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 Navarre homes and businesses, from the subdivisions of Holley by the Sea and Tiger Point to the beach houses on Santa Rosa Island. We find how they get in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Navarre.
Call (561) 562-7607Navarre sits on a narrow strip of the Florida Panhandle between Santa Rosa Sound and the Gulf of Mexico, about 25 miles east of Pensacola in Santa Rosa County. The town stayed small for decades, with about 1,500 residents in 1970, then grew fast starting in the 1990s. That growth pushed subdivisions into pine woods and coastal scrub that used to belong to wildlife, and rodents came with the new construction.
Roof rats are the most common call we get in Navarre. They travel through tree canopy in older, wooded lots and drop onto rooflines, then get in through soffit gaps and vents. In newer subdivisions like Holley by the Sea and Tiger Point, homes built close to preserved wetlands and wooded lots see roof rats moving straight from the tree line onto the house.
Norway rats stay closer to the ground and water. We find them along Santa Rosa Sound, near East Bay River and William’s Creek, in garages, sheds and under decks on Navarre Beach and Santa Rosa Island. Hurricane storm surge from past storms like Ivan, Dennis and Sally has also pushed rodents out of low-lying burrows and toward homes, which is why we always check the roofline after a storm.
Most Navarre 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 Navarre 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.
Bags chewed open in the garage or shed, especially near the tree line in wooded lots, are a common Navarre sign.
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 Navarre, especially in homes near wooded lots and preserved land. Norway rats show up near Santa Rosa Sound, canals and garages, 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 Navarre 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 close the home is to the water or the tree line.
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. Most Navarre jobs take 2 to 4 visits over 2 to 3 weeks. 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 Sound or 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 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 tree line or nearby wooded lots.
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 |
| Rats under a beach house on pilings | Hard to reach and seal safely | Pilings and skirting sealed with hardware cloth |
From wooded lots near preserved land to new construction in Holley by the Sea and Tiger Point, and beach houses on pilings along Navarre Beach, each property has its own weak spots. We look at the roofline, attic, crawl space, 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.
Restaurants and shops along Highway 98 and on Navarre Beach deal with daily deliveries, shared dumpsters and doors that open all day for tourists. 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 storage rooms and dumpster corrals closed with rodent-proof materials.
Simple changes to dumpster areas and dry storage that make your site less attractive to rats.
Navarre Beach has a large number of vacation rentals and second homes, many of them sitting empty between guests. An empty house with no one checking closets and cabinets for weeks at a time is an easy place for rodents to move in undetected.
Navarre is not one kind of property. What we do at a wooded lot near Tiger Point is different from what we do at a beach house on Santa Rosa Island.
Homes built next to pine woods and coastal scrub give roof rats a straight path from the trees onto the roof, especially where branches overhang the house.
Our approach: We inspect the roofline and attic first, trim-back guidance for overhanging limbs, then seal soffit and vent gaps with metal and hardware cloth.
Newer block and frame homes still get rats through garage door corners, AC line gaps and foundation vents near wetland buffers.
Our approach: We check the garage and foundation first, then seal the openings we find with metal flashing and hardware cloth.
Beach houses built on pilings along Santa Rosa Island give Norway rats a dry, hidden space underneath to nest, especially after storm surge pushes them out of ground burrows.
Our approach: We inspect the pilings and skirting, then seal openings and set traps underneath the house until activity stops.
These steps follow CDC cleanup guidance and help keep your family safe.
Call (561) 562-7607These are a few of the places that mark out Navarre, and the kind of property nearby.
At 1,545 feet, it is the longest fishing pier on the Gulf of Mexico. Nearby beach houses and shops deal with the same salt air and sandy soil that shape rodent activity on the island.
A park along Santa Rosa Sound with docks and green space. Norway rats are common in shoreline vegetation like this across Navarre.
Protected shoreline and dunes bordering Navarre Beach. Homes near the seashore boundary see more wildlife pressure, including rodents moving from natural habitat.
A large residential community with wooded lots and canals. We get regular calls here for roof rats moving from tree cover onto rooflines.
Navarre has a humid subtropical climate with an active hurricane season. Rodents stay active all year, but the weather changes where they go.
Summer storms flood low areas near Santa Rosa Sound and East Bay River, pushing Norway rats toward garages, sheds and crawl spaces.
Tip: Keep garage doors closed and clear stored items off the floor.
Hurricane Sally struck the area in September 2020, and past storms like Ivan and Dennis brought major damage to Santa Rosa County. Storm surge pushes rats out of burrows and into homes, and wind damage opens new gaps in soffits and roofs.
Tip: After a storm, walk around the house and check the roofline.
On cooler nights, rats look for warm, dry attics. This is when many Navarre homeowners first hear them.
Tip: Check vents and soffits in the fall, before cooler weather.
Spring and summer bring heavy tourist traffic to Navarre Beach, and more trash and food left out around rentals and restaurants means more food for rodents.
Tip: Keep dumpster lids closed and take trash out at night, not before.
Sealing the openings does most of the work. These habits help keep new rodents from moving in.
Navarre is served primarily by ZIP code 32566, covering the mainland and Navarre Beach. Call if you are just outside town, we cover the surrounding parts of Santa Rosa County too.
Navarre Beach · Holley · Holley by the Sea · Tiger Point · Oriole Beach · East Bay
“Florida Rodent Control Pros did an excellent job at my Navarre Beach house. They were prompt and thorough, and I haven’t seen any rodents since their visit.”
John D.Navarre, 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.Navarre, FL
Verified“I highly recommend Florida Rodent Control Pros. They were knowledgeable about the local area and offered effective solutions for my rodent problem.”
Tom L.Navarre, 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. Most Navarre jobs take 2 to 4 visits over 2 to 3 weeks, but it depends on how many rats are inside and how many openings the home has.
Both areas have wooded lots and land near preserved wetlands. Roof rats travel through tree cover and drop onto the roof, then get in through soffit gaps and vents. Sealing those openings stops them from coming back.
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.
In many areas, yes. Storm surge from Hurricane Sally in 2020 flooded burrows near the Sound and pushed rats toward homes, and wind damage opened new gaps in roofs and soffits across Santa Rosa County. If your home had storm repairs, it is worth having the roofline checked.
Yes. We work with both property owners and managers, and we can schedule turnover inspections between renters, not just when a guest complains. We provide a written report you can share with an owner or HOA.
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 Fort Walton Beach and other communities in the Pensacola area. 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.