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 or droppings in the garage? Florida Rodent Control Pros removes rats and mice from Callaway homes and businesses, from waterfront properties along Callaway Bayou to homes near Tyndall Air Force Base and the Tyndall Parkway corridor. We find how they got in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Callaway.
Call (561) 562-7607Callaway sits in Bay County right next to Panama City and Tyndall Air Force Base, with Callaway Bayou and the St. Andrews Bay watershed running through the middle of town. Warm panhandle weather most of the year, water on several sides, and a mix of older homes, mobile and manufactured homes, and homes rebuilt after Hurricane Michael give rodents plenty of places to get in.
Norway rats are common along Callaway Bayou, where homes back up to the water near Patterson Park, Brittany Woods and Collinfurst. They burrow near seawalls, docks and low ground, then move into garages and crawl spaces when it floods. House mice turn up in kitchens and pantries across the city, and roof rats work their way into attics through soffit gaps, roof vents and tree limbs that touch the roof.
Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category 5 storm on October 10, 2018, and Callaway took some of the worst damage in Bay County. Years later, some roofs, soffits and skirting still carry patch repairs from that storm, and those repairs are a common spot where rodents get back in. We check storm-related repairs on every Callaway inspection, not just the obvious gaps.
Most Callaway 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 Callaway homeowners 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. Check skirting and crawl space entry points on manufactured homes.
Rats gnaw on wiring, AC insulation and irrigation lines. This can lead to shorts, leaks and costly repairs.
Patched soffits, roof sections and skirting repaired after Hurricane Michael are a common spot where rodents slip back in.
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 calls in Callaway, Norway rats show up near Callaway Bayou, seawalls and low ground, and house mice get into kitchens and pantries in homes of every type. Knowing which one you have tells us where to look and how to stop it.
Every job in Callaway 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 skirting. What we check depends on how the home is built, since a manufactured home and a block home have different weak spots.
A rat can squeeze through a gap about 1/2 inch wide, and a mouse through about 1/4 inch.
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.
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 after heavy rain near the bayou 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 or AC lines can cause leaks inside walls.
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 under a home or in the attic 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 through the same skirting gap or roof edge.
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 AC lines | Risk of fire or leaks | Find the source and seal it |
| Dead rodent smell | Hard to locate in walls | Locate, remove and deodorize |
| Rats under a manufactured or mobile home | Skirting repair is easy to get wrong | Skirting sealed with hardware cloth backing |
From waterfront homes along Callaway Bayou to manufactured and block homes near Tyndall Parkway, each Callaway property has its own weak spots. We look at the roofline, attic, skirting, crawl space and yard, then seal the openings rats are using.
We check soffits, vents, roof edges and skirting, 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.
Renting near Tyndall Air Force Base? Many Callaway rentals house Tyndall families. We can work directly with a landlord or property manager, put findings in writing for a lease file, and schedule around a tenant’s hours.
Book a home inspection →Restaurants along Tyndall Parkway and shops near the Panama City line deal with daily deliveries, 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.
Callaway has a mix of older homes, manufactured and mobile homes, and homes repaired or rebuilt after Hurricane Michael. The way a home is built and how it was repaired tells us where to look first.
Callaway is a small city, but each part of it has a different rodent pattern. Here is what we usually check first in each one.
Homes near Patterson Park, Brittany Woods and Collinfurst back up to Callaway Bayou. Norway rats burrow near seawalls and low ground, especially after heavy rain.
Older residential streets around John B. Gore Park and the historic one-room schoolhouse it sits next to. Roof rats work in through soffits and attic vents on these houses.
A mix of established homes and manufactured housing. We check skirting and crawl space vents first in this area.
Restaurants and shops along N. and S. Tyndall Parkway. We set up scheduled commercial service with written logs here.
Off-base rentals and homes near the base gates house many Tyndall families. We work around duty schedules and put findings in writing when a landlord needs them.
Homes near the ball fields and Veterans Park. Storage sheds and dugouts nearby can attract rodents looking for shelter.
Callaway has hot, humid summers and mild winters, so rodents stay active all year. Hurricane season and the storms it brings change where they go and how they get inside.
Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category 5 storm on October 10, 2018, and Bay County took heavy damage. Storms and heavy rain still flood burrows along Callaway Bayou and push rats toward homes and garages.
Tip: After any tropical storm, check your roofline and skirting for new gaps.
Rats and mice breed quickly in warm weather, so a small problem in early summer can grow fast by fall if nothing is sealed.
Tip: Keep garage doors closed and store items off the floor during storm season.
On cooler nights, rats look for warm, dry attics and crawl spaces. This is when many Callaway homeowners first hear them.
Tip: Check vents, skirting and soffits in the fall, before cooler weather sets in.
Heavy rain raises water levels along Callaway Bayou and the St. Andrews Bay watershed, pushing Norway rats out of burrows and toward higher, drier ground near homes.
Tip: Clear brush and debris away from the base of your home.
Sealing the openings does most of the work. These habits help keep new rodents from moving in.
Callaway is not one kind of property. What we do at a waterfront home on Callaway Bayou is different from what we do at a manufactured home near Tyndall Parkway.
Homes backing up to Callaway Bayou near Patterson Park, Brittany Woods and Collinfurst give Norway rats a place to burrow close to seawalls and low ground.
Our approach: We inspect the shoreline and foundation, then seal ground-level entry points and set traps where activity is highest.
Torn or gapped skirting on manufactured and mobile homes gives rodents an easy way to nest underneath and chew into the underbelly insulation.
Our approach: We repair and seal skirting with hardware cloth backing, then trap and remove what has already nested underneath.
Soffits, roof sections and skirting repaired after the 2018 storm sometimes leave small gaps where the old and new materials meet.
Our approach: We check every storm-repaired section during the inspection, not just the obvious openings, and seal what we find with metal and hardware cloth.
These steps follow CDC cleanup guidance and help keep your family safe.
Call (561) 562-7607Callaway is served under ZIP code 32404. We also cover the rest of Bay County, including Panama City, Lynn Haven and Panama City Beach. Call if you are not sure your address is covered.
Callaway Bayou · John B. Gore Park area · Callaway Corners · Tyndall Parkway corridor · Near Tyndall Air Force Base · Callaway Sports Complex area
“Florida Rodent Control Pros did an excellent job at my home in Callaway. They were prompt and thorough, and I have not seen any rodents since their visit.”
John D.Callaway, FL
Verified“The team was professional and handled my rodent issue quickly. I appreciated their attention to detail and the follow-up service they provided.”
Sarah M.Callaway, FL
Verified“I highly recommend Florida Rodent Control Pros. They were knowledgeable about the local area and offered effective solutions for my rodent problem.”
Tom L.Callaway, 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.
They can. Soffits, roof sections and skirting repaired after the 2018 storm sometimes leave small gaps where the old and new materials meet. We check storm-repaired sections closely during every Callaway inspection.
We repair torn or missing skirting panels and back weak spots with 1/4 inch hardware cloth, since rats and mice can push through gapped skirting or thin repairs.
We do not recommend it. Poisoned rats often die in the crawl space or walls where you cannot reach them, which causes a strong smell. Trapping and sealing the openings works better.
Yes. We can inspect a rental directly for a landlord or property manager, put the findings and treatment plan in writing, and schedule around a tenant’s work hours.
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, crawl spaces 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 Panama City, Lynn Haven and Panama City Beach. Call (561) 562-7607 to check your address.
Call now. We will inspect the property, show you where rodents are getting in, and seal it so they stay out.
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.