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 ceiling or droppings in the garage? Florida Rodent Control Pros removes rats and mice from Lauderhill homes and businesses, from the 1960s block homes west of University Drive to the condo towers and villas around the Inverrary golf course. We find how they get in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Lauderhill.
Call (561) 562-7607Lauderhill was incorporated in 1959 and built out through the 1960s and 1970s, which means most of the city is now 50 to 65 years old. Warm weather all year, mature landscaping around the Inverrary golf course, and a mix of low block homes and mid-rise condo buildings give rodents plenty of ways in.
Roof rats are the rodent we remove most in Lauderhill. They travel along oaks, ficus hedges and power lines near Inverrary and West Lauderhill, then drop onto a roof or balcony and get in through soffit gaps, roof vents and gaps around AC lines. In condo and co-op buildings near the golf course, they also move between units through shared plumbing chases and attic space above the top floor.
Norway rats stay closer to the ground. We find them along the canals and drainage areas that run through the Inverrary community, around dumpster corrals at garden apartment complexes on State Road 7 and Oakland Park Boulevard, and in garages of older single family homes in Lauderhill East and Boulevard Woods. House mice show up everywhere, from kitchen cabinets to storage closets in high-rise buildings. Every property is a different job, so we inspect each one on its own.
Most Lauderhill 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 Lauderhill residents 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 still on the tree or on the ground are a classic roof rat sign in Lauderhill yards.
Urine and nesting material leave a sharp odor, often strongest in closets, cabinets and the attic hatch or air chase.
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 top floor calls in Lauderhill, Norway rats show up along canals, drainage areas and dumpster corrals, and house mice get into kitchens and storage closets in condos and single family homes alike. Knowing which one you have tells us where to look and how to stop it.
Every job in Lauderhill 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 how the building is built, since a 1960s block home and a mid-rise condo tower have very 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 or top floor 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 in canals and yards 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 or between condo units.
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 shared wall 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 the golf course, canal 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 or ceiling | 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 or chases | Locate, remove and deodorize |
| Rats moving between condo units | One owner cannot seal shared walls alone | Coordinate with the board or property manager |
From block homes in West Lauderhill and Boulevard Woods to condo and co-op buildings around Inverrary, each property has its own weak spots. We look at the roofline, attic or top floor, garage and yard, then seal the openings rats are using. For condo and co-op owners, we can also work with the board or property manager if rats are moving between units.
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 near Lauderhill Mall, offices along State Road 7, and property managers for the city’s many condo and apartment communities deal with daily deliveries, shared dumpsters and doors that open all day. Florida businesses that serve food 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, board or inspector.
Door sweeps and gaps at docks, trash rooms and walls closed with rodent-proof materials.
Simple changes to dumpster corrals and dry storage that make your site less attractive to rats.
Lauderhill has homes and buildings from the 1960s through today. The way a property is built tells us where to look first.
Lauderhill has very different pockets, from a golf course community to a shopping corridor. Here is what we usually check first in each one.
Built around the Inverrary Country Club golf course, which opened in 1970 and once hosted the PGA’s Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic. Mature landscaping, lakes and canals along the fairways give rats cover close to condos and villas.
This park has an international cricket ground that hosted a match between two full ICC member nations in 2010, the first of its kind on U.S. soil. The park’s trees, canals and open turf sit close to residential streets, so we watch that edge closely.
The city approved a major redevelopment of this 1960s-era mall in 2026, with plans for around 233 apartments and new retail space. Construction and demolition work like this often pushes rodents into nearby homes and businesses looking for new shelter.
Established single family neighborhoods with block homes from the 1960s and 1970s. We seal old soffit and vent gaps and check garages and sheds first.
Garden apartment complexes, strip plazas and restaurants line these roads. Shared dumpster corrals and back-of-house doors are the usual entry points for commercial calls here.
Newer townhome and single family communities with retention lakes. Landscaping around the water is a common Norway rat path toward garages and patios.
Lauderhill stays warm most of the year, but the wet season, hurricane season and the cooler months each change where rodents go.
Afternoon storms flood canal banks and low yards, pushing Norway rats toward garages, sheds and ground floor units.
Tip: Keep garage doors closed and clear stored items off the floor.
Storm winds can loosen soffits, roof tiles and screen enclosures. Rats often use the new gaps within days of a storm passing.
Tip: After a storm, walk around the property and check the roofline.
On cooler nights, rats look for warm, dry attics and air chases. This is when many Lauderhill residents first hear them.
Tip: Check vents and soffits in the fall, before cooler weather arrives.
Backyard mangoes, avocados and citrus are an easy meal for roof rats, and a reason they 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.
Lauderhill is not one kind of property. What we do at a block home in West Lauderhill is different from what we do at a condo tower near Inverrary.
Single family homes built in the 1960s and 1970s often still have original soffits and attic vents with damaged or missing screens.
Our approach: We inspect the full roofline, replace missing vent screens, and seal gaps with metal flashing and hardware cloth.
In mid-rise and high-rise buildings, rats and mice travel through shared plumbing chases and roof spaces, so one unit’s problem can spread to several others.
Our approach: We inspect the affected unit and the shared chase or roof access, then coordinate sealing and trapping with the property manager or board.
Garden-style apartment complexes along the busy commercial corridors deal with shared trash areas and connected attic space above several units.
Our approach: We inspect the dumpster corral and attic space above the affected units, then seal the openings we find and set traps across the connected units.
These steps follow CDC cleanup guidance and help keep your family safe.
Call (561) 562-7607These are Lauderhill’s main ZIP codes. Call if you do not see yours, we cover the surrounding area too.
Inverrary · West Lauderhill · Boulevard Woods · The Enclave · Garden Lakes · Lauderhill East
“Florida Rodent Control Pros did an excellent job at my home in Lauderhill. They were prompt and thorough, and I haven’t seen any rodents since their visit.”
Samantha R.Lauderhill, 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.”
Mark T.Lauderhill, FL
Verified“Their service was outstanding. The team was friendly and knowledgeable, and they took care of the rodent issue at our office efficiently.”
Jessica L.Lauderhill, FL
VerifiedHave a question that is not listed? Call and a team member will help.
Call (561) 562-7607 →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 rats are inside and how many openings the property has. We tell you what to expect after the first inspection.
Yes. Roof rats and mice travel through shared plumbing chases, attic space above the top floor, and gaps at the roofline. If your neighbor has a rat problem, it is worth having your own unit checked, even if you have not seen signs yet.
We do not recommend it. Poisoned rats often die inside walls, ceilings or shared chases where you cannot reach them, which causes a strong smell. Trapping indoors and sealing the openings works better.
It can. The city approved a major redevelopment of the mall on NW 40th Avenue in 2026, and demolition or construction work at a site that size often pushes rodents out to look for new shelter nearby. If you are close to the site, an inspection now can catch problems early.
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, air chases or large amounts, call us.
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.
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 Lauderdale Lakes, Sunrise, Tamarac and North Lauderdale. 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 activity