Rodent Control on the West Side
Albuquerque's West Side climbs from the river up to the West Mesa. Petroglyph National Monument runs about 17 miles along the escarpment that makes the city's western skyline, with a row of five volcanic cones along its western edge.
Many West Side subdivisions back onto the monument, arroyos or open mesa. That edge is home to pack rats and deer mice, and homes along it see more of them.
Living next to open space
Rodents don't stop at the property line. If your back wall faces open land, keep the side yards clear, store firewood and lumber up on racks and check the garage often. Look for stick nests under shrubs near the wall. Sealing the garage is usually the most useful single thing. See rodents in cars and garages.
- Stick nests under junipers, decks and along walls
- Droppings in the garage and on storage shelves
- Chewed wiring in a car that sits
- Mice inside once the nights turn cold
Inside the house
Newer homes mostly leak at the utility entries, dryer vents and garage. If you've found droppings indoors, figure out whether they're from a deer mouse before cleaning. Deer mouse control explains why.
Local question
Can the provider work on the monument side of my wall?
No. Work happens on your property. Sealing the house and garage is what keeps rodents from crossing over.