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 Hunter’s Creek homes and businesses, from the single-family neighborhoods around Lake Calabay to the apartment and townhome communities along John Young Parkway. We find how they get in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Hunter’s Creek.
Call (561) 562-7607Hunter’s Creek is a planned community in unincorporated Orange County, built mostly in the late 1980s and 1990s around Lake Calabay, a manmade freshwater lake near the center of the neighborhood. Warm weather all year and mature landscaping across the community’s 38 single-family neighborhoods mean rodents stay active every month, not just in the fall.
Roof rats are the rodent we remove most in Hunter’s Creek. They travel along mature oaks, power lines and privacy fences in neighborhoods like Ashton, Calabay Cove, Eagles Landing and Cypress Pointe, then drop onto tile roofs and get in through soffit gaps and roof edges. In these block-and-stucco homes built in the 1980s and 1990s, the biggest weak spots are usually the roofline and screened lanai frames.
Norway rats and house mice show up more in Hunter’s Creek’s 10 multi-family neighborhoods, including Camden Hunter’s Creek, Urbana and Villanova, where shared walls and breezeways let them move between units. We also get calls from the shops, restaurants and offices along John Young Parkway near Hunter’s Creek Town Center, where deliveries and dumpsters draw ground-level rodents. Every part of Hunter’s Creek has rodents, just for different reasons, so we inspect each property as its own job.
Most Hunter’s Creek 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 Hunter’s Creek 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 pool equipment lines. This can lead to shorts, leaks and costly repairs.
Rats chew through screened pool enclosures and lanai panels to get from the yard into a covered porch or garage.
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 Hunter’s Creek’s single-family neighborhoods, Norway rats show up more near Lake Calabay and community retention ponds, and house mice get into kitchens and pantries in both houses and the community’s apartment and townhome buildings. Knowing which one you have tells us where to look and how to stop it.
Every job in Hunter’s Creek 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. What we check depends on whether the property is a single-family home or a unit in one of the community’s apartment and townhome buildings.
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 near retention ponds 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 the kitchen can sometimes be handled with a few snap traps. Rats in the attic or shared breezeways 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, the lake edge or a neighboring unit.
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 in a shared building | Hard to coordinate between units | Inspect shared walls and breezeways building-wide |
From single-family homes in Ashton, Calabay Cove, Eagles Landing and Cypress Pointe to units in multi-family communities like Camden Hunter’s Creek, Urbana and Villanova, each property has its own weak spots. We look at the roofline, attic, garage, lanai 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, restaurants and professional offices along John Young Parkway near Hunter’s Creek Town Center 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 loading areas and shared walls closed with rodent-proof materials.
Simple changes to dumpster areas and dry storage that make your site less attractive to rats.
Hunter’s Creek is mostly single-family and multi-family construction from one era, the late 1980s and 1990s, but single-family homes and shared buildings have different weak spots.
Hunter’s Creek has 38 single-family neighborhoods and 10 multi-family neighborhoods. Here is what we usually check first in each part of the community.
Single-family HOA neighborhoods around and near Lake Calabay. Roof rats travel the mature trees to reach the roofline, and Norway rats work the lake edge and retention ponds.
Block-and-stucco homes with screened lanais. Torn lanai screens and roof edge gaps are the entry points we check first.
Multi-family apartment and townhome communities. We inspect shared attic space, breezeways and dumpster areas since rodents here can move between several units.
The community’s main commercial corridor, with shops, restaurants and offices. We set up scheduled commercial service with written logs here.
Hunter’s Creek is bordered by SR 417 to the east and Florida’s Turnpike to the west. Homes closest to these corridors back up to retention areas and buffer landscaping that give rodents cover.
Hunter’s Creek has a humid subtropical climate with daily summer thunderstorms and winters too mild to slow rodents down. They stay active all year, but the weather changes where they go.
Afternoon storms from June to September raise water levels around Lake Calabay and the community’s retention ponds, pushing Norway rats toward garages, sheds and lanais.
Tip: Keep garage doors closed and clear stored items off the floor.
High wind and heavy rain can loosen soffits, roof tiles and lanai screens across the community. Storm damage gives rodents new ways into the attic or garage.
Tip: After a storm, walk around the house and check the roofline and lanai frame.
On cooler nights from December to February, rats look for warm, dry attics. This is when many Hunter’s Creek homeowners first hear them.
Tip: Check vents, soffits and lanai screens in the fall, before cooler weather.
Backyard citrus and mango trees, common in yards across Hunter’s Creek’s older neighborhoods, give roof rats an easy meal and a reason to stay close to the house.
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.
Hunter’s Creek is not one kind of property. What we do at a single-family home near Lake Calabay is different from what we do at a multi-family building near John Young Parkway.
These block-and-stucco homes, built in the late 1980s and 1990s with tile roofs and screened lanais, get rats through roof edge gaps and torn lanai screens.
Our approach: We inspect the roofline and lanai frame first, then seal the openings we find with metal flashing and hardware cloth.
Apartment and townhome buildings give rodents shared attic space and breezeways to move between units, so one unit’s problem can spread to its neighbors.
Our approach: We inspect the shared attic and breezeway areas, seal building-wide entry points, and coordinate trapping across the affected units.
Landscaped shorelines around Lake Calabay and the neighborhood’s retention ponds give Norway rats a steady source of water and ground cover close to homes.
Our approach: We inspect the foundation and landscaping nearest the water, seal ground-level gaps, and set traps along the paths rats use to reach the house.
These steps follow CDC cleanup guidance and help keep your family safe.
Call (561) 562-7607Hunter’s Creek is served primarily by ZIP code 32837. We cover the whole community and the surrounding part of Orange County. Call if you are not sure your address is covered.
Ashton · Calabay Cove · Eagles Landing · Cypress Pointe · Camden Hunter’s Creek · Urbana · Villanova · John Young Parkway corridor
“Florida Rodent Control Pros did an excellent job at my home near Calabay Cove. They were prompt and thorough, and I haven’t seen any rodents since their visit.”
John D.Hunter’s Creek, 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.Hunter’s Creek, FL
Verified“I highly recommend Florida Rodent Control Pros. They were knowledgeable about the neighborhood and offered effective solutions for my rodent problem.”
Tom L.Hunter’s Creek, 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 property has. We tell you what to expect after the first inspection.
Mature trees and landscaping around Lake Calabay and the neighborhood’s retention ponds give roof rats a path to the roofline, and the water nearby supports Norway rats at ground level. We inspect both the roof and the yard on every job.
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.
Yes. In apartment and townhome buildings, rats and mice can move through shared attic space, breezeways and wall voids. We inspect the shared areas around your unit, not just the unit itself, and coordinate with property management when needed.
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 Southchase, Kissimmee, Buenaventura Lakes and Meadow Woods. 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.