Rodent Entry Checklist
How to use this checklist
Walk the exterior first, then the garage, then the basement/crawlspace. Use a flashlight. You’re looking for gaps, rub marks, and openings around utilities.
Rule of thumb: If a gap looks big enough for the tip of your pinky, it’s worth checking.
Exterior Entry Points
Check each item:
☐ Garage door corners (daylight showing at bottom corners)
☐ Weather stripping on side doors (cracked, missing, loose)
☐ Door sweeps (gap under doors)
☐ Foundation cracks and expansion joints
☐ Sill plate area where foundation meets framing
☐ Utility penetrations (AC lines, cable, plumbing)
☐ Dryer vent (damaged cover or loose connection)
☐ Screens and vents (torn screens, loose louvers)
☐ Soffits/fascia returns (gaps along roofline)
☐ Deck-to-house connection (ledger area and corners)
Garage & Storage Areas
☐ Gaps at garage framing where siding meets structure
☐ Bottom corners of overhead door track area
☐ Rodent droppings along walls or behind stored items
☐ Chewed cardboard/plastic or shredded nesting material
☐ Pet food stored in open bags or accessible bins
Basement / Crawlspace
☐ Pipe penetrations under sinks and near water heater
☐ Gaps around sump line / floor drains
☐ Openings around ductwork or chaseways
☐ Chewed insulation or debris trails
☐ Musty/ammonia odor (urine/nesting)
Attic / Upper Areas
☐ Evidence near insulation edges (disturbed paths)
☐ Droppings near stored boxes or along rafters
☐ Gaps at roof returns and attic vents
☐ Noises at dusk/night (scratching, movement)
WHAT TO DO NEXT
If you checked “yes” on any item
Don’t seal everything blindly (you can trap rodents inside).
Reduce attractants (food, clutter, pet food access).
Schedule an inspection to confirm activity zones and entry points.
Photo upload
Want us to review your findings?
Upload photos of gaps or droppings and we’ll tell you what stands out
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Rodent control works best when entry points are addressed. Traps and bait can reduce activity, but access points are what make it repeat.
Share this
Send this checklist to a neighbor, rodent pressure spreads block-to-block.