What This Blog Covers
Below is a practical identification guide to the most common rodents found in California homes and structures, how to tell them apart, and what homeowners in Northern California should do next.
Roof Rats (The Most Common Rat in Northern California)
Roof rats are among the most common rodents we encounter across Northern California, especially in Chico and Sacramento.
These rats are excellent climbers. They prefer elevated areas and are most often found in attics, wall voids, crawl spaces, and along rooflines. Homeowners usually notice them because of scratching or scurrying sounds at night, especially overhead.
Roof rats are slender, long-tailed, and primarily active after dark. Inside homes, they’re attracted to stored food, pet food, fruit trees near the house, and cluttered attic spaces. Outside, they use tree branches, fences, and utility lines to reach roofs.
If activity seems focused above your ceiling or near the roof, roof rats are the most likely culprit.
Norway Rats (Ground-Level Invaders)
Norway rats are larger and heavier than roof rats and are far less agile climbers. Instead, they stick close to the ground.
In California homes, Norway rats are commonly associated with burrows near foundations, activity around garages, sheds, and crawl spaces, and damage along lower walls. They often enter homes through foundation gaps, damaged vents, or openings around utility lines.
Homeowners may notice droppings in garages, storage rooms, or near trash areas. Outside, their presence is often revealed by dirt mounds, worn paths along walls, or gnawing damage near the base of the home.
If you’re seeing signs at ground level rather than in the attic, Norway rats are a strong possibility.
House Mice (Small Rodents, Big Problems)
House mice are the smallest of the common California rodents—but they can cause outsized issues.
These mice are usually identified by tiny droppings, food contamination in pantries, and activity inside kitchens, laundry rooms, or closets. They require very little space to enter and can fit through gaps as small as a dime.
House mice are active year-round, but activity often increases during fall and winter as they move indoors for warmth and food. Because they reproduce quickly, a minor mouse sighting can escalate fast if not addressed properly.
If you’re finding small droppings, shredded paper or insulation, or noticing food packaging damage, house mice are likely involved.
Deer Mice (A Serious Health Concern in California)
Deer mice are especially important for California homeowners to recognize because they are associated with hantavirus, which is present in the state.
These mice are slightly larger than house mice and often have a two-toned appearance—dark on top and lighter on the underside. They’re more commonly associated with garages, sheds, crawl spaces, and rural or semi-rural homes, but they can and do enter houses.
Deer mice are less dependent on human food than house mice, which makes them harder to deter with basic cleanup alone. Because of the health risks involved, professional handling and cleanup guidance are especially important if deer mice are suspected.
Pack Rats (Woodrats)
Pack rats, also known as woodrats, are common in many parts of California, particularly near open land, wooded areas, and foothills.
These rodents are known for collecting and hoarding objects—sticks, insulation, wiring, and even small household items. They often nest in attics, garages, sheds, and crawl spaces, and they can cause extensive damage by chewing on wiring and structural materials.
Pack rats are highly destructive and persistent. DIY efforts often fail because their nests are complex and well-hidden.
Voles (Lawn and Landscape Damage)
Voles are small, stocky rodents that primarily live outdoors. While they don’t usually infest living spaces, they can cause significant damage around homes by creating runways through lawns, gardens, and landscaped areas.
Their activity is often mistaken for moles or gophers. If you’re seeing surface tunnels, damaged grass, or chewed plant roots near your home, voles may be responsible.
Ground Squirrels (Burrowing Near Homes)
Ground squirrels are common in many Northern California neighborhoods, especially near open land and newer developments.
Unlike tree squirrels, ground squirrels burrow, which can undermine foundations, patios, and retaining walls. Their burrows are often found near slabs, walkways, or under sheds.
Ground squirrels also attract predators and can increase rodent pressure near the home, making professional control important when activity is close to structures.
Which Rodent Do You Likely Have?
If you’re unsure which rodent you’re dealing with, a professional inspection can help clarify the problem and determine the right next steps.
- If you’re hearing noise in the attic at night, think roof rats or house mice.
- If you’re finding burrows or activity near the foundation, Norway rats or ground squirrels are more likely.
- If droppings are tiny and showing up in pantries or cabinets, house mice are usually to blame.
- If activity is in garages, sheds, or rural properties—and health risks are a concern—deer mice may be involved.
- If you’re seeing surface tunnels, worn runways, or patches of damaged grass in the lawn, voles or ground squirrels are often the cause.
Correct identification matters because treating the wrong rodent often allows the problem to continue, and in many cases, get worse.
Rodent Season in Northern California
In Northern California, rodent activity often becomes noticeable in fall and winter, when homeowners first hear noises, find droppings, or notice damage that wasn’t present before.
Common Entry Points We See in Chico, Sacramento, and Redding Homes
Rodents don’t need much space to get inside. Some of the most common entry points we find include:
- Gaps along rooflines and eaves
- Broken or loose vents
- Openings around utility lines and pipes
- Garage door gaps
- Foundation cracks and crawl space openings
Safe Cleanup Matters (Especially With Mice)
Rodent droppings and nesting materials can pose health risks. Homeowners should never sweep or vacuum rodent droppings, especially if deer mice may be present. Improper cleanup can stir contaminated particles into the air. Use the CDC’s guide on how to clean up after rodents or contact your local health department.
Professional Rodent Control for Northern California Homes
Rodent problems can be difficult to manage without professional help. Different rodents behave differently, and using the wrong treatment approach often leads to ongoing activity rather than real improvement.
Big Time Pest Control provides pest control services for homeowners in Anderson, Redding, and Red Bluff, as well as throughout Northern California, targeting house-infesting mice and rats. Treatment begins with identifying the rodent involved and addressing the activity using methods appropriate for the species and the structure.
Professional treatment helps:
- Reduce active rodent populations inside and around the home
- Address ongoing activity in attics, crawl spaces, garages, and living spaces
- Limit the damage and contamination rodents can cause
Because rodents are adaptable and persistent, effective treatment requires experience, proper placement, and ongoing monitoring—not guesswork or one-size-fits-all solutions.
If you’re dealing with rodents in your home, professional treatment can help bring the situation under control and prevent it from getting worse.
Burrowing Rodent Control for NorCal Properties
Big Time Pest Control also provides burrowing rodent control services to address active activity around our customers’ properties and help reduce damage to lawns, irrigation lines, and outdoor structures.
If you’re seeing fresh holes or repeated tunneling, our professional treatment can help bring the situation under control.
When to Call Big Time Pest Control
If you’re seeing repeated signs of rodents, hearing noises in walls or ceilings, or dealing with droppings or damage, it’s time to bring in a professional.
Big Time Pest Control helps Northern California homeowners identify the rodent, eliminate the infestation, and protect their home from future problems.
When it comes to rodent problems, don’t guess. Get answers—and a real solution.
Contact Big Time Pest Control today for professional rodent control services in Northern California.
Originally published on July 12, 2024; updated for accuracy.
