Rodent Awareness Week

Rodent Awareness Week: Top 10 Cities for Rodent Activity in SC, NC & GA

Every fall, Rodent Awareness Week brings a timely reminder that cooler temperatures don't just mean sweater weather: they also mean rats and mice are actively searching for a warm place to wait out the winter. Organized by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), Rodent Awareness Week takes place each October to help homeowners understand the real health and property risks that come with rodent activity, and to take action before an infestation takes hold.

Here at Terminix Service, Inc., we cover communities across South Carolina, western North Carolina, and CSRA Georgia – a region with no shortage of conditions that make rodents feel right at home. Warm, humid summers. Dense coastal marshlands. Wooded mountain terrain. Historic neighborhoods with aging foundations and crawl spaces. This part of the country has it all, and rodents know it.

This year, we put our own 2026 service data to work. We identified which cities across our coverage area saw the highest rodent activity per capita and our local teams are ready to help homeowners in every one of them with professional rodent control treatments tailored to their area.

Key Takeaways:

• Hendersonville, NC tops the list with 100 rodent calls per 100,000 residents. It's the highest rate of any large market we serve.
• Mountain communities in western NC dominate the upper end of the rankings, driven by elevation, older housing stock, and sharp seasonal temperature drops.
• Charleston logged the highest total rodent call volume of any city in our entire service area.
• Coastal and Low Country communities face persistent, year-round rodent pressure tied directly to local geography.
• Fall is the single most critical window for rodent control and prevention across all 10 cities on this list.

Methodology

To build this ranking, we analyzed 2026 Terminix Service rodent call data across all markets within our SC, western NC, and CSRA Georgia coverage area. We took out any duplicate calls from customers. To keep comparisons fair and meaningful, we only included cities with a population of 100,000 residents or more – smaller communities, while sometimes showing very high per-capita rates, were excluded to avoid skewing the results. Where our service footprint covers multiple communities within the same geographic area, their data was combined into a single market figure. All rankings are based on rodent service calls per 100,000 residents, normalized using 2023 U.S. Census Bureau population estimates. This list reflects activity within the Terminix Service, Inc. coverage area only and is not a national comparison.

The 10 Cities With the Highest Rodent Activity in Our Service Area

#10 Rock Hill / York-Lancaster, SC

28.3 rodent calls per 100,000 residents

Rock Hill and the York-Lancaster corridor open our list as one of the most rapidly expanding areas in our entire service footprint. Communities like Fort Mill and Tega Cay have seen explosive residential development in recent years, with construction pushing deeper into wooded and riparian habitats along the Catawba River. That pattern consistently displaces rodent populations from green space into surrounding neighborhoods – including well-established areas of Rock Hill that weren't expecting the added pressure. Catawba River greenways and surrounding hardwood corridors create natural pathways connecting wildlife habitat directly to homes.

#9 Augusta Metro, GA

32.2 rodent calls per 100,000 residents

The Augusta metro area, including Martinez and Grovetown, spans along the Savannah River through Richmond and Columbia counties, and its warm Southern climate means rodents here never truly go dormant. Unlike the mountain markets higher on this list, Augusta doesn't rely on sharp seasonal temperature drops to drive activity – pressure stays elevated year-round. Historic neighborhoods along the Augusta Canal corridor, combined with the area's broad mix of dense urban development and surrounding rural land, give rodents reliable access to food sources and shelter in every season.

#8 Summerville, SC

37.1 rodent calls per 100,000 residents

Summerville is one of the fastest-growing communities in South Carolina, and that growth is driving real and measurable rodent pressure. As new development in Dorchester County pushes into formerly wooded and wetland areas, displaced rodent populations move into surrounding established neighborhoods. Historic Summerville, with its canopied streets, older home stock, and mature tree coverage, feels this pressure most directly. Pine forests and drainage corridors throughout the area give rodents natural pathways that lead directly into residential zones, and those pathways don't disappear as neighborhoods expand around them.

#7 Shelby / Cleveland County, NC

40.5 rodent calls per 100,000 residents

Shelby and the broader Cleveland County area sit in the NC Foothills where mountain terrain begins transitioning toward the Piedmont. This in-between geography, a mix of working farmland, wooded rural property, and older residential neighborhoods, makes for a consistently active rodent environment through the fall months. When temperatures begin to drop in the Foothills, field mice and Norway rats move toward structures, and older homes in Shelby's established areas offer plenty of opportunity through aging crawl spaces, deteriorating sills, and foundation gaps.

#6 Beaufort / Bluffton, SC

48.2 rodent calls per 100,000 residents

The coastal communities of Beaufort and Bluffton are picture-perfect on the surface. But beneath the live oak canopy and behind the marshfront properties, rodent activity is a persistent reality of Low Country living. Tidal flats, salt marshes, and dense coastal vegetation give rats and mice reliable moisture and shelter sources that sustain activity all year long. Bluffton's rapid residential growth has also pushed rodent populations out of previously undeveloped areas and into newer subdivisions and established communities alike. This isn't a seasonal problem along this stretch of coast, it's a year-round one.

#5 Florence, SC

56.1 rodent calls per 100,000 residents

Florence is the commercial and transportation hub of the Pee Dee region, and its position along the I-95 corridor contributes to rodent activity that many residents wouldn't immediately connect to geography. High-traffic routes and busy commercial corridors can facilitate rodent movement across larger distances than most people realize. The warm, humid climate throughout Florence County – combined with flat terrain prone to standing water after heavy rain – keeps conditions favorable for rodent populations well into the cooler months. Residential neighborhoods south and west of downtown see some of the most consistent activity our teams encounter in the Pee Dee.

#4 Charleston, SC

86.2 rodent calls per 100,000 residents

Charleston generated more total rodent calls than any other city in our service area, with 366 in 2026 alone. The per-capita rate puts it just behind Sumter, but Charleston's rodent challenge is long-documented and deeply tied to the city's geography and history. The historic downtown peninsula, bordered by the Ashley and Cooper rivers, features centuries-old building stock with countless entry points. Tidal marshes and waterfront areas throughout the Lowcountry provide year-round shelter and food access for both Norway rats and house mice. Port activity along the harbor adds another layer of rodent pressure that inland cities simply don't face. Charleston is a city that never really gets a rodent off-season.

#3 Sumter, SC

86.4 rodent calls per 100,000 residents

Sitting in the heart of South Carolina, Sumter ranks third with 86.4 rodent calls per 100,000 residents. The city's warm, humid climate and surrounding agricultural landscape, pine forests, row crop fields, and the low-lying terrain of Sumter County, create an ideal rodent habitat that sustains populations well beyond the warmer months. When fall harvest season arrives and crops come out of the fields, mice and rats are displaced from their outdoor habitats and begin pressing toward nearby homes and neighborhoods. Historic residential areas near downtown Sumter, many with older pier foundations and minimal crawl space barriers, are especially susceptible.

#2 Asheville, NC

88.4 rodent calls per 100,000 residents

Asheville is one of western NC's most celebrated cities and one of its most active rodent markets. Dense tree canopy throughout neighborhoods like Montford, West Asheville, and the River Arts District, combined with proximity to the vast woodland corridors along the Blue Ridge Parkway, gives rodents a reliable habitat right at the edge of residential areas. A growing population and ongoing renovation activity stir up established rodent populations and create new entry opportunities throughout the city. Older homes with aging foundations, crawl spaces, and pier-and-beam structures are especially vulnerable – and especially common in Asheville. The city recorded 245 rodent calls in 2026, ranking second in per-capita activity.

#1 Hendersonville, NC

100 rodent calls per 100,000 residents

Hendersonville takes the top spot on our list, and it's not a surprise to anyone familiar with this part of western NC. Tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains in Henderson County, Hendersonville's elevation brings some of the most rapid fall temperature drops in our entire service area. As apple orchards and surrounding farmland wind down for the season, displaced field mice and Norway rats press quickly toward nearby homes. Older neighborhoods near downtown and the mix of rural properties spread through the county's back roads see some of the most consistent rodent pressure we encounter anywhere in our coverage area. When it gets cold in the mountains, it gets cold fast – and rodents move even faster.

Why Rodents Thrive in the Carolinas and Georgia

The climate and geography across our service area create near-ideal conditions for rodent activity through much of the year. Warm, humid summers allow populations to build through peak breeding season. As fall arrives, whether that's the sharp mountain drop you feel in Hendersonville or the gradual coastal shift along the Charleston waterfront, rodents begin pressing toward structures in search of warmth, food, and reliable nesting sites. The mix of older housing stock, active agricultural land, and coastal and wetland environments throughout SC, NC, and Georgia gives rats and mice reliable habitat and consistent access to homes of all ages and types.

Common warning signs of rodent activity to watch for:

• Droppings along baseboards, inside cabinets, or near food storage areas
• Gnaw marks on food packaging, wood trim, or visible wiring
• Nesting materials – shredded paper, insulation, or fabric – tucked into hidden corners
• Scratching or scurrying sounds inside walls or ceilings at night
• Greasy rub marks along walls or baseboards where rodents travel repeatedly
• Musky odors in enclosed or low-traffic spaces like attics and crawl spaces

Protecting Your Home This Rodent Awareness Week

A handful of practical steps can make a meaningful difference in keeping rats and mice out of your home. The key is acting before you have a problem. By the time you see the signs, they've usually already settled in. And when prevention alone isn't enough, professional rodent control treatment is the most reliable way to get ahead of an infestation and keep it from coming back.

• Seal entry points. Mice can squeeze through an opening the size of a dime. Walk the perimeter of your home and seal any gaps around pipes, vents, utility lines, and foundation cracks using steel wool, hardware cloth, or exterior-grade caulk. Pay close attention to where your home meets the ground and where utilities enter the structure.
• Secure your food supply. Store pantry staples, pet food, and birdseed in sealed, airtight containers. Don't leave food out overnight – including pet bowls.
• Tighten up your trash. Keep garbage bins sealed with tight-fitting lids and bring bins in promptly after collection. If you compost, use a rodent-resistant bin with a secure base.
• Clear the perimeter. Keep firewood stacked at least 20 feet away from your home, trim back shrubs and low vegetation from your foundation, and remove debris piles that could provide shelter. Clutter near the home, indoors and out, creates nesting opportunities rodents will take advantage of.
• Trim trees and overhanging branches. Roof rats and other climbing rodents use branches to access upper levels of homes. Keep limbs trimmed back from your roofline, gutters, and any exterior vents or soffits.
• Address moisture issues. Rodents are consistently attracted to water sources. Fix leaking pipes, clear clogged gutters, eliminate standing water around your foundation, and make sure crawl spaces are properly vented and as dry as possible.
• Inspect garage doors and weatherstripping. An improperly sealed garage door is one of the most overlooked rodent entry points. Check the rubber seal along the bottom and inspect weatherstripping around all exterior doors and windows at least once a season.
• Don't overlook your attic or crawl space. These are typically the first places rodents establish themselves inside a home and the last places homeowners think to check. If you haven't had either inspected recently, a professional rodent control evaluation can identify activity you might not see on your own, especially if your city made this list.

Ready to Get Ahead of Rodent Season?

Whether your city made this list or not, fall is the right time to make sure your home is protected. Rodents move fast, breed faster, and what starts as a small problem behind the walls can become a much larger one before most homeowners realize what's happening. Professional rodent control treatment, not just traps from the hardware store, is what stops an active infestation and helps keep rodents from returning season after season. Our local Terminix Service, Inc. teams know this region – the terrain, the housing stock, the seasonal patterns, and the specific conditions that drive rodent activity in your community. We've been protecting homes across SC, NC, and Georgia for decades, and we're here to help you keep rats and mice exactly where they belong: outside.

Written By Trevor Knox

Trevor Knox is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Terminix Service, Inc., one of the largest and most respected pest control companies in the Southeast. With nearly a decade of experience spanning field operations, branch management, and executive leadership, Trevor brings a deep, practical understanding of both the business and service sides of the industry. A “20 Under 40” honoree and active leader in professional development and community initiatives, Trevor’s insights reflect real-world expertise and strategic vision—making his perspective one worth listening to.

View all posts by Trevor Knox