Our customers rate us 4.9 out of 5, based on 132 Google reviews

Rodent Inspection · Sacramento and the surrounding area

Rodent Inspection in Sacramento, CA

A rodent inspection in Sacramento covers the attic, crawlspace, roofline, vents and garage. It finds where rats or mice are getting in. You get a plain list of what was found before anyone quotes work, and exclusion, if it is needed, starts at $500.

A technician checks the attic, crawlspace, roofline, vents and garage and gives you a plain list of entry points and activity.
You do not have to book work afterwards. If exclusion makes sense it is quoted after the inspection, starting at $500.
If the inspection finds nothing, we tell you so.
We come to you in Sacramento, West Sacramento, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Natomas, Roseville, Rocklin and Carmichael.

4.9 from 132 Google reviews$39/mo quarterly · $49/mo bi-monthly · $79/mo monthly · $150 initial costMon to Sat, 7am to 6pm

Call (916) 818-3863

No-obligation rodent inspection

Rated 4.9 from 132 Google reviews.

Plumbing runs and bare dirt inside a home crawlspace during a rodent inspection — Pipes running over bare soil inside a crawlspace.

Key facts

Summit Pest Control provides rodent inspection for homes and businesses in Sacramento, California.
Summit Pest Control operates Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Summit Pest Control is a locally operated pest control company. It has three technicians, as of September 2026.
Summit Pest Control serves Sacramento, West Sacramento, Elk Grove, Roseville, Rocklin, Carmichael, Natomas, and Rancho Cordova.

How rodent inspection works

A noise in the attic or walls is a common first sign. An inspection answers how the rodent got in and how many ways in there are. That is why we do not price exclusion work before one has happened.

The technician checks the places rodents actually use: roofline junctions, vents, the gap where utilities enter, the garage door seal, and the crawlspace. You get a plain account of what was found and where, and what it would take to close it.

What an inspection turns up

Photos from our own jobs show the kind of thing we find. They show droppings across attic insulation, droppings on subfloor timber in a crawlspace and a technician working beside the ductwork and air handler in an attic.

The UC Statewide IPM Program Pest Notes on rats describe roof rats as climbers with a tail longer than the head and body. They nest in attics, walls, false ceilings and cabinets and run along utility lines and fence tops at dusk.

Norway rats are stockier, burrow along foundations and stay low indoors. House mice, per the notes on house mice, get under a gap a quarter inch tall.

The rat notes put the line at openings bigger than a quarter inch and say rats chew through plastic, foam, wood and caulk. So the findings cover what each gap would need, as well as where it is.

One detail from the plan sheets: all three residential plans list roof rat infestations as an exclusion. An inspection tells you which rodent you have before you choose anything.

Technician inspecting an attic beside ductwork for rodent activity — A technician with a headlamp checking beside insulated ductwork in an attic.

Rodent droppings found on subfloor timber during a crawlspace inspection — Droppings on a crawlspace subfloor around a white pipe elbow.

Do I need rodent inspection?

Scratching at night, droppings, chew marks on packaging or wiring, or a musty smell in a room that does not get used much.

Before you clean anything up

If you have found droppings, do not sweep or vacuum them. The California Department of Public Health warns that stirring up dried mouse urine, saliva or droppings can put hantavirus into the air. In California the virus is carried by deer mice.

Its guidance is to air the space out for 30 minutes and wear rubber or plastic gloves. Next, spray the area with a disinfectant or a fresh 10% bleach solution until it is very wet. Leave it five minutes, then wipe it up with paper towels.

Other signs are worth mentioning on the phone. They include gnawed fruit or nuts in the yard, nests behind boxes in a cluttered garage, and burrows under bins or compost. A musky smell is another, which UC IPM ties to mice.

The CDPH also says to seal holes the width of a pencil or larger. It says to use snap traps, not glue traps or live traps. Outside, the UC IPM rat notes suggest pruning tree limbs within 3 feet of the roof, pulling climbing plants off the walls and leaving at least 2 feet between shrubs and the house.

Roof rats routinely travel up to 300 feet or more for food. So a fruit tree next door can be feeding the ones in your attic.

Rodent inspection, step by step

FirstBook the inspectionCall the office and we will put you on the schedule.

SecondThe walkAttic, crawlspace, roofline, vents, garage and the interior areas with activity.

ThirdThe findingsA plain list of entry points and activity.

FourthYour optionsWe quote exclusion only if it is needed, and tell you if it is not.

Ready to get started? Talk to one of our local technicians today.

Call (916) 818-3863 Request a quote

What Sacramento-area customers say

Rated 4.9 from 132 Google reviews as of 14 October 2026, and 126 of the 132 are five-star. The quotes below are taken word for word from the profile.

“We had Summit Pest Control come out for a one time treatment, and will probably sign a contract with them soon. Timothy was great on the phone and in person at the appointment. He talked me through everything, showed me some concern areas, and was super nice. Had a great experience!”

Mindy Rouillard, Google review

“Summit Pest Control does awesome work! Very friendly and knowledgeable techs and always ensures they cover the whole house inside and out. Also very affordable. I definitely recommend you give them a try.”

Jennifer Angeles, Google review

Read all 132 reviews on Google

Frequently asked questions: rodent inspection

What does a rodent inspection consist of?

A technician checks the attic, crawlspace, roofline, vents and garage for droppings, chew marks and open entry points. Then they go through what they found with you.

What are the first signs of a rat infestation?

UC IPM lists droppings around pet dishes or pet food containers and noises from the attic or drop ceilings. It also lists nests in a firewood stack, burrows under a compost pile or garbage cans, and rats on utility lines or fence tops at dusk. You do not have to book work after an inspection.

How much does it cost to spray for rodents?

Rodents are not dealt with by spraying. The inspection finds the entry points, and exclusion, sealing them, is quoted afterwards from $500. Rats and mice are also covered on the three residential plans on our pricing page, though every plan lists roof rat infestations as an exclusion.

What smell do rats absolutely hate?

None that lasts. UC IPM says rats have an initial aversion to some odors and tastes, but no repellent has been found to solve a rat problem for more than a very short time. It adds that no truly effective rat repellents are registered for use in California.

What repels rats immediately?

Noise works for a moment at most. UC IPM says rats are frightened by strange noises but quickly get used to repeated sounds, so high-frequency and ultrasonic devices are not effective in homes and gardens. Closing the openings is what keeps them out.

What kills rats quickly?

UC IPM calls snap traps the safest, most effective and most economical way to trap rats. Set them along walls at right angles with the trigger end almost touching the wall. Use enough of them, about 10 to 20 feet apart, and set them off the ground for roof rats.

Can you ever fully get rid of rats?

Not with traps alone. UC IPM says sanitation has to be ongoing or rats quickly return, and calls exclusion the most successful and longest-lasting strategy. The plan sheets add that every residential plan starts with a no-obligation rodent assessment of entry ways and active nesting areas.

How many rats are typically found in a rat nest?

UC IPM gives litter sizes rather than nest counts. A roof rat usually has 3 to 5 litters a year of up to 8 young, and a female Norway rat has 4 to 6 litters and can wean 20 or more young a year. All three of our plans list roof rat infestations as an exclusion.

What month are rats most active?

No single month. UC IPM says rats are active throughout the year, so it suggests checking for signs periodically, and that control takes less time and effort while their numbers are low.

Where we do rodent inspection

We cover Sacramento and the area around it six days a week. We come to you. Our technicians travel to your property in the eight towns below, so there is nothing to bring in or drop off.

Pest Control in Sacramento Pest Control in West Sacramento Pest Control in Elk Grove Pest Control in Rancho Cordova Pest Control in Natomas Pest Control in Roseville Pest Control in Rocklin Pest Control in Carmichael

Service area map, centered on Sacramento. It takes in the eight towns we serve, from West Sacramento and Elk Grove to Roseville and Rocklin.