Inspire Pest Control encourages homeowners in Hoover, Vestavia Hills and across the Birmingham area to get ahead of rodent season with proactive prevention tips during Rodent Awareness Week.
Birmingham, Ala. (October 20, 2026) – Rodent Awareness Week returns October 18-24, 2026, and Inspire Pest Control is joining the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) in educating homeowners about the risks mice and rats can pose to health and property. In the Birmingham area’s wooded, hilly neighborhoods, from Bluff Park and Ross Bridge to Lake Wilborn and Green Valley, mature trees and nearby green space give rodents easy cover and easy access to homes. As temperatures begin to drop, these pests look for food, water and shelter indoors, making fall an important time to protect homes and businesses.
“Our neighborhoods around Hoover and Vestavia are beautiful because of all the trees and green space, but that also gives mice and rats plenty of places to live right up against our homes,” said Jared King, owner and founder of Inspire Pest Control. “Alabama’s mild winters mean rodents stay active all season long, so fall is the perfect time to trim back branches, seal up gaps and make your home less inviting. If you notice droppings or hear something in the attic, give us a call before it becomes a bigger problem.”
Rodents are more than a nuisance. They can contaminate food and surfaces, spread disease and trigger allergy and asthma symptoms. Their constant gnawing can also damage insulation, drywall and electrical wiring, potentially leading to costly repairs. Because mice and rats often remain hidden, an infestation may go unnoticed until homeowners find droppings, discover damage or hear unusual sounds within the home.
Watch for These Signs of Rodent Activity
- Droppings in cabinets, pantries or other hidden areas
- Gnaw marks on food packaging, walls, baseboards or wiring
- Scratching or scurrying sounds inside walls, ceilings or attics, especially at night
- Shredded paper, fabric or insulation used as nesting material
- Greasy rub marks along walls or baseboards where rodents frequently travel
Help Prevent Rodent Problems
Homeowners can reduce the likelihood of an infestation by:
- Sealing cracks, gaps and holes around the home’s exterior
- Repairing damaged screens and weather stripping
- Storing food in sealed containers
- Cleaning up crumbs and spills promptly
- Reducing clutter in garages, attics and storage areas
- Trimming tree limbs and vegetation away from the home and roofline, and storing firewood off the ground
Identifying and addressing an infestation isn’t something homeowners should handle alone. Qualified pest control professionals can determine how mice or rats are entering a structure, locate nesting areas and develop an effective plan to address the problem.
For more information about rodent prevention or to schedule an inspection, visit inspirepestcontrol.com or call (205) 918-8980.