Madison Pest Control Experts with more than 15 years of experience offers expert rodent control services for homes and businesses throughout Madison, Wisconsin and greater Dane County. We handle mice, rats, and every stage of the rodent problem, from the first sign of activity through full exclusion and long-term prevention.
Rodents are not just an inconvenience. Mice and rats chew through electrical wiring, damage insulation, contaminate food and surfaces, and carry pathogens that pose real health risks to your household or staff. A small infestation that goes unaddressed for a few weeks can become a significant structural and health problem. If you are seeing signs of rodent activity in your Madison home or business, the right move is to deal with it now.
We offer same-day and next-day service throughout Madison and Dane County. Our inspections are thorough, our quotes are upfront, and our work is backed by a satisfaction guarantee.
Madison's mix of older homes, growing neighborhoods, rental properties, restaurants, and commercial buildings creates ideal conditions for mice and rats throughout the year.
The city's older housing stock, particularly in the isthmus neighborhoods, near the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, and across the near east and west sides, has more structural vulnerabilities than newer builds. Foundation gaps, aging sill plates, deteriorated weatherstripping, and unscreened utility penetrations give rodents multiple access points that are easy to miss without a professional inspection.
The UW-Madison campus generates significant rodent pressure in the surrounding rental housing market. High tenant turnover, dense occupancy, and inconsistent property maintenance create conditions where mice and rats establish themselves and cycle through buildings repeatedly. We work with landlords and property managers in this area on both active infestations and preventive programs.
Madison's extensive park system and green corridors along the lakeshores and drainage channels also sustain year-round rodent populations close to residential and commercial areas. Properties near these zones see higher and more consistent rodent pressure than properties further from green space.
Rodent problems rarely stay the same. One mouse often means several more you haven't seen. Mice breed fast and an unaddressed infestation can grow significantly within weeks.
Rats can damage wiring, contaminate food storage areas, and create costly structural repairs if left unchecked. In commercial properties, a rodent problem that reaches a health inspector before you do can mean forced closures and reputation damage.
The sooner a rodent problem is addressed, the easier and less expensive it usually is to solve. A single mouse caught early requires a very different response than an established population that has been nesting in your walls for months. Do not wait to find out which one you are dealing with.
If you are noticing any of these below signs, call us. The earlier we get in, the faster and less expensive the resolution.
Our mouse control service is designed to eliminate active infestations while preventing future problems through detailed inspections, strategic trapping, and professional exclusion.
Ask a pro →House mice can squeeze through openings as small as 6 mm, about the size of a pencil eraser. During our inspection, we identify common entry points around foundations, utility penetrations, garage doors, vents, soffits, and plumbing openings. Every accessible entry point is documented and sealed to help prevent reinfestation.
A single female house mouse can produce up to eight litters each year, allowing infestations to grow quickly if left untreated. Our technicians place tamper-resistant bait stations and mechanical traps in strategic locations based on signs of activity, helping eliminate the existing population as efficiently as possible.
Removing the mice is only part of the solution. We combine trapping with professional exclusion using materials such as copper mesh, pest-rated expanding foam, caulk, and metal flashing where appropriate. We also schedule follow-up visits to confirm activity has stopped and that all exclusion work continues to perform as intended.
Our rat control service combines targeted treatments, professional exclusion, and ongoing monitoring to eliminate active infestations and help prevent rats from returning.
Ask a pro →Norway rats commonly burrow beneath foundations, patios, sidewalks, landscaping, and other sheltered areas around Madison properties. Our technicians inspect for active burrows, runways, and signs of activity, then treat affected areas directly while installing secure exterior bait stations to reduce the existing rat population.
Unlike mice, Norway rats can force their way through openings about ½ inch (13 mm) wide and can gnaw through rotted wood, weak mortar, and other vulnerable building materials. We locate accessible entry points and seal them using durable materials such as heavy-gauge wire mesh, concrete patching compounds, steel wool, and pest-rated sealants to help prevent future entry.
Restaurants, warehouses, apartment buildings, and food-handling facilities often require continuous monitoring to keep rat activity under control. We provide scheduled inspections, tamper-resistant bait station management, detailed service documentation, and follow-up visits to help businesses maintain a healthier and more sanitary environment.
We use an Integrated Pest Management approach for every rodent job. That means we do not just set traps and leave. We identify the pest species, assess the extent of the infestation, find the entry points and harborage conditions driving it, apply the most targeted and appropriate treatment, and focus on prevention as the long-term solution. IPM means fewer repeat treatments, less product use, and results that actually hold.
A mouse problem in a 1950s isthmus home is a different job than rat activity around a commercial loading dock. A rental apartment near campus needs a different program than a single-family home in a newer west-side subdivision. We build the plan around your specific situation, not a generic checklist.
All products we use are applied according to label instructions, placed in tamper-resistant stations, and positioned away from areas accessible to children and pets. We are transparent about every product we use and will answer any questions you have before we start.
Our technicians are trained in rodent biology, behavior, and current best practices for control and exclusion. Knowing how Norway rats behave differently from house mice, how to read rodent sign accurately, and how to sequence treatment and exclusion correctly is what separates a lasting result from a temporary fix.
“Madison Pest Control Experts provided excellent service! They quickly identified the rodent problem in my basement and took care of it efficiently. Highly recommend!”
Emily R.Homeowner, Madison
✓ Verified“Their team was professional and thorough. They not only eliminated the rodents but also gave me tips on preventing future infestations. Great experience!”
Tom J.Business Owner, Fitchburg
✓ Verified“I was impressed with their prompt response and effective treatment. The technicians were knowledgeable and friendly. My home is rodent-free now!”
Sarah L.Resident, Sun Prairie
✓ VerifiedBait and traps eliminate the mice currently inside your home but do nothing to stop the next ones from getting in. House mice find entry points and return to the same structure year after year. The only way to break that cycle is to find and seal every viable entry point through a proper exclusion inspection. Without exclusion, you are managing the symptom, not fixing the problem.
The easiest way to tell is by the droppings. Mouse droppings are small, roughly 3 to 6mm, and pointed at both ends. Rat droppings are significantly larger, 13 to 20mm, and blunt or capsule-shaped. Gnaw marks also differ. Rats leave larger, rougher gnaw marks on wood and structural materials. If you are unsure, call us. We can identify the species quickly on-site and that identification directly shapes the treatment approach.
Recurring mouse activity in rental housing near campus is almost always an exclusion problem, not just a baiting problem. Older buildings in that area have accumulated entry points over decades and no amount of trapping keeps up with a steady incoming population. The right approach combines an active interior bait program with a systematic exterior exclusion inspection to identify and seal structural entry points. We work with property managers across Madison and can set up a recurring program with documented service records for each unit.
For a house mouse infestation with a standard interior program, you should see a significant reduction in activity within 7 to 14 days. Complete elimination of an established population typically takes two to three service visits depending on the size of the infestation. Rat control takes longer due to neophobia and the greater complexity of exclusion work. We give you a realistic timeline based on what we find during inspection, not a best-case promise.
If you have any questions or need pest control services, feel free to reach out. Our team is available to assist you with prompt responses and expert advice.