Santa Monica's charm is in its older bungalows and Spanish homes, its mature palms, and its lush, established landscaping, and all three are exactly what roof rats look for. The dense plantings and palm skirts give them cover, the fruit trees give them food, and the age of much of the housing means plenty of gaps at the roofline and around utilities for them to exploit. The alleys behind many blocks add routes and shelter that both roof rats and Norway rats use.
Roof rats are the dominant rodent here, climbing the heavy landscaping and palms to reach rooftops and attics. The coastal setting and constant irrigation keep the greenery, and the rodents it shelters, active year-round. Norway rats work the alleys, drains, and crawlspaces lower down, and house mice get into kitchens and garages through the small gaps older construction leaves open.
Because Santa Monica homes are often older and architecturally detailed, we take care with the inspection and sealing, closing the roofline, vent, and utility gaps with materials that hold without damaging the character of the house. Trapping clears the rodents inside, and sealing keeps the next ones from following the same path up the landscaping and into the attic.
A follow-up visit confirms the activity has stopped. Call and connect with a rodent exterminator who serves Santa Monica and the Westside.