TX Rodent Control
Rodent Exterminator in Richardson, TX
Richardson is on Dallas County's list of cities, and Census estimates show 37.0% of its housing units built from 1960 to 1979, the largest of the four age groups. Homes from those years may have worn seals and screens, though a home of any age can have a gap. This guide covers identification tips, the places to check around a house or apartment, and what shapes the scope of a rodent job in Richardson.
Source: Dallas County, Texas, accessed 2026; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2019-2023, table B25034
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Richardson: Rodents to Know Before an Inspection
House Mouse
Small droppings with pointed ends, about the size of a grain of rice and scattered along a baseboard, point to a house mouse. The animal itself is slight and grey-brown with big ears. Mice nest close to food, so check the backs of low cabinets, the insulation behind a dishwasher and the bottom of a pantry.
Roof Rat
Sleek, dark and a strong climber, the roof rat has a pointed muzzle, prominent ears and a tail longer than its body. It prefers height. Listen for movement in the attic after dark, look for droppings with pointed ends near stored boxes, and watch the power lines and fence tops at dusk.
Norway Rat
A Norway rat has a thick body, a blunt nose and small ears, and its tail is shorter than its body. It lives low. Burrows under concrete edges, gnawed holes at the base of a garage wall and large droppings with blunt ends in a corner are the signs to note before an inspection.
Rats in Richardson
Richardson's Health Department rodent control page gives a practical checklist for rats. It advises keeping food, pet food and garbage in rodent-proof containers, feeding pets only what they will eat within 30 minutes, storing firewood and lumber off the ground, and keeping vegetation trimmed away from the outside of the house. Those steps remove the food and cover that keep rats nearby. For rats that are already inside, read how rat control works, from trapping to sealing the holes they used.
Source: City of Richardson, TX, Health Department, Environmental Health, accessed 2026
What to check
- Check that every trash and recycling container closes fully.
- Look under stacked lumber and firewood for burrows and droppings.
- Walk the shrub line against the house and trim back overgrowth.
Mice in Richardson
In Richardson, 54.1% of housing units are single-family detached homes and 35.9% are in buildings with five or more units. That second group matters for mice, because they can move between apartments through shared walls, plumbing runs and gaps under doors. Tenants should report signs to management in writing and keep food sealed. Homeowners can trace droppings back to the wall or cabinet where they first appear. The page on mouse control explains trapping and the sealing that should follow.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2019-2023, table B25024
What to check
- Look behind the dishwasher kick plate for droppings and nesting.
- Check the gap where the dryer vent passes through the wall.
- Note the dates and places you find droppings to share with management.
Keeping Rodents Out in Richardson
Sealing openings, including the small gaps where plumbing and wiring pass through walls, is the heart of exclusion: closing every way in once the rodents inside have been removed. Door sweeps, vent screens, roof returns and the edges of a garage door are the other places to check. Copper wool packed tight and capped with sealant suits small pipe gaps, while larger openings call for hardware cloth or sheet metal. Rodent exclusion covers the materials that hold up against gnawing and what a thorough exterior job includes.
What to check
- Check where water lines and wiring enter the house under each sink.
- Look at the bottom corners of the garage door for chewed seals.
- Make sure every attic vent has an intact metal screen.
Where Rodents Get Into Richardson Homes
Vents and Screens From Earlier Decades
With 37.0% of Richardson units built from 1960 to 1979, it is worth checking each vent screen and door seal for rust, tears and gaps at the frame, whatever the age of the house.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2019-2023, table B25034
Plumbing and Wiring Gaps
Look where pipes and cables pass through walls, under sinks and behind the washer. Openings around them are easy for mice to use and easy to miss until droppings appear.
Gaps Under Apartment Doors
In a multi-unit building, a missing sweep on a door to a hallway, stairwell or storage room lets mice travel from one space to the next. Check each door for light along the bottom.
Garage Door Edges
The edges where a garage door meets its frame and the floor deserve a close look. Check for chewed rubber, loose trim, daylight showing through and droppings just inside the door.
Richardson Homes by Age and Type
Year built, share of housing units
7.3%
Built before 1960
±0.9 points
37.0%
Built 1960 to 1979
±1.8 points
26.2%
Built 1980 to 1999
±1.9 points
29.5%
Built 2000 or later
±1.8 points
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2019-2023, table B25034
Building type, share of housing units
54.1%
Single-family detached
±1.4 points
35.9%
Buildings of 5+ units
±2.5 points
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2019-2023, table B25024
Richardson's cards show a city built in stages: 37.0% of units from 1960 to 1979, 26.2% from 1980 to 1999 and 29.5% in 2000 or later. By type, 35.9% of units are in buildings of five or more units. For those residents, shared walls and service areas are part of any rodent plan. Owners of the 54.1% of units that are detached homes can inspect every outside wall themselves.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2019-2023, table B25034; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2019-2023, table B25024
Seasons and Rodent Activity in Richardson
Average low at or below 40F
January, February and December
Highest average highs
July and August
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), 1991-2020
Station: Richardson, TX co-op weather station
These month cards draw on NOAA normals recorded at the Richardson, TX co-op weather station. Its coldest stretch runs from December through February, with each month averaging a low of 40F or less, and July and August carry the hottest average highs. Cooler nights make a good cue for a gap check indoors and out. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension's training on rodent biology says Norway rat reproduction peaks in both spring and fall, so plan a yard check in Richardson each season.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), 1991-2020; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, accessed 2026
How It Works
1. Call
Tell a trusted local pro what you have found.
2. Inspect
Ask about a free inspection.
3. Remove
Trapping removes the rodents already inside.
4. Seal
Exclusion seals the gaps rodents use to get in.
What Drives Rodent Control Cost in Richardson
Apartment or Detached House
A detached home is one exterior to seal. An apartment problem may involve several units and shared spaces, and the building's management decides how far the work goes.
Age of Exterior Materials
Older door sweeps, screens and pipe patches may need replacing rather than patching. The more of them an inspection flags, the larger the sealing part of the job.
Disposal and Sanitizing
Removing trapped rodents, bagging old nests and disinfecting soiled cabinets or attic areas takes time. Ask whether cleanup is part of the visit and which areas it covers.
Serving Richardson and Nearby Communities
This guide covers houses and apartment communities inside Richardson, which appears on Dallas County's list of cities. Plano, Garland, Dallas and Carrollton each have their own pages on this site. Rules on yard upkeep and trash differ by city, so if you live near a boundary, confirm which city your Richardson-area address belongs to.
The Texas service area guide lists Richardson under Dallas County, along with Carrollton and 5 other cities.
Common Questions About Richardson Rodent Control
Start with the rat section above and the source cited under it. Then follow the prevention steps around your home, and keep notes and photos of any activity you see so you can describe it accurately when you call for help.
Placement is the first thing to check. Set traps along the walls where droppings are, with the trigger against the wall, since mice run along edges rather than across open floor. Use several traps, not one. Bait with a small amount of something sticky.
It can be. Food left out after dark feeds rats and mice when pets are asleep. Bring bowls in at night, feed pets a measured amount, and store the bag in a sealed container. Rinse water bowls and pick up spilled kibble on the patio or in the garage as well.
Either can work when it is placed well. Set traps along walls where you see droppings, with the trigger end against the wall, and keep them away from children and pets. Electronic traps are enclosed, which some households prefer. Glue traps are best avoided because they cause suffering and still leave the rodent to deal with.
Tell management in writing, with the date and where you saw them. Check the sweep on your own door and look under your sinks for gaps around pipes. Keep food in sealed containers. A problem in shared areas often needs the building to act, not just one tenant, so keep copies of what you send.
Free Richardson Rodent Inspection
Scratching in the attic or droppings under the sink? When you phone from Richardson, the line routes to a trusted local pest pro, who can be asked about a free inspection for your Richardson house or apartment.
(888) 733-3114Free Inspection · Same-Day Service in Many Areas
Or find a local rodent exterminator by phone.
Richardson Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2019-2023, table B25034
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2019-2023, table B25024
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), 1991-2020
- Dallas County, Texas, accessed 2026
- City of Richardson, TX, Health Department, Environmental Health, accessed 2026
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, accessed 2026