Signs of Rodent Infestation After a Houston Freeze — Here’s What Houston Homeowners Should Know
Hard freezes don’t hit Houston very often. But when they do, something predictable happens about a week later: homeowners start noticing signs of rodent infestation. Scratching in the attic. Scratching in the attic at odd hours. Droppings in the garage that weren’t there before. Chew marks are showing up in places you’d never expect.
The freeze itself isn’t when people notice. They’re too busy worrying about pipes and staying warm. It’s afterward—once life goes back to normal—that the evidence shows up. If you’re dealing with this right now, you’re not alone. And if you haven’t seen anything yet, this is actually the perfect window for rodent control before another cold snap rolls through.
What Makes Freezes So Bad for Rodent Problems
Rats and mice do just fine outdoors most of the year in Houston. They burrow under sheds, nest in thick vegetation, and find food in gardens and garbage. But when temperatures drop below what they can handle? They need somewhere warm. Fast.
Your attic works. So does your garage. Or your walls.
And here’s the part that surprises most people: mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime. Rats need a little more room—about quarter-sized—but they’ll chew a smaller gap bigger if they want in badly enough. During a freeze, they want in badly enough.
Houston ranks 7th in the country for rodent problems, according to recent industry data. The National Pest Management Association puts the national number at around 21 million homes invaded by rodents each winter. Texas saw service calls jump nearly 25% last year alone.
Signs of Rodent Infestation After Temperatures Bounce Back
During the freeze, you probably weren’t paying attention to pest problems. You had bigger things to deal with. But now that the heaters aren’t running constantly and the house is quiet again, you might be noticing things you missed.
Sounds come first for most people. Scratching or scurrying in the attic, usually around dusk or early morning. Rodents are most active during those hours. You might’ve had them during the freeze and just couldn’t hear them over everything else going on.
Droppings are the other big giveaway. Check your attic if you can access it, plus garage corners, and anywhere you store items. Fresh droppings look dark and soft. Old ones get dry and crumbly. If you’re finding both? That’s not a rodent that passed through once. That’s ongoing activity.
Then there’s physical damage. Chew marks along rooflines. Dark, greasy streaks near small gaps (that’s fur oil from them squeezing through the same spot repeatedly). Roof rats—super common in Houston—climb, so don’t just check ground level.
If You Haven’t Seen Signs, That’s Good News
Rodent problems are much easier to prevent than to fix once they’re established. If you’ve poked around and aren’t finding anything, you’re in a good spot.
But don’t do anything.
The next few weeks are your window to seal things up before another cold snap. Because there probably will be another one before spring. And the rodents that didn’t make it into your house this time? They’ll try again.
Getting ahead of it now saves you the headaches later: chewed wiring (fire hazard), damaged insulation (higher energy bills), and that lovely 2 a.m. scratching sound above your bedroom.
What Actually Works for Prevention
Two things matter: sealing entry points and making your home less attractive to rodents.
Start outside. Walk around and really look at your roofline, your foundation, and anywhere pipes or wires go through walls. Gaps develop where different materials meet—brick to wood, soffit to roof. Check around your AC lines too.
In the attic (if you can access it safely), look for messed-up insulation. Rodents tunnel through it. You might also find droppings or nesting material. Damaged insulation means your heating and cooling costs go up, by the way. These things cost you money even when they’re not actively chewing through stuff.
Landscaping matters more than you’d think. Tree branches that touch your roof? That’s a highway for roof rats. Bushes thick against the house? Cover for them to scope out entry points. Woodpile by the foundation? You might as well leave the door open.
The Health Part Nobody Wants to Think About
Rodents carry diseases. The CDC lists Hantavirus, Salmonella, and Leptospirosis among them—spread through droppings, urine, and nesting materials. If anyone in your household has asthma or allergies, the presence of rodents can worsen symptoms.
And then there’s fire risk. Rodents chew constantly (it keeps their teeth from overgrowing), and they seem to be attracted to electrical wiring. Damaged wires behind your walls? That’s a fire hazard you won’t know about until something goes wrong.
When to Call a Professional
DIY prevention has its place. But honestly, there are limits.
Most people can’t get into every part of their attic. Crawl spaces are worse. A lot of entry points aren’t visible from the ground, and sealing them properly takes specific materials. Regular caulk and expanding foam? Rodents chew through those.
Pest control professionals who handle these calls every winter know where to look. They can tell if activity is recent or old, find entry points you’d miss, and seal things in a way that actually holds. Because trapping what’s inside doesn’t help much if more can keep coming in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after a freeze should I check for rodents?
Give it a week or two once temperatures rise. That’s enough time for any new visitors to leave evidence.
I heard scratching during the freeze, but it’s quiet now. Did they leave?
Maybe. Or maybe they found a quieter spot, or they’re active while you’re asleep. The only way to know for sure is an inspection.
What kind of damage are we talking about?
Three main things: wiring (fire hazard), plumbing (leaks you won’t catch until there’s water damage), and insulation (energy bills go up). Plus contamination from droppings. And here’s the thing—one female mouse can have up to 60 offspring per year. Small problems get big fast.
Roof rats or Norway rats—which one’s the Houston problem?
Both, actually. Roof rats climb and get in through attic vents and rooflines. Norway rats stick to ground level—crawl spaces, behind appliances. Knowing which you have tells you where to focus.
Ready to Get This Handled?
Whether you’re seeing signs now or just want to be ready for the next freeze, ABC Home & Commercial Services can help. The technicians know exactly where Houston rodents get in after cold snaps—and how to keep them out for good.
Schedule a rodent inspection and get your home buttoned up before the next cold front.