San Fernando Valley roof rats

Trapping reduces the population inside the structure temporarily, but it does not close the entry points. New rats from the surrounding environment find the same openings within days to weeks. The only way to stop the cycle is exclusion - physically sealing every opening larger than half an inch at the roofline and perimeter. That is the difference between a recurring service and a permanent fix.

Roof rats are most active between dusk and about 2 AM. The sound is a heavier scurrying and occasional rolling noise (they move food items), usually in the attic space directly above living areas. Squirrels are active at dawn and dusk only. Mice produce lighter, faster movement and are more often heard inside walls. An inspection resolves the question definitively - we identify by droppings, rub marks, and nest material, not by sound alone.

Not in most cases. The exclusion work happens at the structure's exterior - vents, soffits, penetrations, and roofline gaps. Attic entry is required for inspection and for dead rodent removal and sanitization, but the structural sealing is exterior work. If insulation has been heavily contaminated, replacement is recommended and that does require attic access, but it is separate from the exclusion itself.

Every job produces a written report with photos of each entry point before and after sealing, species identification, scope of work completed, and the CA SPCB license number. That file is what you need under California habitability law if a tenant complaint escalates. We produce it as standard, not as an add-on. The California Structural Pest Control Board licenses and regulates operators doing this work - confirm any contractor you hire is listed.