Steilacoom looks across Puget Sound toward Fox Island, McNeil Island and Anderson Island. Living near that water brings views, damp air and a different set of rodent concerns from a house inland. This guide is general, and a walk-through tells you what applies to your lot.
What the shoreline brings close to the house.
A shoreline offers cover that an inland lot does not: rock bulkheads, tangled growth, driftwood and the base of docks. Norway rats are known to use such edges, and an animal that reaches your lot from the water side already has a route to the foundation.
We do not claim that every near-water house has rats. We say that the inspection begins at the water side of such a property, and works inward from there.
Salt air, damp and the gaps they open.
Constant moist air corrodes metal and softens wood. Vent screens rust through, paint peels from trim and the lowest courses of siding take the worst of it. Those are the openings rats and mice find first, so we check the lowest ten inches of every wall.
| Shoreline feature. | Rodent concern. | What to check. |
|---|---|---|
| Rock bulkhead or retaining wall. | Cover and burrow sites. | Base of the wall and gaps into the lot. |
| Driftwood and beach logs. | Shelter close to the house. | Distance from walls, size of piles. |
| Deck over a slope. | A dark void underneath. | Skirting, mesh and gaps at the house. |
| Rusted vent screens. | A direct route to the crawl space. | Replace with galvanized or stainless mesh. |
| Outdoor storage. | Nest sites in tarps and cushions. | Lidded bins and tidy edges. |
Boat gear and what makes a nest.
Boat covers, kayak racks, life jackets and seat cushions are warm, soft and quiet, which makes them ideal nests. A trailer that sits for weeks near the shore is a classic example. Check stored gear before each season and bring cushions indoors where you can.
- Store cushions and covers in lidded plastic or metal bins.
- Keep life jackets and lines off the ground and away from walls.
- Leave a hand's width between stored gear and the house.
- Check engine compartments and trailer wiring before the first trip of the year.
For vehicles and trailers specifically, read our guide to rodents in cars and boat trailers.
Would you rather hear it from a person? The number below is the same line at noon or at 3 a.m.
Dial (888) 686-4821Decks, stairs and the water-side wall.
A deck over a slope leaves a dark, dry void underneath, which is the kind of place animals nest. Stair stringers and skirting boards create more. Closing the gap with metal mesh costs little and removes the void.
The water-side wall of a house is often the one that gets the least attention, because the view faces it. Walk that side slowly with a flashlight and look at the foundation line, the utility penetrations and any vents.
A plan that starts at the shoreline.
If you suspect activity, begin with an inspection that starts at the water side. Trapping clears animals that are inside, and sealing closes the openings. For the yard, see backyard and outdoor control.
Moisture and rot are separate issues. When we find soft wood or water damage, we say so and recommend the right trade, because a rodent plan cannot fix a leak or rotten trim.
How to treat rodent waste without raising dust
Waste left by rodents can carry germs, which is why method matters more than speed. The steps below follow the CDC cleanup pages in the sources block.
- Dry sweeping is the common error: it makes old waste airborne and easy to inhale.
- Let air move through a stale crawl space or storage room for about thirty minutes before you begin.
- Put on rubber or plastic gloves, and when the job is finished wash both hands with soap and running water.
- Saturate the droppings with disinfectant, leave them five minutes, then remove with towels.
- Put used towels and any dead animal in a plastic bag, seal it, and keep bare skin off the animal.
- Unwell some weeks after cleaning up? Describe the rodent contact to a clinician, because that judgment is theirs.
Public guidelines behind this advice
These are the references we send homeowners to. They describe standard practice for everyone, including our own crews.
- CDC page on rodent cleanup: Disinfectant contact time, protective gear and where the waste should go, step by step.
- EPA page on rodenticide restrictions: Restrictions on rodenticide products, covering which ones households can buy and why stations are required.