Scratching in the garage at night
Quick footsteps or scratching along the ceiling or storage shelves after dark. Rats and mice are most active a few hours after sunset.
Scratching in the garage at night or droppings by the golf cart? Florida Rodent Control Pros removes rats and mice from Liberty Triangle homes, from the 55 plus communities of Oak Run and Del Webb Stone Creek to the larger lots of Ocala Waterway Estates. We find how they get in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Liberty Triangle.
Call (561) 562-7607Liberty Triangle is an unincorporated community in southwest Marion County, bordered by Ocala to the north, Interstate 75 to the east and State Road 200 to the northwest. Most of the 23,759 residents counted in the 2020 census live in 55 plus and retirement communities such as Oak Run, Spruce Creek North, Del Webb Stone Creek, JB Ranch and Kingsland Country, along with larger lot neighborhoods like Ocala Waterway Estates.
The median age here is 62.3, and close to half of residents are 65 or older. Many homeowners travel or spend part of the year up north, and an empty garage, a screened lanai or the skirted crawl space under a manufactured home gives rats and mice a quiet place to move in unnoticed. Roof rats and house mice are the 2 we remove most often, usually getting in through garage door seals, AC line openings and gaps under home skirting rather than attics, since most homes here are 1 story.
Hurricane Milton passed through Marion County in the fall of 2024 and left more than 45,000 homes and businesses without power along with wind damage across the county. Storm repairs to roofs, screen enclosures and skirting can leave new gaps that rodents find fast, so it is worth a look if your property had any work done since then.
Most Liberty Triangle 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 homeowners here find these clues before they ever see one. If you notice 2 or more, it is time for an inspection.
Quick footsteps or scratching along the ceiling or storage shelves after dark. Rats and mice 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.
A strong ammonia-like odor in a garage, shed or under a manufactured home usually means an active nest nearby.
Small tears at the bottom corners of a screened enclosure are often where rats and mice squeeze through to get to the garage or house.
Chewed or pushed-in vinyl skirting on a manufactured home is a common entry point in Liberty Triangle’s 55 plus communities.
House mice cause most of the calls we get in Liberty Triangle, usually in garages, kitchens and pantries. Roof rats and Norway rats show up too, especially around mulch beds, sheds and dumpster areas near clubhouses. Knowing which one you have tells us where to look and how to stop it.
Every job in Liberty Triangle 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 seal what we find with metal and hardware cloth, not foam, then trap what is already inside so new rodents cannot take their place.
What we check depends on how the home is built, since a manufactured home on skirting and a block home on a slab 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 rodents do not come back.
We walk the property, check the skirting or garage 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 rodents 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 anything else 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 rodents 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, and they matter even more in a community where many residents are older or manage health conditions.
Can spread when dust from dried droppings or urine is stirred up and breathed in. This is why you should never sweep or vacuum droppings.
Spread through food or surfaces contaminated with rodent droppings, which can cause fever, cramps and diarrhea.
Can spread from a bite or scratch, or from handling a dead rodent without gloves.
Rodent dander and droppings can trigger allergy or asthma symptoms, which is a real concern for older residents with existing breathing conditions.
A single mouse in the kitchen can sometimes be handled with a few snap traps. Rats under a manufactured home or in a shared clubhouse are a different job.
The problem with DIY: most store-bought fixes catch what is already inside but leave the skirting or garage seal gaps in place, so new rodents move in behind them.
Ask a technician →| Situation | DIY | Professional |
|---|---|---|
| One mouse seen once | Snap traps may be enough | Call if it comes back |
| Noises under a manufactured home | Skirting is hard to open and reseal safely | Skirting repair with hardware cloth |
| Droppings in several rooms | Usually means more than 1 rodent | Full inspection and plan |
| Chewed wires or AC lines | Risk of fire or leaks | Find the source and seal it |
| Rodent problem in an HOA common area | Not something a homeowner can treat alone | Coordinated service with property management |
| Dead rodent smell | Hard to locate under a home or in a wall | Locate, remove and deodorize |
From manufactured and modular homes in Oak Run and Spruce Creek North to block homes in Del Webb Stone Creek, JB Ranch and Kingsland Country, and larger lots in Ocala Waterway Estates, each property has its own weak spots. We check the skirting, garage, lanai and yard, then seal the openings rodents are using.
We check the openings that matter most for a single-story home and walk you through what we found.
Openings are closed with metal flashing, hardware cloth and mortar, not foam alone.
Indoor trapping avoids dead rodents under the home and keeps bait away from grandchildren and pets.
Away for part of the year? We can check and seal before you leave or reopen your home.
Golf clubhouses, HOA amenity centers, pro shops and medical offices near Liberty Triangle’s retirement communities all deal with shared dumpsters, deliveries and doors that stay open during business hours. We work with property managers directly and provide written visit records for board meetings.
Recurring visits with written logs you can share with an HOA board or property manager.
We inspect shared dumpster pads and landscaping for burrows and entry points.
Liberty Triangle is not 1 kind of home. What we do at a manufactured home in Oak Run is different from what we do at a block home in Del Webb Stone Creek.
These homes sit on a raised frame with vinyl or metal skirting around the base, which gives rodents room to nest underneath and get in through cracked panels or vent screens.
Our approach: We inspect the full skirting line and vent screens, seal gaps with hardware cloth and metal, then trap underneath until activity stops.
Block homes built along golf course lots still get rodents through garage door seals, AC line openings and gaps at the bottom of screened lanai enclosures.
Our approach: We check the garage and lanai frame first, then seal the openings we find with weatherstripping, metal flashing and hardware cloth.
Bigger lots mean more sheds, detached garages and mulch beds, and homes left empty for months while owners travel give rodents time to settle in undisturbed.
Our approach: We inspect outbuildings and the full perimeter, seal what we find, and can schedule a check before you leave or before you return.
These steps follow CDC cleanup guidance and help keep your family safe.
Call (561) 562-7607Liberty Triangle is covered by 2 ZIP codes. These are the ones we serve most, but we cover the whole community and southwest Marion County.
“They checked the skirting all the way around our home in Oak Run and found 2 spots we never would have noticed. Quick and polite the whole visit.”
Richard H.Liberty Triangle, FL
Verified“We were gone for the summer and came back to droppings in the garage. They sealed everything and set traps, and we have not seen a sign since.”
Patricia M.Liberty Triangle, FL
Verified“Professional and explained everything in plain terms. Appreciated that they did not push poison and used traps instead.”
Gerald W.Liberty Triangle, 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 rodents are inside and how many openings the home has. We tell you what to expect after the first inspection.
Vinyl and metal skirting panels can crack, warp or pull loose over time, and vent screens sometimes go missing. These gaps give rodents a dry, hidden space to nest close to the home. We seal them with hardware cloth and metal rather than foam.
We do not recommend it. Poisoned rodents often die in walls or under the home where you cannot reach them, which causes a strong smell. Trapping indoors and in the garage, combined with sealing the openings, works better.
Yes. Many Liberty Triangle homeowners travel or spend part of the year elsewhere. We can schedule a seal-and-check visit before you leave and another when you return so an empty home does not turn into an unnoticed rodent problem.
Wind damage from Hurricane Milton in the fall of 2024 left over 45,000 homes and businesses without power across Marion County and opened new gaps in skirting, screens and roofing in some neighborhoods. If your property had storm repairs, it is worth having the skirting and lanai checked.
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 garages, skirting areas 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 Ocala, Marion Oaks, Silver Springs Shores and Dunnellon. 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.
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.