Rodent Exclusion and Sealing in Albuquerque
Trapping takes care of the mice already inside. Exclusion keeps the next ones out, and in a dry climate where rodents look for shelter every fall, it's the part of the job that pays off longest.
The target is small. The state rodent guide says no hole larger than a quarter inch should be left unsealed if you want to keep out both rats and mice.
Common gaps on Albuquerque houses
Many homes here have a stucco finish over frame or block, and some of the older places in the valley are adobe. A tech will walk the whole outside and look at:
- The line where stucco stops above the foundation
- Hose bibs, gas lines, AC and cable entries
- Garage door seals and the gaps at each corner
- Dryer, bath and attic vents
- Canales and parapet seams on flat roofs
- Ducts and gaps around a roof-mounted cooler, if you have one
What it gets sealed with
NMSU Extension recommends quarter-inch hardware cloth over openings and metal or concrete for foundation cracks and utility openings. It also says to skip steel wool, latex, plastic, rubber and wood for plugging holes, since rodents chew through them. Expect metal flashing, mesh, mortar or sealant backed by mesh.
Around the yard
The state guide suggests keeping firewood and lumber on racks about 18 inches off the ground, trimming plants 3 to 4 feet back from buildings and keeping a clean, weed-free strip about 3 feet wide around the foundation. Those habits help a sealed house stay sealed. Prevention and monitoring covers the follow-up.
Questions
Should sealing happen before or after trapping?
Usually after the activity inside stops, so nothing gets sealed in. Your provider will lay out the order.