Memphis, TN · Rats and mice

Rodent control in Memphis, TN

Roof rats in the attic, mice in the kitchen, scratching in the walls at night. One free call connects you with an independent local rodent technician who can find the way in, remove them and seal it.

Call (901) 256-2861 Free call · Same-day appointments are often available

Memphis, Shelby and DeSoto counties
Roof rats, Norway rats and mice
Independent local providers

Roof rat on the eave of an older house at night with tree branches behind it

Services

Memphis rodent control services

Rats and mice only. Each page explains what a thorough job includes, the steps, why Memphis houses make it harder, and what to ask before you hire.

Roof rat crouched on attic insulation under the rafters

What to say when you call

Your call goes to an independent rodent control provider serving Memphis. Two minutes of detail up front gets you a straighter answer on timing and price.

Tell them

✓Rats or mice, if you can tell. Mouse droppings are rice-sized; rat droppings run about half an inch or longer.
✓Where the activity is: attic, ceiling, walls, kitchen, crawl space, garage, yard or under the slab.
✓How long it has been going on, and whether the noise or droppings are getting worse.
✓The building: brick ranch, Midtown bungalow on a crawl space, townhome, apartment, restaurant or warehouse.
✓Your neighborhood or ZIP code and the times that work for a visit.
✓Anything already tried, like snap traps, store bait, foam in a gap or a past service.

Ask them

?Is the company chartered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (or licensed in Mississippi, for DeSoto County)?
?Will the technician seal the entry points, or only set traps and bait?
?How many return visits does the price cover, and what does an extra one cost?
?Can I see the plan and the quote in writing before work starts?
?What goes inside the house, and how is it kept away from kids and pets?

Call (901) 256-2861

Inspection reference

How rodents get into Memphis homes

Trapping only lasts if the openings get sealed. These are the gaps a technician checks first on a Memphis house.

ROOF

Soffits, fascia and roof returns

Roof rats reach the roof by tree limbs and utility lines, then get in where wood soffits have pulled away or two rooflines meet. Common on older Midtown and East Memphis homes.

VENT

Gable, ridge and soffit vents

Rusted or torn vent screens open straight into the attic, where roof rats nest. Galvanized hardware cloth closes them.

FND

Crawl space vents and foundation gaps

Many Memphis homes sit on crawl spaces. Damaged vent screens, loose access doors and gaps at the brick let Norway rats and mice in underneath.

PIPE

Pipe, gas and AC line gaps

Mice fit through gaps slightly larger than a quarter inch, so the openings around pipes, gas lines and AC line sets matter.

DOOR

Garage doors and thresholds

Worn garage door seals, especially at the corners, and gaps under exterior doors are the usual way in for mice in newer suburban homes.

YARD

Limbs, ivy and yard cover

Limbs over the roof, ivy on brick, woodpiles and bulky trash at the curb give rats a bridge or a place to live close to the house.

How a job usually goes

Inspect, remove, seal, confirm

01 / INSPECT

Inspect

The technician checks the attic, roofline, crawl space and yard to identify the rodent, its runways and every entry point.

02 / REMOVE

Trap

Traps go on the runways: high for roof rats, low for Norway rats, along walls for mice. Ask how many visits are included.

03 / SEAL

Seal

Openings get closed with metal, mesh and mortar once activity drops. Ask for a list of what was sealed.

04 / CONFIRM

Confirm

A follow-up check confirms empty traps and no fresh droppings. Cleanup comes after, if needed.

How the call works

Rats and mice in Memphis

Why Memphis has a rodent problem

Memphis has long, humid summers and short winters, so rats and mice stay active most of the year. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency notes roof rats can breed year-round, with peaks in summer and fall. A pair in the attic in October can be a colony by spring.

The roof rat is the signature Memphis rat. Tall oaks and magnolias hang over rooflines in older neighborhoods like Midtown, Cooper-Young, Central Gardens and East Memphis, and many of those houses were built a century ago with wood soffits and vents that have opened up. Norway rats work lower, in crawl spaces, under slabs and along the Mississippi riverfront, the Wolf River and the creeks. House mice get into homes of every age through gaps the size of a pencil.

Public help is limited to the outdoors. Shelby County's rodent program takes complaints about outdoor activity, and Memphis 311 handles property conditions. Inside your house, the job falls to you or a private provider, and the sealing is what makes it last. See rodent exclusion and why rats come back.

Service areas

Memphis neighborhoods and suburbs

Calls reach independent providers across Memphis, the Shelby County suburbs and DeSoto County. See all service areas.

Midtown and downtown

Rest of Memphis

Shelby County suburbs

DeSoto County, Mississippi

Guides

Memphis rodent guides

City, county and state rules that touch rats and mice, with official sources. All guides.

How to Report Rats in Memphis and What Happens Next

Rats outdoors go to Shelby County's rodent control program. Property conditions go to Memphis 311 and Code Enforcement. Here is who does what, and what each office can and cannot do.

Tenant and Landlord Rodent Rules in Memphis

Tennessee's landlord-tenant act applies in Shelby County. Landlords must keep rentals fit and habitable and follow housing codes; tenants must keep units clean. Here is how that plays out with rodents.

Memphis Trash, Yard and Property Rules That Affect Rodents

Memphis carts can go out no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before pickup and must come back by 8 a.m. the day after. Here are the trash and yard rules that matter most for rats.

Restaurant Rodent Violations in Shelby County: Rules and Inspections

Shelby County Health Department permits and inspects Memphis food businesses under Tennessee's food rules, which require kitchens to keep rodents out and limit bait to outdoor stations.

Rodent Control Cost in Memphis: Published Ranges and What Changes the Price

HomeAdvisor lists an average Memphis rodent control job at about $651, with most between $249 and $1,285. Here is what inspection, trapping, sealing and cleanup cost.

How to Verify a Pest Control License in Tennessee

Tennessee pest control companies need a charter from the Department of Agriculture for each office. Rodent work falls under the General Pest and Rodent Control category.

Articles

Rat and mouse articles

What you are seeing, what it means and what works. All articles.

How to Get Rid of Rats in Memphis

Figure out which rat you have, trap on its runways, seal the openings it used, and take away the food and cover in your yard. In Memphis, sealing is the step that decides whether they come back.

Roof Rats vs Norway Rats: Which One Is in Your Memphis Home?

Roof rats are slim climbers with long tails that nest up high. Norway rats are heavier burrowers that live low. Here is how to tell them apart and why it matters.

Rats in the Attic: What Memphis Homeowners Should Do

Scratching overhead at night is usually roof rats. Trap them in the attic, seal the roofline gaps they used, cut back limbs, then deal with soiled insulation.

Mice in the Walls: Signs, Causes and What to Do

Quick scratching in the walls at night usually means mice using the wall as a hallway. Trap where they enter and exit the wall, then seal the outside gaps.

Rat Droppings Identification: Roof Rat, Norway Rat or Mouse?

Norway rat droppings run about three quarters of an inch with blunt ends. Roof rat droppings are about half an inch with a pointed end. Mouse droppings are much smaller.

Why Rats Come Back After an Exterminator

Rats usually come back because the way in was never sealed. New rats follow the scent trail of the old ones. Here are the common causes and fixes.

FAQ

Memphis rodent control questions

How does this service work?

Memphis Rodent Control is a free service. When you call, you are connected with an independent local rodent control provider serving your area. The provider schedules the visit, sets the scope of work and gives you the price.

How much does rodent control cost in Memphis?

HomeAdvisor lists an average Memphis rodent control job at about $651, with a typical range of $249 to $1,285. Your price depends on the rodent, the house, the sealing needed and any cleanup. See the cost guide.

Are roof rats common in Memphis?

Yes. Tall trees over older rooflines and overhead utility lines give roof rats easy access to attics, especially in Midtown, Central Gardens and East Memphis. See roof rats vs Norway rats.

Will the county take care of rats at my house?

Shelby County's rodent control program responds to complaints about outdoor rodent activity and can bait serious outdoor infestations, but it does not treat inside homes. See the reporting guide.

How soon can someone come out?

Same-day appointments are often available, depending on the provider's schedule and your location. Describe the problem when you call so the provider can plan the visit.

How do I check that a company is licensed?

In Tennessee, pest control companies need a charter from the Department of Agriculture, and rodent work falls under the General Pest and Rodent Control category. See the license guide.

Get the rats and mice out

(901) 256-2861

Free call · independent local providers · same-day often available

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