White downspout feeding into a metal drain box with a mesh leaf filter full of dry leaves, connected to a black underground drain pipe at the base of a white foundation wall, with an open gap along the wall corner, dry grass and a small green plant.
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White downspout feeding into a metal drain box with a mesh leaf filter full of dry leaves, connected to a black underground drain pipe at the base of a white foundation wall, with an open gap along the wall corner, dry grass and a small green plant.

This photo shows a downspout feeding a metal drain box with a mesh leaf filter, now clogged with fall leaves, above a black underground drain pipe, with an open gap along the corner where the downspout meets the foundation wall. A mouse needs a gap no wider than a pencil and a rat one about the size of a quarter, so openings hidden behind downspouts matter. Rodent proofing closes gaps like this with metal mesh and flashing so rodents cannot use them to get inside.