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 Meadow Woods? Florida Rodent Control Pros removes rats and mice from homes and businesses across this fast-growing Orange County community, from the older streets near Landstar Boulevard to the newer subdivisions off Town Center Boulevard. We find how they get in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Meadow Woods.
Call (561) 562-7607Meadow Woods is a census-designated place in southern Orange County, tucked between Orlando International Airport and Kissimmee, with SR 417 (the Central Florida Greeneway) running along its edge. Warm weather almost every month, mature trees along older streets, and a mix of 1990s and 2000s-era subdivisions built during the community’s rapid growth give rats and mice plenty of places to hide close to homes.
Roof rats are the rodent we remove most often in Meadow Woods. They travel along tree limbs and power lines near Landstar Boulevard and Weatherbee Road, then drop onto rooflines and get in through soffit gaps, vents and gable ends. In the community’s older sections, aging roof vents and weathered soffits give them an easy way in.
Norway rats and house mice show up more at ground level, especially in garages, sheds and around the warehouses and distribution centers near the airport. Meadow Woods grew from under 5,000 residents in 1990 to nearly 44,000 today, so we see everything from established streets to brand-new construction, and each type of home has different weak spots.
Most Meadow Woods 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 Meadow Woods 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-out fruit still on a tree, or scattered bird seed near a feeder, is a classic roof rat sign in Meadow Woods yards.
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 Meadow Woods, Norway rats show up more near garages, sheds and warehouses close to the airport, and house mice get into kitchens and pantries. Knowing which one you have tells us where to look and how to stop it.
Every job in Meadow Woods 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 when the home was built, since Meadow Woods has homes from the 1990s alongside newer subdivisions built during its rapid growth.
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 summer 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 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, sheds or the neighbor’s yard.
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 |
| Rodents near a warehouse or dumpster | Hard to manage on a commercial site | Scheduled service with written logs |
From established streets built during the 1990s and 2000s to newer subdivisions off Town Center Boulevard, each Meadow Woods home has its own weak spots. We look at 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.
Meadow Woods sits near Orlando International Airport and is home to warehouse and distribution space used by companies like Whirlpool, Sealy and Siemens, along with the shopping plaza at Town Center and Landstar. Florida restaurants and food-handling sites are inspected by the DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants, and rodent activity is something inspectors look for.
Regular visits to check traps and stations, planned around your operating 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.
Meadow Woods has a large share of rental homes and HOA-managed subdivisions. We work directly with tenants, owners and property managers.
Meadow Woods grew quickly from under 5,000 residents in 1990 to nearly 44,000 today, so the community has homes from several different building eras. The way a house is built tells us where to look first.
Meadow Woods is not one kind of property. What we do at an older home near Landstar Boulevard is different from what we do at a warehouse near the airport.
Homes built during Meadow Woods’ rapid growth in the 1990s and 2000s often have soffits, vents and garage seals that have worn down over the years, giving rats an easy way onto the roof and into the attic.
Our approach: We inspect the full roofline and garage first, then seal any worn openings with metal flashing and hardware cloth before trapping inside the attic.
Newer construction still gets rats through roof edges, shared walls between townhome units, and gaps where AC lines and plumbing pass through the exterior.
Our approach: We check roof edges and utility penetrations first, then close the openings we find with rodent-proof materials.
The warehouse and distribution space near Orlando International Airport sees rodent pressure around loading docks, dumpsters and dry storage, where food and packaging materials draw rats and mice.
Our approach: We set up scheduled service with bait stations at entry points, written visit logs, and advice on dumpster and storage placement.
These steps follow CDC cleanup guidance and help keep your family safe.
Call (561) 562-7607These are real, well-known spots in and around Meadow Woods. We use them to talk through where a property sits and what is nearby.
An Orange County park and recreation center near the heart of the community. Homes and businesses close by should keep an eye on the tree line for roof rat activity.
Opened in 2018 as part of the SunRail commuter rail system’s southern extension. The station and surrounding parking and landscaping are worth checking if you manage nearby commercial property.
Baseball fields used by local youth leagues. Storage sheds and dugouts near open fields like this are common rodent hiding spots.
Meadow Woods 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 flood low areas and drainage ditches, pushing Norway rats and mice toward garages, sheds and warehouses.
Tip: Keep garage doors closed and clear stored items off the floor.
Hurricane Milton brought tornadoes and heavy flooding to Orange County in October 2024. Wind and water damage to soffits and roofs during any storm gives rodents new openings to use.
Tip: After a storm, walk around the house and check the roofline.
On cooler nights from December to February, rats look for warm, dry attics. This is when many Meadow Woods homeowners first hear them.
Tip: Check vents and soffits in the fall, before cooler weather.
Meadow Woods has grown from under 5,000 residents in 1990 to nearly 44,000 today. Land clearing for new construction near existing homes can push rodents out of their usual spots and toward the nearest house.
Tip: If new building starts near your property, have an inspection done early.
Meadow Woods is mostly one ZIP code, but we also cover the bordering areas below. Call if you do not see yours.
Meadow Woods · Buenaventura Lakes · Southchase · Hunters Creek · Lake Nona · Taft · Kissimmee
“Florida Rodent Control Pros did an excellent job at my home in Meadow Woods. They were prompt and thorough, and I haven’t seen a rodent since their visit.”
Maria R.Meadow Woods, FL
Verified“The team was professional and explained exactly where the rats were getting in. I appreciated the follow-up visit to make sure it was fully handled.”
David P.Meadow Woods, FL
Verified“I had a great experience with Florida Rodent Control Pros. They were quick to respond and took care of my rodent problem efficiently.”
Karen T.Meadow Woods, 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.
Many homes in Meadow Woods were built during the community’s rapid growth in the 1990s and 2000s. Soffits, roof vents and garage seals wear down over time, and mature trees grown up against the roofline give rats an easy path in. We seal those openings with hardware cloth and metal.
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.
Yes. Meadow Woods is home to warehouse and distribution space used by several companies, and we set up scheduled service with written visit logs for loading docks, storage areas and offices.
In many parts of Orange County, yes. Hurricane Milton brought tornadoes and heavy flooding to the area in October 2024, and wind and water damage to roofs and soffits can give rodents new openings. If your home had storm repairs, it is worth having the roofline 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 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 Buenaventura Lakes, Southchase, Hunters Creek, Kissimmee and Orlando. 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