Hearing rats in the walls? Seeing droppings in the kitchen or back of house? I handle the source — trapping plus full building exclusion — for homes, restaurants, and apartment buildings across San Francisco. Call or text and I'll get out there.
No drop-a-bait-station-and-leave. Every job is inspection first, then trap out the active rats, then seal the building so the next ones can't replace them.
I walk the property top to bottom — roofline, vents, conduit, crawl space, trash area — and map the actual entry points and travel paths before quoting.
Snap traps placed on the runways the rats are already using, monitored until the building goes quiet. No poison left in your walls.
Hardware cloth, mortar, sheet metal, copper mesh — sealed properly on every gap. This is the part that actually keeps them out.
For restaurants, apartments, and anyone who can't afford a relapse — scheduled visits, fresh inspections, and documentation if you need it.
Most buildings in SF are old. Victorians, Edwardians, apartments built on top of shops. The walls are solid, but there are gaps everywhere — around gas lines, pipes, wiring, and along the foundation. Once rats get into one building, they move right through the walls into the next one.
Then there's the food. Restaurants, cafés, and corner stores sit right behind apartment buildings in tight alleys. Trash bins don't close all the way, lids get left open, and grease builds up around the back doors and vents. That's why most of the activity ends up in the walls near kitchens, grease traps, and storage rooms by the trash.
And it mostly happens at night. The scratching in the walls usually starts after 10 p.m., once the building goes quiet. By morning, you'll see droppings or dark smudges along the baseboards — that's how I figure out where they're traveling.
Different buildings, same problems. If any of this sounds familiar, give me a call.
Anywhere a pipe or wire enters your building, there's usually a gap around it. Rats climb those lines from the basement up to the roof and slip in through the openings. It's the first thing I look for, and it's where I find them most of the time.
If you hear scratching at night near the stove or above the cabinets, they're living in the wall. Kitchens give them everything — food, warmth, and quiet places to nest.
If lids don't close or bins overflow, the rats have a free meal every night. I can seal your building, but if the trash next door isn't handled, they'll keep coming back.
Some companies plug a few holes and call it done. If rats are still inside, they die in the walls and the smell can last for weeks. I trap first, make sure the building is clear, then seal it up.
A lot of SF buildings sit only a foot or two apart. Rats use that narrow space as a hidden path to reach vents and openings on the side of your building you never see. I always check both sides, not just the front.
Quiet rooms with boxes, dry goods, or laundry are some of their favorite spots. Droppings usually pile up along one wall — that tells me exactly where they're traveling before I set a single trap.
Rats are skilled at staying out of sight. We know exactly where to look — even in the most overlooked corners of San Francisco homes and buildings.
If you're noticing any of these signs in your home or business, call us right away.
Small dark pellets near food sources, baseboards, or hidden corners.
Sounds in the walls or ceiling, especially at night.
Chew damage on wood, wires, food packaging, or pipes.
Dark smudges along walls, baseboards, or rafters where rats travel.
Old houses, apartments, and buildings with restaurants below. I know the problem areas before I walk in.
Call or text. If it's an active problem in a kitchen, I move you to the front of the line.
I'm a licensed trapper, not someone who shows up to refill a box. I trap the rats, then I seal the building so the next ones can't get in.
Discreet visits, after-hours scheduling, and written reports for owners or health inspectors when you need them.
I give you a price after I've actually walked the property. No mystery numbers, no upsells you don't need.
I've worked with restaurants, apartment buildings, and homes all over San Francisco. The goal is always the same: get rid of the rats that are there now, and seal the building so new ones can't get in.
Discreet service that meets health-code expectations.
Multi-unit experience with HOAs and property managers.
From SF Victorians to modern remodels.
I do the work myself — homes, restaurants, apartments, and HOAs across San Francisco. When you call, you get me. I'm the one who shows up.
Licensed through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fully insured. Every job is documented and done right.
Rats, mice, full rodent proofing, and gopher removal. I also offer ongoing service and check-ins for properties that need it.
After-hours and weekends are available when that's the only time I can get access.
If you want a straight answer and someone who actually cares about getting it right — that's what I do.
"John did an excellent job resolving a mouse issue in a commercial kitchen. He arrived promptly, diagnosed the problem immediately, and had it resolved within two days using a few strategic traps. He is clearly very knowledgeable and experienced. Highly recommend his professional services!"
"John is a hardworking, incredibly diligent rodent control expert. He came to the site multiple times in the cold, rainy, dark and thoughtfully put together a plan to mitigate the problem. Thank you."
"John is very easy to work with and clearly passionate about what he does. He took the time to understand the root cause of our rat problem and focused on solving it properly, not just putting a temporary fix in place. Professional, knowledgeable, and thorough. I would absolutely recommend John to anyone dealing with rats and wanting the problem handled the right way."
We provide rat control in Pacific Heights, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, the Marina, Cow Hollow, North Beach, and Diamond Heights — and across the rest of San Francisco.
Don't see your San Francisco neighborhood? We likely cover it — give us a call.
Straight answers about rodent control in San Francisco — no jargon, no upsell.
Most days I can get someone out same-day or next-day in San Francisco. Call or text — if it's an active problem in a kitchen or restaurant, I prioritize it.
Around pipe and conduit penetrations, foundation cracks, roofline gaps, vents, and unsealed crawl-space hatches. They only need a hole the size of a quarter, and SF buildings are full of them — especially anything pre-1940.
Fast. One pair can run 5–8 litters a year, 6–12 pups each. A couple of rats in the wall in October is a serious infestation by spring if the entry points stay open.
No — and anyone who says yes is going to be back at your building in a month. Trapping clears what's inside; exclusion seals the building so new rats can't replace them. You need both.
Physically sealing every entry point with the right materials — hardware cloth, mortar, sheet metal, copper mesh on weep holes, real sealant on conduit penetrations. Not foam, not caulk over a hole. Rats chew through that in a night.
Yes. A lot of my work is restaurants, apartment buildings, HOAs, and property managers. I do after-hours and weekend visits, keep it discreet, and provide documentation for health inspectors or owners when you need it.
Depends on the property and how active it is. I quote after I've actually walked the building — no over-the-phone guess. Inspections are straightforward and there's no pressure.
Call or text. Tell me what you're hearing or seeing and where. I'll come out, walk the building, and quote the fix — trapping plus exclusion, done right the first time.
Proudly serving San Francisco and surrounding neighborhoods
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