Anyone who has watched a storm drain knows how fast water moves. What is less obvious is what it does underground, where burrows flood and animals leave. The aftermath often brings new signs of activity near buildings.
What a storm changes.
A burrow is a tunnel in soil, and soil holds water. Heavy rain can flood a tunnel and drive its occupant to higher, drier ground. A house foundation and its surroundings, such as mulch beds and window wells, may be the nearest option.
Wind and rain also loosen gutters, soffits and vent covers, and wash soil away from footings. Those small changes can open a path that was closed last week.
The day-after walk.
Wait until the ground begins to dry, then walk the exterior. Look for changes since the last time you checked.
- Fresh mounds of soil near foundations, walls and sheds.
- Window wells filled with leaves and debris.
- Loose or missing vent covers and screens.
- Soil washed away from footings, exposing gaps.
- Flattened trails in wet grass leading to the house.
Take photographs and mark spots. Fresh soil is dark and moist, and old soil is dry and crusted. A stake or a bright flag beside each mound helps you find it again, and comparing the same corner a week later shows whether the animal is still using the burrow or has moved on.
Window wells and bulkheads.
A window well is a common entry point. Leaves collect in it, forming a bridge to the window sill. If the window seal is worn or the glass is cracked, a mouse can slip in. Cellar bulkheads, which have doors that open at an angle, have similar issues at their hinges and seals.
| Spot. | Risk after a storm. | Fix. |
|---|---|---|
| Window well. | Leaves and debris form a ramp. | Clear it and add a cover or screen. |
| Cellar bulkhead. | Worn seals and hinge gaps. | Replace the seal and add flashing. |
| Vent cover. | Loosened by wind. | Reattach or replace with metal. |
| Foundation base. | Washed-out soil exposes gaps. | Pack with mesh and re-grade the soil. |
| Sump pit. | Open cover or gap. | Fit a cover that closes tight. |
We begin with three questions: where in the building, at what hour and what the sound is like.
Dial (888) 686-4821A technician's work.
The technician walks the exterior and notes burrows, gaps and food sources. Enclosed traps go along runs and near burrow mouths, and the window wells and bulkheads are logged for sealing. The page on rat control describes how we plan the trap lines, and outdoor rodent control covers yard changes.
Sealing follows trapping, using materials that resist gnawing. See the exclusion page for the list.
North Shore properties.
Centerport lies along Long Island's North Shore, where lots near the water may have sloped yards and drainage features. We cannot say how any specific property drains. What you can do is watch where water collects after a storm, since damp ground draws animals. Mention those spots when you call.
Safety after a storm.
Do not disturb a burrow with your hands. Put gloves on for cleaning, never sweep droppings and keep youngsters and animals out of the room. The safety box below summarizes the CDC steps.
A brief order of operations for cleanup
Use these as a checklist for roughly the first hour after you find droppings.
- Dampen anything brittle before it is moved at all.
- Wedge the door, let air flow through and come back in about half an hour.
- Leave gloves on for the whole job, remove them carefully, rinse reusable ones and wash your hands.
- The routine runs spray, rest, wipe, and the rest lasts about five minutes.
- Seal the bag firmly and set it with the regular household garbage.
- Should illness set in during the next few weeks, tell the doctor you were around rodents, because our work is limited to pests.
Official references used on this page
Taking our word is optional, since the pages behind these notes are all named below.
- CDC guide to wet cleanup after rodent contact: How to ventilate a closed room, wet down droppings where they lie and bag the waste, in sequence.
- CDC hantavirus prevention pages: CDC suggestions for limiting rodent contact inside homes, sheds and vehicles.