What is included
- Full exterior inspection at ground level and roofline: foundation, sill plate, siding gaps, utility penetrations, vents, garage door, crawl space access, and the roof edge for rats that climb.
- Interior inspection at the places the CDC lists: gaps around pipes under sinks and behind appliances, around water heater and furnace pipes, floor drains, and door and window frames.
- Every opening larger than a quarter inch found and mapped, which UC IPM says is the threshold to exclude both rats and mice.
- A written seal list: each gap, where it is, and the right material for it. The CDC's list is steel wool with caulk for small holes and lath screen, metal, cement, hardware cloth, or metal sheeting for larger ones.
See the full chart of what mice and rats can and cannot chew through.
Why metal and cement instead of foam
This is the guidance for whoever does the sealing. A trap catches the mouse that is already inside, and the hole lets in the next one. The CDC says mice can fit through a hole the width of a pencil, a quarter inch, and UC IPM says rats, especially young rats, can squeeze beneath a door with only a half inch gap. UC IPM is also clear about what does not hold: steel wool is a good temporary plug but rusts, and plastic screening, rubber, vinyl, expanding foam, wood, and other gnawable materials are ineffective. Rats can chew through plastic, foam, wood, and caulk. Sealing with metal and concrete is what holds.
How the inspection works
Inspect and mark. Every entry point, inside and out, is found and marked.
Check for active rodents. Sealing a rodent inside is how you get a smell in the wall. If mice or rats are active, trap first and seal once activity stops; our mouse and rat jobs handle the trapping.
Write the seal list. Each gap, where it is, and the material that will hold, so you or your contractor can seal it the right way.
Written guarantee
This service is an inspection, delivered as a written report. Bobby Bugs does not perform the sealing, so there is no guarantee on sealed openings. Every inspection is quoted free and in writing.
What you can do between visits
- Keep bulk food, bird seed, and pet food in metal or hard plastic with tight lids; the CDC and Illinois DPH both list them as attractants.
- Move the woodpile. The CDC's guidance is 100 feet from the house and a foot off the ground; on a Long Island lot, as far as the property allows.
- Trim branches off the roof so rats lose the runway, and keep shrubs off the siding.
- Fix the door sweep the day it tears. A torn sweep is one of the most common entries on a house.
- Watch the fall. UC IPM says mice enter homes in autumn when nighttime temperatures drop, so a September walk-around with a flashlight is worth more than a January call.
Where we do the most entry point inspections on Long Island
Related reading
What customers say
So let’s start with this.I was out of town, and my daughter called me in a frenzy that she saw a roach. 10 years in that house never had roaches. Here I am out of state trying to figure out the fastest way to help my daughter. Saw the name BOBBY BUGS and the reviews and figured I would call them up.I called spoke to Anthony not only did he go above and beyond for us but the service was fantastic. William who showed up at the house was simply incredible and made my daughter feel at ease. Thank you for helping our little Italian Family out in such a pinch. Grazie Mille Adriana
Fast, friendly service. I called in the morning and Will came to my house that evening. Will was great. I would definitely use Bobby's Bugs again and recommend them.
Response was super quick to my inquiry and someone was able to be sent out out quickly. Will came and explained the process, walked me through and showed me what he had done, and reviewed the service order to make sure none of my requests were missed. It was a great experience overall and truck wasn't announcing itself to the neighborhood either which was a plus.
Reviewed October 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is a rodent entry point inspection?
A full inside and outside inspection that finds and maps every opening mice and rats use to enter a building, delivered as a written list with the right material for each gap: metal, hardware cloth, or cement rather than foam. UC IPM calls exclusion the most successful and permanent form of mouse control.
How small a hole can a mouse get through?
A quarter inch, the width of a pencil, according to the CDC. UC IPM says rats can get under a door with a half inch gap.
Does spray foam keep mice out?
No. UC IPM says expanding foam and other gnawable materials are ineffective for plugging holes, and rats chew through foam, plastic, wood, and caulk. Foam is a backer, not a seal.
Should the house be sealed while mice are still inside?
No. If mice are active, trap first and seal once activity stops, so nothing is sealed into a wall. Our mouse and rat jobs handle the trapping.
When is the best time for rodent-proofing on Long Island?
Late summer and early fall, before the October push. UC IPM says mice frequently enter homes in autumn when nighttime temperatures become colder.
Sources: CDC, Seal Up; UC IPM, House Mouse; UC IPM, Rats; UC IPM, House Mouse Pest Note; Cornell NYS IPM, Pest Exclusion; Illinois Department of Public Health, Norway Rats.