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Scratching in the Walls? Identifying Winter Rodents in Central Ohio
Scratching in the Walls? Identifying Winter Rodents in Central Ohio
When the temperature drops in Reynoldsburg, mice and rats don’t just stay outside—they look for a heated invite into your home. If you’re hearing scratching sounds at night or finding droppings in your pantry, you have an unwanted winter guest.
The Problem: A single pair of mice can produce dozens of offspring in just a few months. DIY traps only catch the "explorers," but they don't stop the source.
The Shaffer Solution: We specialize in Exclusion. We don’t just set traps; we find the dime-sized holes under your siding or around your pipes and seal them with professional-grade materials. Stop the cycle and protect your wires from being chewed.
Call Shaffer Pest Control for a Rodent Inspection 614-671-5516
Our 3-Step Sanitation & Safety Protocol
Our 3-Step Sanitation & Safety Protocol
"Removing the animal is only the first step. To truly protect your home, we follow a rigorous medical-grade decontamination process."
Step 1: Biohazard Removal & HEPA Vacuuming We remove all physical waste, including droppings, nesting materials, and food remains, using specialized HEPA-filtered vacuums to prevent airborne spores from entering your living space.
Step 2: Antimicrobial Fogging & Disinfection We apply an industrial-strength, EPA-approved antimicrobial disinfectant via specialized fogging equipment. This reaches deep into every corner of your attic or crawlspace to neutralize bacteria, viruses, and fungal spores.
Step 3: Pheromone Neutralization Wildlife leave behind "scent trails" or pheromones that signal other animals to return. Our enzyme-based cleaners break down these odors at a molecular level, effectively "erasing" your home from the wildlife map.
Why This Matters for Your Family
Why This Matters for Your Family
"Wildlife waste is more than just a mess—it’s a health risk."
Disease Prevention: Our protocols target risks like Histoplasmosis (from bird/bat droppings), Hantavirus (from rodents), and Roundworm (from raccoons).
Respiratory Safety: By using HEPA filtration and professional fogging, we ensure that allergens and harmful particles don't circulate through your home's HVAC system.
Fire & Structural Protection: Rodents have a constant need to chew, often targeting electrical wiring and wooden supports within your walls. By eliminating these pests, we significantly reduce the risk of electrical fires and long-term structural damage.
"Don't let hidden health risks linger in your home. Visit our Wildlife Removal page to see how our permanent exclusion methods stop these hazards at the source."
Stop the Scratching for Good
Stop the Scratching for Good
Hearing noises in your walls is a sign that your home's exterior defenses have been breached. Don't wait for a small mouse problem to become a major infestation. Call us at 614-671-5516 for a professional inspection or view our Permanent Exclusion gallery to see how we seal your home against winter pests.
Hearing noises in your walls is a sign that your home's exterior defenses have been breached. Don't wait for a small mouse problem to become a major infestation. Call us at 614-671-5516 for a professional inspection or view our Permanent Exclusion gallery to see how we seal your home against winter pests.
Pro-Tips: Staying Mouse-Free After Exclusion
Pro-Tips: Staying Mouse-Free After Exclusion
Our permanent sealing stops them from getting in, but these simple habits ensure rodents never have a reason to scout your perimeter.
Our permanent sealing stops them from getting in, but these simple habits ensure rodents never have a reason to scout your perimeter.
The "Quarter-Inch" Inspection: A mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime. Check your garage door weather stripping; if you can see daylight or fit a pencil through the corner, a mouse can get in.
Elevate the Bird Feeder: Birdseed is a primary "magnet" for rodents in Central Ohio. Keep feeders at least 15 feet away from your home's foundation to prevent drawing mice directly toward your siding.
Seal Your Pantry "Soft" Goods: Mice can smell through cardboard and thin plastic. Store cereals, crackers, and pet treats in glass or hard plastic containers to eliminate the food odors that trigger their nesting instincts.
Maintain the "Dry Zone": Rodents look for high-moisture areas to nest. Ensure your downspouts are pointing away from the foundation and clear out damp leaf piles that sit against your home’s brick or siding.
Check the "Highways": Overhanging tree branches act as bridges to your roofline and attic vents. Keep trees trimmed at least 6 feet back from your roof to prevent mice and squirrels from bypassing your ground-level defenses.
Effective rodent control is about more than just setting traps—it's about structural integrity. If you're tired of temporary fixes and want a permanent solution for your Columbus or Pickerington home, let us seal them out for good.
Call 614-671-5516 for a Professional Exclusion Quote or visit our Pest Control Tips for more expert advice.
Q: How can I tell if the scratching in my walls is a mouse or a larger animal?
Q: How can I tell if the scratching in my walls is a mouse or a larger animal?
A: Timing and volume are key. Mice and rats create light, rapid scurrying or scratching sounds, often most active in the quiet of the night. If you hear heavy thumping or loud dragging, you likely have a larger guest like a raccoon or squirrel.
Q: Why aren't DIY traps stopping the scratching sounds in my walls?
Q: Why aren't DIY traps stopping the scratching sounds in my walls?
Traps only target "scouts" that have already entered your living space. Without professional Permanent Exclusion to seal the dime-sized entry points rodents use to enter your heated walls, new pests will simply follow the scent trails left behind. We focus on stopping the entry, not just managing the symptoms.
Q: Are rodent droppings in my home a health risk?
A: Yes. Rodent waste can carry pathogens like Hantavirus and Salmonellosis. Our 3-Step Sanitation & Safety Protocol is specifically designed to neutralize these biohazards and protect your family's respiratory health.
Q: Why do rodents come inside during the Ohio winter?
Q: Why do rodents come inside during the Ohio winter?
A: Just like us, rodents seek warmth and reliable food sources when temperatures drop in Reynoldsburg and Columbus. A hole as small as a dime is enough for a mouse to enter your heated walls and begin nesting.
Q: Are rodent droppings in my home a health risk?
Q: Are rodent droppings in my home a health risk?
A: Yes. Rodent waste can carry pathogens like Hantavirus and Salmonellosis. Our 3-Step Sanitation & Safety Protocol is specifically designed to neutralize these biohazards and protect your family's respiratory health.
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