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Rodent Prevention: A Recent Job in Glendale & Some Homeowner Tips

Category: Holiday

Published: 03 July, 2026

By Kyle Deal, Co-Owner, Deal Pest Control LLC

What I Walked Into

July is usually when I start getting more calls about rodent activity around Glendale & The West Valley.

A lot of people think rodents are only a winter problem, but that is not always the case here in Arizona. Our summers can still drive them toward homes, especially when they are looking for food, water, and cooler places to hide.

Not long ago, I visited a home where the homeowner called because they had started hearing scratching sounds around the night.

At first, they were not sure what it was. They thought it might have been something outside, or maybe even noise from the roof. But then they found a couple of droppings in the garage near some storage boxes, and that was enough for them to call.

When I arrived, I could tell right away why they were concerned. Rodents make a lot of homeowners uneasy because once you find even one sign, it is hard not to wonder what else is happening behind the walls or around the property.

That is something I always explain to homeowners. Rodent activity does not mean your home is dirty. It usually means only one thing: a rodent found what it needed nearby.

The Problem

The first thing I noticed was a small gap around one of the exterior utility lines near the home.

Most homeowners would not think much of it and to be honest, by itself it did not look like a big deal. But to a mouse, that kind of opening can be enough.

I also found a few conditions around the garage that may have been helping:

light clutter near stored items

an easier path along the wall line

a nearby food source in storage

exterior access points that needed attention

shaded edges around the structure

One thing I explained to the homeowner is that rodent activity is rarely one big obvious cause. More often, it is a couple of small things that together create the right conditions.

The Process

The first thing I wanted to know was how the rodents were getting inside.

There is no point only dealing with the rodents if you leave the same entry points open. That is how the problem keeps coming back.

I walked around the outside of the home together with the homeowner while I checked:

roofline and vent areas

utility penetrations

garage edges

exterior wall lines

possible food or water sources

sheltered areas near the structure

As I inspected, I showed them what I was seeing. I always like doing that because it helps the customer understand the problem instead of just being told there is an issue.

Inside the garage, I found a few signs that made the activity more noticeable. From there, I put together a treatment plan, addressed the active areas, and gave the homeowner a few practical steps to help reduce the chance of rodents returning.

This included removing a few things that were creating shelter, staying on top of stored food properly, and keeping the garage better organized where possible.

The Outcome

Over the next couple of weeks, the homeowner noticed the biggest change at night.

The scratching stopped.

What I checked back with them, they told me they were finally sleeping through the night again without hearing noises in the attic or around the garage.

That is something I hear a lot after rodent jobs. Most people are not just worried about the rodents themselves. They are tired of wondering what is happening inside the walls, garage, or roof space.

The homeowner also followed through on the recommendations we discussed, and that is always good to see.

Small changes around the property can make a big difference when it comes to keeping rodents from coming back.

DIY Advice

Here are a few things I recommend homeowners check during the summer:

walk around your home and look for small gaps around doors, vents, pipes and utility lines

keep garage storage organized and avoid stacking bags directly against the wall

store pet food and bird seed in sealed containers

trim bushes and dense plants away from the house whenever possible

if you hear scratching more than once or keep finding droppings in the same area, do not ignore it

Some of these things only take a few minutes, but they can help you catch a problem before it turns into something bigger.

"It's brighter than before!"

— Megan

Professional Insight

One thing I have learned over the years is that rodent activity usually gives you warning signs.

A strange noise.

A couple of droppings.

A chewed bag of pet food.

A small opening near the garage.

Most of the time, those little signs show up long before the problem becomes serious.

Around Glendale & The West Valley, dry conditions, hot weather, and easy access to shelter can all contribute to rodent pressure. If you can catch it early and deal with the entry points, keeping the issue manageable is usually much easier.

Closing Thoughts

That job was a good reminder that rodents do not wait for winter.

Summer is often when the first signs show up, and those early signs are usually the easiest ones to deal with.

If you have been hearing scratching in the attic, finding droppings in the garage, or seeing signs of chewing around your property, it is worth checking it out before a small problem becomes a bigger one.