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 in Glenvar Heights? Florida Rodent Control Pros removes rats and mice from homes near Dadeland North Station, along Galloway Road, and in the single family streets between US-1 and the Palmetto Expressway. We find how they get in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Glenvar Heights.
Call (561) 562-7607Glenvar Heights is an unincorporated community in Miami-Dade County, about 10 miles southwest of downtown Miami. It grew fast, from 16,898 residents in the 2010 census to 20,786 in 2020, and today it is a dense mix of single family blocks, townhomes and condos packed into just over 4 square miles. That density, plus South Florida’s warm, humid climate, gives rodents plenty of places to hide close to people.
Roof rats are the rodent we remove most often here. They travel along fences, power lines and the mature trees that shade streets like Galloway Road and SW 57th Avenue, then drop onto the roof and get in through soffit gaps, roof tile edges and attic vents. With homes built close together across the neighborhood, one untreated yard can feed rats for the whole block.
Norway rats stay lower, near the Snapper Creek Canal (C-2) that runs along the area’s southern edge near the Snapper Creek Expressway, and around dumpsters at the shopping plazas along US-1 and Bird Road. House mice show up in kitchens and pantries in both houses and the condo and townhome buildings near the Dadeland North Metrorail station, which straddles Glenvar Heights and neighboring Kendall.
Most Glenvar Heights 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 Glenvar Heights 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.
Rats gnaw on wiring, AC insulation and irrigation lines. This can lead to shorts, leaks and costly repairs.
Hollowed mangoes, avocados or citrus on backyard trees are a classic roof rat sign in this part of Miami-Dade.
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 Glenvar Heights, Norway rats show up near the Snapper Creek Canal, dumpsters and garages, and house mice get into kitchens and pantries in both houses and condo or townhome buildings near Dadeland. Knowing which one you have tells us where to look and how to stop it.
Every job in Glenvar Heights 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. Glenvar Heights has single family homes, townhomes and condo buildings near the Metrorail, so what we check depends on the type of property.
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 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 the canal 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 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 a kitchen or condo unit can sometimes be handled with a few snap traps. Rats in the attic or under a fence line 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 a neighbor’s yard or the canal bank.
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 |
| Activity near a canal bank or fence line | Burrows are hard to find and close | Ground level inspection and sealing |
From single family homes on the interior streets to townhomes and condos near Dadeland North Station, each property has its own weak spots. We check the roofline, attic, 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.
Shops and restaurants along US-1 and Bird Road 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 back entrances closed with rodent-proof materials.
Simple changes to dumpster areas and dry storage that make your site less attractive to rats.
Glenvar Heights is mostly single family blocks with townhomes and condo buildings clustered near the Metrorail. The way a property is built tells us where to look first.
Glenvar Heights is a small, dense community bordered by several other Miami-Dade neighborhoods. Here is what we usually check first depending on where in the area you are.
The Metrorail’s Dadeland North station straddles Glenvar Heights and Kendall. Condo and townhome buildings here get mice in kitchens and Norway rats around dumpster and landscaping areas.
Tree lined residential streets where roof rats travel fence lines and branches to reach attics and garages.
The canal that runs along the south side of the area gives Norway rats a place to burrow. We check fence lines and low ground closest to the water first.
Homes near these schools mix older construction with renovated properties. We look at rooflines and yard clutter first.
Shops and restaurants with shared dumpsters and back doors that stay open during deliveries. Scheduled commercial service with written logs works best here.
Homes along the eastern edge of the area, backing up to the expressway corridor, where landscaping and sound walls can give rats cover.
Glenvar Heights has a humid subtropical climate with mild winters, so rodents stay active all year. The weather still changes where they go and how urgent a problem becomes.
Afternoon storms from June through September raise the water level in the Snapper Creek Canal and flood low ground, pushing Norway rats toward garages, fence lines and higher, drier yards.
Tip: Keep garage doors closed and clear stored items off the floor.
Miami-Dade County sits in an active hurricane zone, and storms can knock branches onto roofs and open new gaps in soffits and vents. After any storm with wind damage, it is worth having the roofline checked before rats find the opening first.
Tip: Walk the property after a storm and look for lifted shingles or bent vent screens.
On cooler nights from December to February, rats look for warm, dry attics. This is when many Glenvar Heights homeowners first hear scratching overhead.
Tip: Check vents and soffits in the fall, before cooler weather arrives.
Backyard mangoes and avocados, common in this part of Miami-Dade, are an easy meal for roof rats and a reason they stay close to the house through the summer.
Tip: Pick fruit as it ripens and clear what falls every day.
Sealing the openings does most of the work. These habits help keep new rodents from moving in.
Glenvar Heights is not one kind of property. What we do at a single family home on a fenced interior street is different from what we do at a townhome near the Metrorail.
Close lot lines and shared fence lines let roof rats travel from a neighbor’s yard straight to the roof, then in through a soffit gap or roof vent.
Our approach: We inspect the roofline and any trees or fences touching the house, seal the openings we find with metal and hardware cloth, then trap inside the attic.
Buildings near Dadeland North Station share rooflines and utility chases, and Norway rats gather around dumpster and landscaping areas at ground level.
Our approach: We work with the property or HOA to inspect shared areas, seal utility penetrations, and set bait stations where they are safe from foot traffic.
Norway rats burrow along canal banks and fence lines close to the water, especially after heavy summer rain raises the water level.
Our approach: We inspect the ground closest to the canal and any fence lines nearby, then bait and close off the low level entry points we find.
These steps follow CDC cleanup guidance and help keep your family safe.
Call (561) 562-7607Glenvar Heights is served under ZIP codes 33143 and 33155. We cover the whole community and the bordering areas of Miami-Dade County. Call if you are not sure your address is on the route.
Coral Terrace · Pinecrest · Kendall · Sunset · Westchester · Coral Gables · Kendale Lakes
Florida Rodent Control Pros is rated 4.9 out of 5 across our Florida service area. Call us and we will happily share references from work near Glenvar Heights.
Have 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 property has. We tell you what to expect after the first inspection.
Glenvar Heights homes sit close together, so a neighbor’s fruit tree, fence line or shed can be feeding rats that end up on your roof. Clean yards get rats too if the openings and food sources nearby are not addressed.
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.
Properties closest to the canal, and to any fence line near it, are more likely to have Norway rats burrowing at ground level, especially after heavy summer rain raises the water. An inspection will tell us if that is the source.
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.
Yes. Near Dadeland North Station and along the Metrorail corridor we work with property managers and HOAs on scheduled service for shared roofs, utility chases and dumpster areas.
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.
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.