Running in the ceiling
Quick footsteps or scratching above the ceiling after dark. Roof rats are most active a few hours after sunset.
Scratching in the attic at night or droppings in the garage? Florida Rodent Control Pros removes rats and mice from Apopka homes and businesses, from the older wood-frame houses of Historic Downtown Apopka to the newer block homes of Rock Springs Ridge and the greenhouse and nursery growers that give Apopka its nickname. We find how they get in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Apopka.
Call (561) 562-7607Apopka sits in northwest Orange County, about 16 miles from downtown Orlando, on the north shore of Lake Apopka. The city is known as the Indoor Foliage Capital of the World, home to dozens of wholesale greenhouse and nursery growers. That much plant cover, combined with the lake, nearby springs and a mix of century-old and brand-new construction, means rats and mice have shelter close to almost every home and business in town.
Roof rats are the rodent we remove most in Apopka. They travel through tree canopy, nursery shade houses and power lines, then drop onto rooflines and get in through soffit gaps, vents and tile edges. In Historic Downtown Apopka, older wood-frame homes built in the early and mid-1900s also give roof rats and mice room to nest in attics, wall voids and old soffits.
Norway rats stay closer to the ground and water. We find them near Lake Apopka, along drainage canals, around dumpsters at commercial plazas, and in garages in newer block-and-stucco neighborhoods like Rock Springs Ridge and Wekiva Springs. Commercial greenhouses and nurseries bring a third pressure point: potting soil, mulch piles, irrigation lines and dense plant cover give rodents food, water and shelter all in one place. Every part of Apopka has rodents for a different reason, so we inspect each property as its own job.
Explore Apopka services →Most Apopka jobs combine a few of these: an inspection, sealing, trapping and cleanup. Choose a service to learn more, or call and we will tell you what your property needs.
Rodents move at night, so most Apopka homeowners and growers find these clues before they ever see one. If you notice 2 or more, it is time for an inspection.
Quick footsteps or scratching above the ceiling after dark. Roof rats are most active a few hours after sunset.
Dark pellets about 1/2 inch long point to rats. Tiny ones about 1/8 inch point to mice.
Rats gnaw on drip irrigation tubing in greenhouses and nurseries, plus AC lines and wiring in homes. This can cause leaks, shorts and crop damage.
Gnawed openings in bagged soil, mulch or bird seed are a common sign around Apopka’s nursery operations and residential garages alike.
Urine and nesting material leave a sharp odor, often strongest in closets, cabinets and the attic hatch.
Dogs or cats staring at a wall, sniffing under appliances or pawing at a cabinet often sense rodents first.
Roof rats cause most attic and greenhouse calls in Apopka, Norway rats show up near Lake Apopka, canals and dumpsters, and house mice get into kitchens, pantries and storage buildings. Knowing which one you have tells us where to look and how to stop it.
Every job in Apopka starts with a full inspection, inside and out. We look for how rodents get in, where they live, and what is feeding them.
Trapping alone does not fix the problem if the openings stay open. We close the way in first, then remove the rodents already inside.
The CDC links rats and mice to several diseases. People can get sick from contact with droppings, urine or saliva, from bites, or from breathing dust from contaminated areas.
Source: CDC rodent control and cleanup guidance.
In Florida, pest control companies are licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) under Chapter 482, Florida Statutes. Rodent work falls under the General Household Pest and rodent control category.
Our team is EPA and FDACS certified. Call (561) 562-7607 with any questions.
We look at the whole property, from the roofline to the foundation, or from the greenhouse frame to the potting shed. What we check depends on how the property is built and used.
Setting traps without sealing the openings only buys time. We follow the same 5 steps on every job so the rodents do not come back.
We walk the property, check the attic or growing structure and mark every entry point and sign of activity.
Openings are closed with metal flashing, 1/4 inch hardware cloth, mesh and mortar. We do not rely on foam.
Traps go on the paths rodents use. We check them on return visits and remove what we catch.
Droppings and nests are removed and the area is disinfected. We tell you if insulation needs replacing.
We come back until there are no new signs, then give you simple tips to keep it that way.
The number of visits depends on how many rodents are inside and how many openings the property has. We tell you what to expect after the first inspection.
According to the CDC, rats and mice can spread disease through their droppings, urine, saliva and bites. These are the main concerns.
Can spread when dust from dried droppings or urine is stirred up and breathed in. This is why you should never sweep droppings.
Spread through water or soil that has rodent urine in it. Standing water near Lake Apopka or after heavy rain can be a concern.
Food and counters touched by rodents or their droppings can carry salmonella bacteria.
Spread by bites or scratches, or by handling rodents. Always use gloves or tools, never bare hands.
Rodents carry fleas and mites that can move to pets and people after the rodents are gone.
Chewed wires can start fires, and chewed water, AC or irrigation lines can cause leaks and crop losses.
A lot of common advice makes a rat problem last longer. Here is what actually works.
A single mouse in the kitchen can sometimes be handled with a few snap traps. Rats in the attic or a greenhouse are a different job.
The problem with DIY: most store-bought fixes catch rats but leave the openings in place, so new rats move in from nearby trees, canals or nursery grounds.
Ask a technician →| Situation | DIY | Professional |
|---|---|---|
| One mouse seen once | Snap traps may be enough | Call if it comes back |
| Noises in the attic | Hard to reach and seal safely | Roofline sealing and attic trapping |
| Droppings in several rooms | Usually means many rodents | Full inspection and plan |
| Chewed wires or irrigation lines | Risk of fire, leaks or crop loss | Find the source and seal it |
| Dead rodent smell | Hard to locate in walls | Locate, remove and deodorize |
| Rodents in a greenhouse or shade house | Large area, hard to seal alone | Structure-wide inspection and exclusion plan |
Homes in Errol Estates, Rock Springs Ridge, Wekiva Springs and Historic Downtown Apopka all face rodent pressure, just for different reasons. Older homes near downtown give rats room in attics and old soffits, while newer block homes get in through garages and roofline gaps.
We inspect the roofline, attic, garage and foundation to find every entry point and sign of activity.
Our team develops tailored removal plans based on how your Apopka home is built.
We offer follow-up visits to monitor and prevent future infestations.
Our cleanup services remove droppings and nesting material to reduce health risks for your family.
Apopka is the Indoor Foliage Capital of the World, and greenhouse and nursery growers face rodent pressure that most pest control companies rarely see: bagged potting soil, mulch, irrigation lines and dense plant cover all give rodents food, water and shelter. We also serve restaurants, retail and warehouses across the city.
Effective rodent control protects staff, customers and growing stock from damage and contamination.
We inspect and seal greenhouse edges, benches and storage areas, not just the roofline.
We help Apopka businesses stay ready for health inspections and avoid fines.
Our commercial plans are built around your facility type, whether that is a greenhouse or an office.
Apopka has homes from the early 1900s through today, plus dozens of greenhouse and nursery operations. The way a property is built tells us where to look first.
Navigating Apopka is made easier by its prominent landmarks. Our team uses these as references when servicing the area, ensuring efficient route planning and timely responses.
This spring-fed state park sits on Apopka’s southern edge and is a natural habitat for wildlife, including rodents. We often service homes near the park boundary.
This lakefront park sits on the north shore of Lake Apopka. Properties near the lake and its canals see more Norway rat activity, which we account for on nearby calls.
Home to the 1918 Seaboard Air Line Railway Depot and the Museum of the Apopkans, this older district has the oldest housing stock in the city, and the attic and soffit work to match.
Apopka’s humid subtropical climate keeps rodents active most of the year, but activity still shifts with the seasons and the nursery growing calendar.
As nursery growers ramp up planting and homeowners open windows, rodents move looking for nesting sites. This is a good time for a preventive inspection.
Tip: Check attic vents and greenhouse edges in early spring before breeding season picks up.
Florida’s wet season brings heavy afternoon rain, which pushes ground-level rodents near Lake Apopka and drainage canals toward drier shelter in garages and sheds.
Tip: Keep bagged growing media and pet food sealed, since summer humidity draws rodents to any dry food source.
As nights cool, roof rats move from trees and shade houses into attics and wall voids, making fall a peak season for infestations in Apopka homes.
Tip: Trim tree branches and palm fronds away from the roofline before cooler weather sends rats indoors.
Apopka rarely sees a hard freeze, so rodents stay active through winter, seeking warmth inside homes, sheds and heated greenhouses.
Tip: Winter is a good time for exclusion work, since rodent pressure is usually lower than in fall.
Sealing the openings does most of the work. These habits help keep new rodents from moving in.
Apopka is not one kind of property. What we do at a wood-frame home downtown is different from what we do at a block home in Rock Springs Ridge or a commercial nursery.
Wood-frame homes built in the early and mid-1900s often have original soffits, vents and attic hatches that have worn loose over the decades, giving roof rats easy access.
Our approach: We inspect the roofline and attic, seal gaps with metal flashing and hardware cloth, then trap inside the attic until activity stops.
Newer block-and-stucco homes still get rats through garage door corners, AC line openings and roof edges, especially where landscaping has grown up to the roofline.
Our approach: We check the garage and roofline first, then seal the openings we find with metal flashing and hardware cloth.
Apopka’s greenhouse and nursery growers deal with rodents drawn to bagged potting soil, irrigation lines and dense plant cover inside shade houses and growing structures.
Our approach: We inspect the full structure, seal ground-level entry points, and set a trapping and monitoring plan that fits your growing schedule.
These steps follow CDC cleanup guidance and help keep your family or staff safe.
Call (561) 562-7607These are our most frequently served ZIP codes. Nearby areas may also qualify. Call if you do not see yours.
Errol Estates · Rock Springs Ridge · Wekiva Springs · Historic Downtown Apopka
“Florida Rodent Control Pros found where the rats were getting into our attic near downtown Apopka and sealed it up fast. Professional from start to finish.”
Rachel H.Apopka, FL
Verified“We run a small nursery and had rodents getting into the potting soil. They inspected the whole structure and gave us a plan that actually worked.”
Mike G.Apopka, FL
Verified“Knowledgeable team that knew our Rock Springs Ridge neighborhood well. They explained everything before starting work.”
Diane P.Apopka, FL
VerifiedHave a question that is not listed? Call and a team member will help.
Call (561) 562-7607 →Common signs include droppings in the garage or attic, scratching noises at night, chewed wiring or irrigation lines, and gnawed bags of pet food or potting soil. If you notice 2 or more, it is time for an inspection.
Most properties need a first visit for the inspection and sealing, then follow-up visits over the next few weeks to check traps. The exact number depends on how many rodents are inside and how many openings the property has.
Bagged potting soil, mulch, irrigation lines and dense plant cover give rodents food, water and shelter in one place. We inspect the full structure, not just the roofline, when we work with growers.
We do not recommend it. Poisoned rats often die inside walls or ceilings, which causes a strong smell for weeks. We trap and remove rodents instead of relying on poison indoors.
Yes. Our exclusion-first approach relies on sealing and trapping rather than broadcasting bait indoors, which keeps the process safer around pets and children.
Properties near Lake Apopka and its canals tend to see more Norway rat activity at ground level, while homes farther from the water more often deal with roof rats in the attic. We adjust the inspection based on location.
Don’t let rodents take over your home, business or nursery. Contact us for professional rodent control in Apopka and reclaim your space today!
Call us, tell us what you are seeing and where you are located, and our team will confirm the right appointment type and timing.
These pictures come from our own inspection cameras and job sites: rats caught in traps, mice under cabinets, the entry points we find, and the sealing work that keeps them out.
Rat caughtClose-up of a rat caught in a cage trap
Exclusion workTechnician sealing a block wall gap with mortar
Entry point foundRat squeezing past an unsealed pipe penetration in a wall
Kitchen inspectionThree mice caught on camera under a cabinet
Trap cameraNight camera photo of a rat at a snap trap
Attic inspectionMouse found near attic insulation
Station checkRat found inside a rodent station during a service check
Entry point checkMouse beside a dryer vent duct
TrappingMouse approaching a trap station near roof trusses
Rat caughtRat caught in a cage trap outside a Florida home
Food source foundMouse feeding on crumbs under a cabinet
Trap cameraNight camera photo of a rat approaching a baited snap trap
Kitchen inspectionMouse moving along a cabinet base
Kitchen inspectionTwo mice under a cabinet, a sign of active activity