A rodent inspection report records how mice or rats are getting into a home, where they are living and feeding inside, and what it will take to keep them out. Trapping removes the animals that are already in; sealing the gaps is what stops the next ones, so the heart of this form is a list of entry points, each with its size, the material around it, a photo and whether it was sealed on the day or quoted. Fill it in here and download a PDF without an account, or speak while you walk, and the document writes itself.
Start outside, and measure every gap
A house mouse can squeeze through a gap about the width of a pencil, roughly a quarter inch, and a young rat through one about half an inch across. That is why each entry point asks for the gap size as you measured it, not a yes or no. A quarter-inch gap behind the dryer vent and a two-inch hole at the garage corner need different repairs and different prices.
Walk the foundation first, then doors and the garage, then everything that passes through the wall — gas line, hose bibs, the air-conditioning line set, cable and phone lines, dryer and bath vents. Then look up: roof returns, soffits, gable vents and the gaps where a lower roof meets a wall. Roof rats in particular come in high.
Reading the signs inside
Record each area separately, so the report shows where the activity is concentrated:
- Droppings — fresh ones are dark and moist and soft; old ones are dull and dry and crumble. Mouse droppings are about the size of a grain of rice; rat droppings are much larger.
- Rub marks — dark greasy smears along walls, beams and pipes where the animals run.
- Gnawing — fresh chew marks are pale; look at door corners, food packaging, wiring and pipe insulation.
- Nests — shredded paper, fabric or insulation tucked into a quiet void, drawer or wall cavity.
- Sounds — scratching or running at night in walls and ceilings, and when the occupants hear it.
Drains and sewer rats
When rats appear in a bathroom, or there are signs near a floor drain with no gap outside to explain them, the route may be a broken or open drain line. The drain section is gated so it only appears when you suspect that. Record what was checked and what was found, and refer camera surveys and repairs to a plumber where that is not your work.
Deer mice and cleanup safety
In much of the country, deer mice can carry hantavirus. Sweeping or vacuuming dry droppings can put the virus in the air. Public health guidance generally calls for ventilating the space, wetting droppings and nesting material with a disinfectant before wiping them up, and wearing gloves. Tell the customer before they start cleaning, and follow your company's safety procedures for your own work.
Common questions
What does a rodent inspection include?
A walk of the outside of the home for entry points, a look at the roof line, vents, utility penetrations and doors, a check of drains if a sewer route is suspected, a search inside for droppings, rub marks, gnawing, nests and other signs, a look at food and shelter around the home, a judgment on the likely species, any traps or stations placed, and a quote for sealing the entry points.
How small a hole can a mouse get through?
Roughly a quarter inch, about the width of a pencil, for a house mouse. Young rats can get through about half an inch. Measure and record every gap; a gap that looks too small usually is not.
Should entry points be sealed before or after trapping?
Practice varies. Many technicians seal most entry points straight away and trap the animals left inside, then seal the last holes once activity stops, so animals are not trapped in walls. The form records which points were sealed today and which were left for the follow-up.
How can you tell mice from rats?
Mostly by the size of the droppings and the damage, and by where the activity is. Mouse droppings are about the size of a rice grain; rat droppings are closer to a raisin or larger. Norway rats tend to burrow and stay low; roof rats climb and are found in attics and trees.
Does this form price the work?
It has a quote list for exclusion items, each with the location, material and price you enter. It does not set prices or tell you what to charge.