Rodents are not random in where they hide — they follow predictable patterns based on species, available food and water, and the structure of your home. Understanding those patterns is what separates an effective rodent control program from one that misses the source entirely. In Arizona, the roof rat is the dominant rodent pest in residential areas. True to its name, the roof rat is an exceptional climber that almost always nests in elevated locations: attic insulation, the space between the ceiling and the roof deck, inside palm tree skirts, in the canopy of dense trees, and in the upper sections of block walls. They enter homes through gaps in the roofline, around HVAC penetrations, and through gaps where utility lines enter the attic.

Pack rats (woodrats) are a uniquely Arizona problem. They build large, conspicuous stick nests — sometimes the size of a bushel basket — in garages, under vehicles, in dense cactus, and in rock piles. They are notorious for chewing through vehicle wiring harnesses, which can cause thousands of dollars in damage. House mice are more generalist hiders: they nest in wall voids, inside appliances (especially stoves and dishwashers), in stored boxes and clutter, and in the insulation of garage walls. They can squeeze through a gap the size of a dime, which means almost any unsealed penetration is a potential entry point.

Effective rodent control requires finding and treating all active harborage areas — not just setting a few traps in obvious locations. A professional inspection uses UV light, tracking powder, and knowledge of rodent behavior to identify every active site. Exclusion work — sealing entry points with hardware cloth, copper mesh, and caulk — is the only permanent solution. Trapping and baiting without exclusion is a temporary fix. Pest Control Bros provides full rodent control including inspection, exclusion, and population reduction across Maricopa, Chandler, Casa Grande, Tempe, Gilbert, and Mesa. Free inspections, no contracts.