Silver Bullet Pest ControlRat Exterminator in Rutherford, NJ — From the Sewer Line to the Attic
A rat in the basement of a house that has no holes in the foundation, mice in the kitchen of a two-family off Park Avenue, gnawing in the ceiling of an old Victorian? Rutherford's older homes give rodents more ways in than most people expect. Silver Bullet Pest Control is a rat exterminator and mice exterminator for Rutherford that finds the real entry point — even when it's a broken pipe underground — and closes it.
NJ License 90568B • 4.9 stars on Google • 15+ years • A short drive from Garfield • Hablamos español
Text a photo of the droppings or where you saw the rat to 973-510-2585 and we'll tell you what we think is going on.
- ✓ Same-day appointments often available
- ✓ Licensed & insured in NJ
- ✓ Homes & businesses
- ✓ English & Español
Who is a rat exterminator in Rutherford, NJ?
Silver Bullet Pest Control is a licensed rat exterminator in Rutherford, NJ (NJ License 90568B), based a short drive away in Garfield — call or text 973-510-2585 for a free estimate; hablamos español. We remove rats and mice from Rutherford houses, two-families, apartment buildings and Park Avenue businesses, find the way in — including broken drain lines through rodent smoke testing — and seal it with chew-proof materials. Same-day visits are often available.
Why rats and mice get into older Rutherford homes
Rutherford is an established Bergen County borough with the Passaic River along its western edge, the NJ Transit train station near the center of town, and Route 17 and the Meadowlands just to the east. The housing is a mix of Victorians, early 1900s colonials and four-squares, brick two-families and garden apartments, plus the shops and restaurants of Park Avenue and Ridge Road.
Houses built 80 to 120 years ago have been patched, re-plumbed and re-wired many times. Every change can leave a gap: an old coal chute, a pipe hole that was never sealed, a basement window that doesn't close, a crawl space under a back addition. Detached garages and old sheds add more places for Norway rats to dig in.
And underground, many older homes still have their original sewer lateral. When those pipes crack or separate, rats living in the sewer can get right into the basement without ever touching the foundation. That's why Rutherford gets more "I have rats but can't find a hole" calls than newer towns.
Rutherford rat and mouse control: quick facts
| Rutherford, NJ | |
|---|---|
| County | Bergen County |
| Distance from our base | Garfield, usually about 15 minutes |
| Rodents we see | Norway rats (basements, yards, drains) and house mice (walls, kitchens, attics) |
| Typical buildings | Older single-family homes, two-families, garden apartments, Park Avenue storefronts |
| Special service | Rodent smoke testing of drain and sewer lines |
| Same-day | Often available, never guaranteed |
| Estimate | Free |
| Language | Hablamos español |
Sewer rats in Rutherford basements: how drain smoke testing finds them
If you're seeing rats or rat droppings in a basement, laundry room or bathroom, and the outside of the house is tight, the drain system is the first place we look. Rats are strong swimmers and climbers. They travel through sewer lines and can come up through:
- a cracked or separated sewer lateral under the basement floor or yard
- an old floor drain with no cover or a dried-out trap
- an abandoned pipe that was cut off but never capped after a bathroom or kitchen was moved
- a cleanout cap that is missing or broken
Rodent smoke testing is how we find the spot. We push harmless, non-toxic smoke into the drain line. Wherever smoke comes out — a crack in the slab, a gap behind a wall, the soil in the yard — is a place a rat can get in. We show you the result, and a licensed plumber repairs the broken pipe. Then we trap any rats already inside and seal the rest of the house.
This is often the difference between rats coming back every few months and the problem actually ending. Read more: how to get rid of rats permanently.
Signs of rats and mice, room by room
| Room | What you might notice | Likely pest | What we do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basement | Large droppings by a floor drain or the boiler, gnawed wood | Norway rat | Check the foundation, smoke test drains, set traps |
| Kitchen | Small droppings in drawers and under the sink | House mouse | Trap along walls, seal gaps around pipes and under cabinets |
| Walls and ceilings | Scratching at night, often upstairs | House mouse | Track the wall runs back to the entry point |
| Attic | Droppings and tunnels in insulation | Usually mice | Seal the roofline; HEPA cleanup and insulation replacement if needed |
| Garage | Chewed bags of seed or pet food, droppings on shelves | Mice or rats | Seal door bottoms and wall gaps |
| Yard | Burrows along the fence, shed or garage slab | Norway rat | Trap, then collapse and fill burrows; buried mesh under sheds |
More detail: signs of mice and rats in your house.
How we handle a Rutherford rat or mouse job
Inspect top to bottom
Foundation, basement windows, utility lines, roofline, garage and yard — plus the drains if the outside checks out.
Trap where they travel
Traps go along walls and runways, in places children and pets can't reach.
Seal for good
Stainless steel mesh and chew-proof materials go into gaps; old chutes and uncapped pipes get closed off.
Finish the job
We return to check traps, fill burrows once rats are gone, and handle cleanup and odor removal.
See our main New Jersey rat control page and how we seal with stainless steel mesh.
Mice exterminator in Rutherford, NJ for two-families and apartments
In a two-family house or a garden apartment building, mice don't respect the property line between units. They travel along shared walls, pipe chases and the basement ceiling. If you treat only the unit that complained, the mice often just move next door and come back later.
For landlords and building owners, we look at the whole building: the shared basement, the trash area, the utility room and each unit where tenants have seen signs. Sealing is done from the basement up, because that's where most pipes and wires enter. Tenants get simple notes on food storage and where to watch for droppings.
Who pays for rodent control in a rental depends on the lease, the building type and local rules, which can change. Check with Rutherford's code enforcement office or the NJ Department of Community Affairs if you're unsure.
Running a shop or restaurant on Park Avenue? See commercial pest control.
When Rutherford sees rats and mice
| Season | What happens | Best move |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Rats dig new burrows; mice from winter start breeding | Look for burrows by sheds and fences |
| Summer | Rats feed on garbage, gardens and outdoor dining scraps | Tight lids on cans; clean up after cookouts |
| Fall | Mice push inside as nights cool | Seal gaps before the cold sets in |
| Winter | Mice in walls and ceilings; rats near warm boilers | Call at the first droppings |
What affects the cost of rat and mouse removal in Rutherford
House age
Older houses usually have more gaps to find and seal.
Drain problems
Smoke testing is an added step; pipe repair is done by a licensed plumber.
Building size
A two-family or apartment building means more units and shared spaces.
Cleanup and odor
Dead rodent removal, odor treatment and insulation replacement add time.
Estimates are free. Mouse service includes 90 days of coverage with unlimited free service calls. Inside we use traps, not loose poison; if outdoor bait is used, it's only in locked, tamper-resistant stations kids and pets can't open. Smelling something in a wall? See dead mouse smell in the house.
More pages for Rutherford and rodent control
Free estimate for rats or mice in Rutherford
Tell us where you're seeing signs and how old the house is. If you think the rats come from a drain, say so — we'll plan for a smoke test.
Why Rutherford calls Silver Bullet
- We find drain and sewer entry points with smoke testing
- Licensed: NJ License 90568B
- Older homes, two-families and apartment buildings
- Same-day appointments often available
- 4.9 stars on Google and over 15 years of experience
Request Service
🔒 Your info stays private · Hablamos español.
Rutherford rat and mouse questions
Who is a rat exterminator in Rutherford, NJ?
Silver Bullet Pest Control removes rats and mice in Rutherford. We're licensed (NJ License 90568B), based a short drive away in Garfield, and give free estimates at 973-510-2585.
I have rats in my basement but no holes. How are they getting in?
Often through the drains: a broken sewer pipe, an uncovered floor drain or an old uncapped line. We smoke test the drain lines to find the exact spot, and a licensed plumber repairs it.
What is rodent smoke testing?
Harmless smoke is pushed into the drain or sewer line. Where it escapes shows where the pipe is broken or open — and where rats can get in.
Can a rat come up through the toilet?
It can happen, but it's uncommon. Broken pipes, open floor drains and uncapped lines are much more likely ways in.
Why do mice keep coming back in my two-family?
Mice move between units along shared walls and pipes. Treating and sealing the whole building, starting from the basement, works much better than treating one unit.
How long does rat removal take?
Mice often clear up within a few weeks. Rats can take longer because they avoid new traps at first, and drain repairs may need a plumber's schedule.
Is rat bait safe with kids and pets?
Inside, we use traps rather than loose poison. Outdoor bait, if used, goes only in locked, tamper-resistant stations placed out of reach of children and pets.
What should I do about a dead rat smell?
Call us. We do dead rodent removal from walls, floors and crawl spaces, treat the odor and seal the opening.
Do you clean up after rats and mice?
Yes. We do droppings and HEPA cleanup, and remove and replace soiled attic insulation when needed.
Is there a warranty on mouse service?
Mouse service includes 90 days of coverage with unlimited free service calls in that time.
¿Hablan español?
Sí, hablamos español. Llame o mande un texto al 973-510-2585 para un presupuesto gratis por ratas o ratones en Rutherford.
Rodent control near Rutherford
From Garfield we cover Rutherford and the south Bergen towns around it.
Recent jobs near Rutherford, NJ
Real photos from our recent jobs. We show only the street and town, never the customer's exact address.
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Our service area
Bergen County
973-510-2585- Allendale
- Bergenfield
- Bogota
- Carlstadt
- Cliffside Park
- Closter
- Cresskill
- Demarest
- Dumont
- East Rutherford
- Edgewater
- Elmwood Park
- Emerson
- Englewood
- Englewood Cliffs
- Fair Lawn
- Fairview
- Fort Lee
- Franklin Lakes
- Garfield
- Glen Rock
- Hackensack
- Harrington Park
- Hasbrouck Heights
- Haworth
- Hillsdale
- Ho-Ho-Kus
- Leonia
- Little Ferry
- Lodi
- Lyndhurst
- Mahwah
- Maywood
- Midland Park
- Montvale
- Moonachie
- New Milford
- North Arlington
- Northvale
- Norwood
- Oakland
- Old Tappan
- Oradell
- Palisades Park
- Paramus
- Park Ridge
- Ramsey
- Ridgefield
- Ridgefield Park
- Ridgewood
- River Edge
- River Vale
- Rochelle Park
- Rutherford
- Saddle Brook
- Saddle River
- South Hackensack
- Teaneck
- Tenafly
- Teterboro
- Upper Saddle River
- Waldwick
- Wallington
- Washington Township
- Westwood
- Woodcliff Lake
- Wood-Ridge
- Wyckoff
Passaic County
973-510-2585- Bloomingdale
- Clifton
- Haledon
- Hawthorne
- Little Falls
- North Haledon
- Passaic
- Paterson
- Pompton Lakes
- Prospect Park
- Ringwood
- Totowa
- Wanaque
- Wayne
- West Milford
- Woodland Park
Essex County
973-510-2585- Belleville
- Bloomfield
- Caldwell
- Cedar Grove
- East Orange
- Essex Fells
- Fairfield
- Glen Ridge
- Irvington
- Livingston
- Maplewood
- Millburn
- Montclair
- Newark
- North Caldwell
- Nutley
- Orange
- Roseland
- Short Hills
- South Orange
- Verona
- West Caldwell
- West Orange
Hudson County
973-510-2585Union County
973-510-2585- Berkeley Heights
- Clark
- Cranford
- Elizabeth
- Fanwood
- Garwood
- Hillside
- Kenilworth
- Linden
- Mountainside
- New Providence
- Plainfield
- Rahway
- Roselle
- Roselle Park
- Scotch Plains
- Springfield
- Summit
- Union
- Westfield
Morris County
973-510-2585- Boonton
- Butler
- Cedar Knolls
- Chatham
- Denville
- Dover
- East Hanover
- Florham Park
- Hanover
- Kinnelon
- Lincoln Park
- Madison
- Mendham
- Montville
- Morris Plains
- Morristown
- Mountain Lakes
- Parsippany
- Pequannock
- Randolph
- Riverdale
- Rockaway
- Roxbury
- Whippany
Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B