Rodent Control in Orlando

Roof Rats, Norway Rats and House Mice

Three kinds of rodent get into homes here. Roof rats are slender, dark climbers with long tails; they travel along power lines, fences and branches and nest high, in attics and soffits. Norway rats are heavier and brown and burrow at ground level, along foundations and under woodpiles. House mice are the smallest and settle in kitchens, garages and the spaces inside walls.

In Central Florida, palms and citrus trees give roof rats an easy climb to the roofline and plenty to eat once they are up there. As with every pest we handle, the work starts with where they get in and where they hide.

Signs of Rats and Mice Around the House

Rats and mice keep out of sight, so the signs usually turn up first.

Rodent signs and how soon to act

Sign	Where It Appears	Likely Rodent	Urgency
Droppings about half an inch long, with pointed ends	Attic insulation, tops of walls, beside stored boxes	Roof rat	Call soon
Thicker droppings with blunt ends	Garage floor edges, along the slab, near trash cans	Norway rat	Act this week
Droppings the size of rice grains	Kitchen drawers, pantry shelves, under the sink	House mouse	Act this week
Scratching and quick runs overhead after dark	Ceilings near the eaves	Roof rat; mice sound lighter	Call soon
Chewed insulation on electrical wires	Attic, garage, behind appliances	Rats or mice	Act today: a fire risk
Holes two to four inches wide in the soil	Along the foundation, under shrubs and woodpiles	Norway rat	Call soon
Oranges hollowed out on the tree	Citrus trees and the ground beneath them	Roof rat	Watch and note

Fresh droppings are dark and shiny; old ones are dull, gray and crumbly. Do not touch either with bare hands. A rat out in the open in daylight often means a crowded nest nearby.

Checking the Attic Without Breathing the Dust

The attic is where roof rats nest and where their signs collect. In summer, go up early in the morning: an Orlando attic can be dangerously hot by midday.

1. Dress for the dust. Put on gloves, a well-fitting dust mask and long sleeves, and take a bright flashlight.
2. Step only on the framing. Keep your feet on the joists or on boards laid across them; the ceiling between them will not hold you.
3. Light the edges first. Shine the flashlight along the eaves and around vents and pipes, looking for paths pressed into the insulation, shredded nesting material and greasy marks on the rafters.
4. Never sweep droppings dry. Sweeping or vacuuming puts their dust in the air. Soak them with disinfectant first, wait about five minutes, then wipe them up with paper towels.
5. Check the wiring by eye. Look for chewed wire insulation without touching it, and have an electrician look at any damage.
6. Note what you found. Take photos of the signs and where they are, then wash your hands well once your gloves are off.

Gaps Rats and Mice Use to Get In

A mouse can squeeze through a gap about a quarter inch wide, and a young rat through one about half an inch wide. Most of these gaps sit where something passes through the wall or where two parts of the house meet.

Rodent entry points and how to check them

Area of the Home	Typical Gap	How to Check
Roofline and soffits	Loose soffit panels; gaps where the soffit meets the fascia	Walk around the house and look along every eave for dark gaps or rub marks.
Gable vents	Torn or rusted screen behind the louvers	From the attic, shine a light at the back of each vent.
AC line and plumbing penetrations	Open space around refrigerant lines, drain pipes and hose bibs	Look where each line enters the wall: if a pencil fits, a mouse fits.
Garage door corners	A worn bottom seal and open corners at the frame	Close it on a sunny day and look for daylight at the bottom corners.
Dryer vents	A flap that sticks open or a cracked hood	Check that the flap falls shut, and look for nest material in the hood.
Weep holes and utility chases	Open holes in brick veneer; unsealed spots where cable, power and gas lines come in	Check the base of brick walls and each spot where a line enters.
Roof-to-wall joints	Gaps where a lower roof or a porch roof meets a wall	From the attic, look along the joint for daylight.

In the trade, rodent work usually pairs two jobs: trapping the animals already inside and closing the gaps they use. The order matters. Gaps closed too early leave rats inside to chew new holes or die in the walls; trapping alone leaves the way open for the next ones.

Checking the Garage for Rodents

A garage gives rodents shelter, warmth and often food. Rats and mice run along walls rather than across open floor, so the walls are where to look.

1. Start along the walls. With gloves on, run a flashlight along the base of each wall and behind the shelving, looking for droppings and gnaw marks.
2. Check stored food and seed. Pet food, birdseed and grass seed in bags are often the first things rodents find.
3. Look into the warm corners. The spaces behind a water heater, a dryer or a second refrigerator are favorite nesting spots.
4. Wet it before you wipe it. Spray any droppings with disinfectant until soaked, wait about five minutes, then pick them up with paper towels and bag them. Never sweep or vacuum them dry.

Taking Away Food and Shelter

Rodents stay where food and cover come easily. These changes make a house and yard far less inviting:

• Pick up pet food at night, and keep pet food and birdseed in bins with tight lids.
• Gather fallen fruit from citrus trees and palms every few days.
• Take bird feeders down, or hang them well away from the house.
• Clear garage clutter: lift boxes onto shelves and leave a gap between stored things and the walls.
• Trim tree branches and palm fronds several feet back from the roof.
• Keep woodpiles and lumber off the ground and away from the walls.

If droppings or noises keep turning up after the food and clutter are gone, the rodents are probably nesting inside. When you book an appointment, tell us what you found and where.