a note. Open windows and doors, step outside for about half an hour and then use the wet cleanup steps found in the CDC pages linked below. Dry waste should never be swept or vacuumed.
| Space. | Common risk. | What helps. |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen and pantry. | Open food, crumbs. | Sealed bins, clean counters. |
| Garage or shed. | Cardboard, seed, open gaps. | Totes on shelves, new door seal. |
| Boat cabin or camper. | Cupboards, wiring chases. | Empty food, inspect often. |
| Attic or crawlspace. | Quiet, undisturbed insulation. | Check access doors and vent mesh. |
Mouse or rat? You need not settle that before calling. Tell us what you saw and we will figure out the answer with you.
Ring (888) 686-4821Closing the gaps.
A house that is sealed does not need to rely on food storage alone. Check vents, pipe sleeves and door seals, and close gaps with metal or mesh. If you find an opening that looks used, call before sealing it, because an animal may still be inside. Materials are described on the exclusion page.
Coming back.
Walk through before you unpack. Look at the places you checked before leaving, and compare them with your notes. If you find sign, a visit can trace the route, remove animals and close the entries. An inspection is the simplest first step.
A short note to yourself helps next time: what you found, what you changed and what you will do differently. Over a few seasons, the routine becomes habit.
Briefing whoever checks in.
Give whoever checks in a brief written list of what to watch: pellets on counters and floors, gnawed packaging, new noises and odd smells. Tell them to leave dry waste alone and call you instead, so the right cleanup method gets used.
Pass along our number too, because anything found on a weeknight or holiday can then be reported straight away.
What to do while you wait, and what to skip
Tidying before the appointment? Go in this order and stop whenever a step seems unclear.
- No broom. Sweeping dry pellets throws fine particles into the very air you breathe.
- Air the space first. Open whatever opens, then wait about thirty minutes.
- Rubber or vinyl gloves go on for anything stained or soiled, and your hands get a long wash in warm soapy water afterward.
- Hands stay off droppings until they are soaked and have sat for about five minutes.
- Wipes and debris share one closed bag that joins the ordinary garbage, and hands stay covered around any body.
- Body aches, a fever or labored breath after contact with waste are matters for a clinic and not a pest company.
Where the safety advice comes from
Our advice about cleanup and about poison draws on two federal sources, and both appear below.
- Hantavirus Prevention, from the CDC: Closing entries first, then careful handling of old droppings and nests.
- Cleaning Up After Rodents, from the CDC: Air it out, wet it down, bag it up, in the CDC's own wording.