Roof Rat
Rattus rattus- Size
- 1/2 to 1 pound
- Tail
- Longer than its head and body
- Nests
- Attics, roof spaces, trees and thick shrubs
- Droppings
- Up to 1/2 inch, pointed ends
Scratching in the attic at night or droppings in the garage? Florida Rodent Control Pros removes rats and mice from Brooksville homes and businesses, from the historic homes near the courthouse square downtown to properties out toward the Withlacoochee State Forest. We find how they get in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Brooksville.
Call (561) 562-7607Brooksville is the county seat of Hernando County, sitting on the rolling hills of the Brooksville Ridge, which makes the terrain here noticeably hillier than most of flat Florida. Older homes near the historic courthouse square sit close to mature oak trees, and the city borders the Withlacoochee State Forest, so wildlife pressure never really lets up.
Roof rats are the rodent we remove most in Brooksville. They travel along oak limbs and power lines, then drop onto the roof and enter through soffit gaps, roof edges and vents. In the older homes around downtown, original vents and soffits give them an easy way in.
Norway rats stay near the ground. We find them in garages, sheds and around properties bordering the forest edge, where cover and food sources are close by. Every part of the city has rodents, just for different reasons, so we inspect each property as its own job.
Most Brooksville 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.
Roof rats cause most attic calls in Brooksville’s older neighborhoods, Norway rats show up in garages and near the forest edge, and house mice get into kitchens and pantries. Knowing which one you have tells us where to look and how to stop it.
Every job in Brooksville 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.
Setting traps without sealing the openings only buys time. We follow the same 5 steps on every job so the rats do not come back.
We walk the property, check the attic 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 rats 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 rats are inside and how many openings the home has. We tell you what to expect after the first inspection.
From older homes near the courthouse square to properties bordering the Withlacoochee State Forest, each Brooksville home has its own weak spots. We look at the roofline, attic, crawl space, garage and yard, then seal the openings rats are using.
We check soffits, vents and roof edges, then walk you through what we found.
Openings are closed with metal flashing, hardware cloth and mortar, not foam alone.
Indoor trapping avoids dead rodents in the walls and keeps bait away from kids and pets.
We remove droppings and nests and tell you if insulation should be replaced.
Restaurants and shops around the courthouse square deal with daily deliveries, shared dumpsters and doors that open all day. Florida restaurants are inspected by the DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants, and signs of rodents are something inspectors look for.
Regular visits to check traps and stations, planned around your business hours.
A record of each visit that you can show a manager or inspector.
Door sweeps and gaps at docks and walls closed with rodent-proof materials.
Simple changes to dumpster areas and dry storage that make your site less attractive to rats.
Brooksville is not one kind of property. What we do at an older home downtown is different from what we do at a property backing up to the forest.
Older homes near downtown often have original soffit vents and attic screens that have worked loose over the years, giving roof rats an easy way in above the eaves.
Our approach: We inspect the full roofline and attic, reseal or replace worn vent screens with metal mesh, and trap inside the attic until activity stops.
Homes backing up to the Withlacoochee State Forest deal with more rodent traffic coming out of the tree line, especially into sheds and garages.
Our approach: We inspect the tree line, shed and garage first, then seal ground-level entry points with hardware cloth.
On the sloped lots common around the Brooksville Ridge, foundation gaps and garage corners sit closer to grade on the low side of the house.
Our approach: We check the low side of the foundation and the garage first, then seal what we find with metal flashing and hardware cloth.
Brooksville has a few main ZIP codes. We cover the whole city and the surrounding parts of Hernando County. Call if you do not see yours.
Downtown Brooksville · the courthouse square area · properties near the Withlacoochee State Forest · the surrounding Brooksville Ridge
“They found the gap in our old soffit that we had missed for years. Fast and professional.”
Steve H.Brooksville, FL
Verified“We live right by the forest and had rats in the shed for months. They sealed everything up properly.”
Linda P.Brooksville, FL
Verified“Explained everything clearly and came back to check the traps like they said they would.”
Daniel W.Brooksville, FL
VerifiedHave a question that is not listed? Call and a team member will help.
Call (561) 562-7607 →Most homes 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 rats are inside and how many openings the home has. We tell you what to expect after the first inspection.
Often yes. Properties backing up to the tree line see more rodent traffic moving between the woods and the yard, especially into sheds and garages. Sealing those openings early helps.
We do not recommend it. Poisoned rats often die inside walls or ceilings where you cannot reach them, which causes a strong smell. Trapping indoors and sealing the openings works better.
Rats are usually active at night, while squirrels are active in the daytime. Rat droppings are about 1/2 inch long. If you are not sure, an inspection will tell us which animal it is.
The CDC advises not to sweep or vacuum droppings. Air out the area, wear gloves, spray the droppings with disinfectant or a bleach solution, let it soak for 5 minutes, then wipe up with paper towels. For attics or large amounts, call us.
Pest control businesses in Florida are licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). You can look up a license on the FDACS website before you hire anyone.
Yes. We also serve Spring Hill, Lutz, Wesley Chapel and Tampa. Call (561) 562-7607 to check your address.
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 activityFlorida, 24 hours a day
Call any time and talk to a local rodent pro. We find how they get in, seal it, remove the ones inside and come back until the activity stops. Homes, rentals and businesses.