Rodent Exterminator Cost in Minneapolis, MN (2026)

Last updated: March 7, 2026

By James — 25-year pest control industry veteran

Rodent exterminator cost in Minneapolis ranges from $140 to $570, with the average homeowner paying around $285. House mice are the number one winter pest in Minneapolis, driven indoors by some of the coldest temperatures in the continental United States. Norway rats are present in older urban neighborhoods near the Mississippi River, and deer mice occasionally enter homes on the suburban fringe. Professional rodent control is a seasonal necessity for many Minneapolis homeowners, especially those in older homes.

This guide covers rodent control pricing specific to the Minneapolis metro, including the fall mouse invasion that defines the local pest control calendar. For national pricing, see our rodent exterminator cost guide. For general pest control pricing in the area, see our Minneapolis pest control cost guide.

Minneapolis Rodent Control Costs by Service

Most rodent work in Minneapolis involves house mice. Rat jobs are less common but cost more due to the larger scale of trapping and exclusion required. Fall is the busiest season for rodent service calls, and some companies offer pre-winter exclusion packages.

House Mice: Minneapolis's Top Winter Pest

House mice are by far the most common rodent pest in the Minneapolis metro. When temperatures drop below freezing in October and November, mice seek warmth and shelter inside homes. In a city where winter temperatures regularly stay below zero for weeks at a time, the pressure is relentless. Every heated structure is a target.

The scale of the fall mouse invasion in Minneapolis is difficult to overstate. Pest control companies report that mouse calls account for the majority of their fall and winter service volume. Homeowners often find mice in kitchen cabinets, behind appliances, in basement storage, and inside wall voids within days of the first hard freeze.

Mice enter through remarkably small gaps. A mouse can fit through an opening the size of a dime. Common entry points in Minneapolis homes include:

• Gaps around gas and water pipes where they enter the foundation
• Cracks and voids in fieldstone or limestone foundations
• Unsealed dryer vents and exhaust fan openings
• Gaps under garage doors and side entry doors
• Openings where cable, phone, or electrical lines penetrate exterior walls

Mouse removal costs $140 to $285 for a standard treatment that includes interior trapping and sealing the most obvious entry points. Homes with extensive gap issues may need a full exclusion service at an additional cost.

Norway Rats in Minneapolis

Norway rats (also called brown rats or sewer rats) are present in Minneapolis but concentrated in specific areas. They are most common in older urban neighborhoods near the Mississippi River, the Northeast Minneapolis warehouse district, downtown restaurant corridors, and areas near the historic milling district along the riverfront.

Minneapolis's older sewer infrastructure provides underground habitat for Norway rats. They burrow along foundations, under sidewalks, and near dumpsters. Unlike roof rats (which are essentially absent in Minnesota due to the cold climate), Norway rats are ground dwellers that enter homes through basement-level openings.

Rat removal costs $285 to $570 in Minneapolis, reflecting the more extensive trapping and exclusion work needed compared to a mouse job. Rat exclusion focuses on:

• Sealing foundation gaps and cracks with concrete or metal mesh
• Installing heavy-gauge hardware cloth over floor drains and sewer cleanouts
• Repairing or replacing damaged basement window wells
• Addressing gaps around older plumbing where pipes pass through foundation walls

For more on rat control methods, see our guide to getting rid of rats.

Deer Mice on the Suburban Edge

Deer mice are occasionally found in Minneapolis-area homes on the suburban fringe, particularly in communities like Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, and Woodbury where residential development borders wooded or agricultural land. Deer mice are a health concern because they can carry hantavirus, though cases in Minnesota are rare.

Deer mouse treatment costs are similar to house mouse removal ($140 to $285). The key difference is that pest control companies take extra precautions with cleanup due to the hantavirus risk, using proper respiratory protection and disinfection protocols when removing droppings and nesting materials.

Fall Exclusion: The Most Important Seasonal Service

The single most effective rodent control investment for Minneapolis homeowners is pre-winter exclusion work performed in September or October, before the first hard freeze sends mice searching for shelter. A professional exclusion seals the exterior of the home to prevent mice from entering in the first place.

Exclusion work costs $400 to $1,200 depending on the age and condition of the home. The process includes:

• Inspecting the entire foundation and exterior for gaps, cracks, and openings
• Sealing utility penetrations (gas, water, electrical, cable) with steel wool, caulk, or expanding foam
• Installing or repairing vent covers on crawl space vents, dryer vents, and exhaust fans
• Addressing garage door gaps and installing door sweeps on exterior doors
• Filling foundation cracks with hydraulic cement or mortar

For newer homes built after the 1980s with poured concrete foundations and modern weatherproofing, exclusion is straightforward and typically costs $400 to $600. Older homes present a bigger challenge.

The Fieldstone Foundation Challenge

Many Minneapolis homes built in the 1920s through 1950s have fieldstone or limestone block foundations. These older foundations are made from irregularly shaped stones mortared together, creating a surface full of small gaps, crumbling mortar joints, and voids that mice exploit. Neighborhoods like Longfellow, Nokomis, Northeast, Southwest Minneapolis, and much of South Minneapolis have high concentrations of these older homes.

Sealing a fieldstone foundation completely is extremely difficult and sometimes impossible. The irregular stone surfaces make it hard to achieve airtight seals, and mortar deterioration creates new gaps over time. For homes with fieldstone foundations, pest control professionals often recommend a combination approach:

• Seal the most accessible and obvious gaps with mortar, steel wool, and copper mesh
• Maintain exterior bait stations year-round to reduce the mouse population around the foundation
• Set interior traps during fall and winter as a secondary line of defense
• Schedule quarterly monitoring visits to catch new activity early

This ongoing approach costs more annually than a one-time exclusion, but it is the practical reality for many owners of older Minneapolis homes. Annual rodent control costs for fieldstone foundation homes typically run $400 to $800 when accounting for fall service, winter trapping, and periodic monitoring.

What Drives Rodent Control Costs in Minneapolis

• Home age and foundation type. Older homes with fieldstone or limestone foundations cost significantly more to protect than newer homes with poured concrete. The number of potential entry points can be 10 times higher on a 1930s home compared to one built in the 2000s.
• Winter severity. Harsh winters increase demand for rodent service, which can affect scheduling and pricing during the fall rush. Booking exclusion work in late summer, before the busy season starts, may result in faster service and better availability.
• Urban density. Homes in denser Minneapolis neighborhoods, particularly near restaurants, grocery stores, or older commercial buildings, face higher rodent pressure from the surrounding environment.
• Crawl space vs. basement. Homes with dirt-floor crawl spaces are more vulnerable to rodent entry than those with full basements and concrete floors. Crawl space encapsulation adds $1,500 to $5,000 but significantly reduces rodent access.
• Severity of infestation. A few mice caught early in the fall costs $140 to $200 to address. An established colony with nesting in wall voids and contaminated insulation can cost $500 to $1,000+ when cleanup and extensive exclusion are factored in.

Seasonal Rodent Patterns in Minneapolis

Minneapolis has one of the strongest seasonal rodent patterns of any US city, driven almost entirely by the extreme winter climate:

• Fall invasion (September through November). This is the defining pest event of the year. As nighttime temperatures drop below 40 degrees, mice begin moving toward the warmth of buildings. By the first hard freeze (typically late October or early November), the invasion is in full swing. This is the busiest period for pest control companies.
• Winter (December through March). Mice that successfully entered in the fall remain indoors throughout the winter, nesting and breeding in wall voids, attics, and basements. Homeowners notice increasing activity as the population grows. Sub-zero temperatures make it impossible for mice to survive outdoors.
• Spring (April through May). As temperatures warm, some mice move back outdoors. Activity inside the home decreases but does not fully stop if a breeding population has established itself. Spring is a good time for interior cleanup and to assess what exclusion repairs are needed before the next fall.
• Summer (June through August). Rodent pressure is at its lowest. This is the ideal window for scheduling exclusion work and foundation repairs to prepare for the fall.

For more on mouse control, see our mouse exterminator cost guide. For broader pest control options in the area, see our Minneapolis pest control cost page.

Frequently Asked Questions