Roof rats run along power lines and tree branches into Austin attics. Norway rats burrow near restaurant districts and follow sewer lines into homes. Trapping helps — but exclusion is the only permanent fix. Romex seals your home shut, traps what's inside, and prevents reinfestation.
Austin has more restaurants per capita than almost any city in the South. South Congress, East 6th Street, Rainey Street, South Lamar, North Lamar, Burnet Road, and the East Side food trailer parks create dense concentrations of food waste, grease, and organic debris. Norway rats exploit this abundance, burrowing under dumpsters, along foundation edges, and into sewer systems that connect commercial and residential properties.
The residential spillover is predictable: homes within a few blocks of these food corridors see significantly higher rat activity. When restaurant districts shut down at night, rodents expand their foraging range into adjacent neighborhoods — Travis Heights, Zilker, Bouldin Creek, East Cesar Chavez, and the residential streets behind Rainey.
Roof rats are Austin's other major rodent challenge. These agile climbers travel along tree branches, power lines, and fence tops to access attics through gaps in the roofline. Neighborhoods with mature live oaks and pecans — Hyde Park, Tarrytown, Allandale, Brentwood, and Crestview — provide overhead highways. A roof rat needs only a ½-inch gap (the size of a quarter) to enter your attic.
Austin's mild winters make rodent problems year-round. Unlike northern cities where extreme cold naturally suppresses populations, Central Texas rodents breed continuously. A single pair of rats can produce up to 1,500 descendants in one year if unchecked.
Rattus rattus
Slender, agile climbers with tails longer than their bodies. Travel along tree branches, power lines, and fences to access rooftops and attics. Prefer elevated nesting sites.
Austin hotspots: Hyde Park, Tarrytown, Allandale, Crestview, Travis Heights — any neighborhood with mature tree canopy touching rooflines.
Rattus norvegicus
Heavy-bodied burrowers. Dig along foundations, under slabs, and into sewer lines. Excellent swimmers. Prefer ground-level nesting and are dominant near food waste sources.
Austin hotspots: South Congress, East 6th, Rainey Street, South Lamar, the Domain — commercial food corridors and adjacent residential blocks.
Mus musculus / Peromyscus spp.
Small, curious rodents that enter through dime-sized gaps. House mice prefer indoor habitats; deer mice are more common in suburban and rural areas around Austin.
Austin hotspots: All neighborhoods. Mice are opportunistic and ubiquitous. Suburban communities like Pflugerville, Round Rock, and Hutto see steady mouse activity.
Most rodent control services trap and leave. But if entry points aren't sealed, new rats move in from the outdoor population within weeks. Romex's exclusion-first approach permanently closes the building envelope.
Our technicians inspect the entire roofline, foundation perimeter, all pipe and wire penetrations, A/C line entries, dryer vents, weep holes, garage door seals, and gable vents. In Austin, the most common entry points are the gap between the fascia board and the roof deck, and unsealed A/C refrigerant line entries on the exterior wall.
All identified entry points are sealed with rodent-proof materials — galvanized steel mesh, metal flashing, concrete patches, and commercial-grade sealant. We don't use expanding foam alone (rats chew through it). Every seal point is documented with photos for your records.
With the structure sealed, any rodents trapped inside have no escape route. We deploy snap traps (not poison bait inside occupied structures) in attic spaces, wall voids, and identified runways. Traps are checked and reset until activity reaches zero. Most Austin attics are cleared within 7–14 days.
Exterior monitoring stations are placed at key points around the property to intercept rodents from the outdoor population before they find new entry points. We recommend quarterly inspections to verify exclusion integrity — particularly important in Austin where tree growth can create new contact points with your roof.
Same-day rodent inspections available across the Austin area. Our exclusion technicians are trained in all construction types.
Roof rats (attic invaders that travel along tree branches and power lines), Norway rats (ground-dwelling burrowers near food corridors), and house/deer mice. All three are active year-round in Austin due to mild winters.
Listen for scratching or running noises at night. Look for dark rub marks along walls, capsule-shaped droppings (½ inch), gnaw marks on wires or ductwork, and shredded insulation. Roof rat activity peaks September through March in Austin.
Trapping without exclusion is a temporary fix. New rats from the outdoor population enter through the same unsealed gaps within weeks. Permanent control requires structurally sealing all entry points with rodent-proof materials.
Food corridors (South Congress, East 6th, Rainey, The Domain) sustain Norway rats. Neighborhoods with mature tree canopy (Hyde Park, Tarrytown, Zilker, Travis Heights) are roof rat highways. Suburban communities see steady mouse activity.
Rodent exclusion pricing depends on the number of entry points, property size, and infestation severity. Contact Romex for a no-obligation inspection and detailed quote. Our exclusion work is guaranteed.
Trapping is a temporary fix. Exclusion is permanent. Romex seals your Austin home shut, traps what's inside, and prevents reinfestation — guaranteed.
