It can. The AAEP lists rodent carcasses in feed or water as a botulism risk for horses. Throw out any hay or feed with a carcass in it and talk to your vet. Keeping mice out of the hay in the first place is the best protection.
Ocala and Marion County
Rodent Control and Rat Removal in Ocala, FL
In the Horse Capital of the World, mice and rats live where the hay and grain are. We protect Ocala homes, barns, feed rooms and show stalls by sealing the way in, trapping what is already there and checking back until it stays quiet.
Rodents in horse country
Ocala Has More Feed Rooms Than Most Cities Have Restaurants
Ocala has more than 400 thoroughbred farms and training centers, and every one of them stores hay, grain and bedding. To a house mouse or a roof rat, that is a year of free food under one roof. When the barn fills up, they spread to the tack room, the garage and the house next door.
In town it is a different story. The Ocala Historic District has homes built between about 1880 and 1930, with crawl spaces, old vents and wood siding that rats squeeze through. Newer homes along I-75 and SR 200 get mice through garage doors and utility openings.
Rodent control in Ocala works the same way in all of these places: find every opening, close it with metal or concrete, trap the rodents inside and clean up after them. You see the plan and the price before anything starts.
Our team is EPA and FDACS certified and answers the phone 24/7.
Ocala at a glance
- County
- Marion County seat
- Population
- 63,591 (2020 census)
- Known for
- Horse farms, World Equestrian Center, HITS winter shows
- Water nearby
- Silver Springs, Silver River, Ocklawaha River
- Winters
- Cooler than South Florida, January lows average about 46 degrees
- Rodents we see
- House mice, roof rats, Norway rats
- Call
- (561) 562-7607, 24/7
Source: Wikipedia, Ocala, Florida (census, farm count, climate) and Ocala Historic District.
A horse health issue, not just a pest issue
A Dead Mouse in the Hay Can Make a Horse Sick
Most people think about rodents eating grain. The bigger worry on an Ocala farm is what a dead rodent does to the feed. The American Association of Equine Practitioners lists rodent carcasses in feed or standing water as a risk factor for botulism in horses.
The risk
Toxin forms in the carcass
Forage poisoning happens when a horse eats hay or feed that already holds botulinum toxin. A mouse that dies inside a bale, a feed bin or a water trough can be the source.
Why poison is a problem
Bait can move the carcass into the feed
A mouse that eats bait does not die on the spot. It can crawl back into a stack of hay or a grain sack. That is why we use snap traps inside barns and feed rooms, and keep any bait outside in locked stations.
What vets advise
Throw out contaminated hay
- Discard hay or feed with a carcass in it
- Clean old hay out from around feeders
- Do not feed grass clippings
- Store large bales so they stay dry and sound
Talk to your vet
The vaccine covers type B only
A botulism vaccine exists for type B. It does not replace keeping rodents out of your hay. Ask your equine vet whether it makes sense for your horses.
Source: AAEP Botulism Guidelines (risk factors, prevention, vaccine). We are not vets; your veterinarian makes health decisions for your horses.
Ocala property by property
Where Rodents Get In Around Ocala
A Queen Anne house on East Fort King Street and a 20 stall barn fail in very different places. Here is where we start looking on each kind of property.
| Property | What it looks like | Main rodent | Where we look first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocala Historic District and East Fort King Street | Queen Anne Revival homes and bungalows from about 1880 to 1930 | Roof rats | Open crawl space vents, gaps under old siding, attic gables, oak limbs over the roof |
| Downtown storefronts and restaurants | Older masonry buildings with shared walls | Norway rats and mice | Back doors, dumpster pads, pipe chases between units, grease areas |
| Horse farms and private barns | Pole barns, block barns, hay sheds, tack and feed rooms | House mice and roof rats | Hay stacks, feed bins, gaps where wall boards meet the slab, wash rack drains |
| Newer subdivisions off SR 200 and I-75 | Block and stucco homes with attached garages | House mice | Garage door corners, AC line and plumbing openings, dryer vents, roof edges |
| Homes near Silver Springs and the forest edge | Wooded lots east of the city toward the Ocala National Forest | Roof rats and Norway rats | Sheds, woodpiles, ground burrows near slabs, trees touching the roof |
Based on the property types we inspect around Ocala. We check the whole building every time, not only these spots. Historic district dates: Wikipedia, Ocala Historic District.
Show season
Event Barns, Rented Stalls and the HITS Winter Circuit
Every winter, the Horses in the Sun (HITS) shows run for about 12 weeks starting in January, and the World Equestrian Center hosts events through the year. That means trailers, hay and grain coming in from other farms, and stalls that change hands every week.
Rodents ride in on feed deliveries and settle into empty stalls between shows. Shared barns are one connected space, so one feed room left open can keep the whole aisle busy. We set up scheduled commercial rodent control for show barns, boarding stables, feed stores and the hotels, restaurants and RV areas that serve them.
What we set up for horse businesses
- Snap traps inside barns and feed rooms, no loose bait near horses
- Locked, numbered bait stations on the outside only, with a map
- Door sweeps and metal guards on feed and tack rooms
- A visit log after each service you can keep on file
- A check before and after the busy show weeks
Source: Wikipedia, Ocala, Florida (HITS schedule, World Equestrian Center).
Services available in Ocala
Rat and Mouse Removal Services in Ocala
Most Ocala 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.
Residential Rodent ControlAttic, garage and farmhouse rat removal for Ocala homes, from the Historic District to horse farms in Marion County.Learn More →
Commercial Rodent ControlScheduled service with written visit logs for restaurants and shops near the downtown square and along Pine Avenue.Learn More →
Rodent RemovalTraps placed on the paths rats use and checked on return visits until the activity stops.Learn More →
Dead Rodent RemovalBad smell in a wall, ceiling or barn? We find and remove the dead rodent, then clean and deodorize the area.Learn More →
Rodent CleanupRemoval of droppings, urine and nests from attics, garages and feed rooms, with advice on insulation replacement.Learn More →
Rodent ExterminatorEPA and FDACS certified technicians who use traps indoors and around barns, and follow product labels around kids, pets and horses.Learn More →
Rodent ExclusionWe seal soffits, roof vents, pipe gaps and garage corners with metal and mortar so rats cannot get back in.Learn More →
Rodent Feces RemovalCareful cleanup of droppings with disinfectant, never sweeping or vacuuming, which can spread germs.Learn More →
Rodent ProofingDoor sweeps, vent screens, feed room sealing and tree trimming advice for Ocala homes and farms.Learn More →
Cooler nights in North Central Florida
Why Ocala Gets Busier With Mice When It Gets Cold
Ocala winters are mild, but they are cooler than Miami or Tampa. When nights drop into the 40s, mice and rats look for warm, dry spots, and a hay loft, a water heater closet or an attic is perfect. Roof rats also keep breeding all year in Florida.
46F
Average January low
Cool enough that rodents move in close to buildings for warmth.
11F
Record low
Hard freezes are rare, but they push rodents inside fast.
5-8
Roof rat pups
Per litter, with up to 4 or 5 litters a year.
3-4mo
Old enough to breed
Fall arrivals can be breeding by spring, which is a peak season.
Sources: Wikipedia, Ocala, Florida (climate data); UF/IFAS Extension, Roof Rats, publication UW120.
Springs and limestone country
Living Near Silver Springs: Water, Woods and Rats on the Ground
Silver Springs, just northeast of Ocala, is a first magnitude spring that puts out more than 550 million gallons of water a day into the Silver River, which flows to the Ocklawaha. Water and thick woods are what Norway rats look for.
Burrows
Norway rats dig in
Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) live in burrows along slabs, sheds and banks. Look for open holes with smooth, packed edges and fresh dirt pushed out.
Trees
Roof rats travel up
Roof rats (Rattus rattus) use oaks, palms and power lines to reach the roof. Wooded lots toward the Ocala National Forest give them plenty of roads in.
Ground
Limestone under your yard
The USGS says almost all Florida sinkholes come from limestone slowly dissolving. Ground that shifts over time can leave gaps at the slab and around pipes, so we check the base of the house, not just the roof.
Sources: Wikipedia, Silver Springs State Park and Silver Springs, Florida; USGS Water Science School, Sinkholes.
City of Ocala rules
Ocala Trash and Code Rules That Help Keep Rats Away
Rats eat what people leave out. These City of Ocala rules are worth knowing, both for your own yard and for the property next door.
Carts
Out by 7 a.m., back by 7 a.m.
Garbage carts go out by 7 a.m. on collection day and come back in by 7 a.m. the next day. Do not leave bags on the ground.
Bags
Drain and tie
Drain liquids, especially cooking oil, and tie bags at the top. Grease is a big draw for Norway rats.
Yard waste
Limbs cut to 4 feet
Use a loose pile, paper bags or lidded cans of 32 gallons or less. No plastic bags. Clear the pile before your next pickup.
Bulk
Call to schedule
Old furniture and mattresses make good rat nests. Call Sanitation at 352-351-6697, 1 to 2 days before your pickup day.
Code Enforcement
Problem property next door
Call City of Ocala Code Enforcement at 352-629-8309 or email codeenforcement@ocalafl.gov. Anonymous reports are not accepted, so you will need to give your name and address.
State license
Check FDACS first
Pest control companies in Florida must be licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under Chapter 482, Florida Statutes. Ask for the license number before work starts.
Sources: City of Ocala Residential Sanitation guidelines; City of Ocala Code Enforcement page.
House, barn or both
How Rat Removal in Ocala Works From Start to Finish
Many Ocala jobs cover a home and an outbuilding on the same property. We handle them together, because rodents go back and forth between them.
- Visit 1
Walk the whole property
House, attic, garage, barn, feed room and hay storage. You get photos of the openings plus a written plan and price.
- After approval
Close the openings
Sheet metal, 1/4 inch hardware cloth, mesh and concrete, plus door sweeps on feed and tack rooms. See rodent exclusion.
- Next 1 to 2 weeks
Trap the runways
Snap traps set along rub marks and droppings, out of reach of horses, dogs and barn cats, and checked on return visits.
- Once activity drops
Clean up
Droppings and nests removed with disinfectant, never dry swept. Hay or feed with signs of rodents should be thrown out. See rodent cleanup.
- Follow-up
Check again
We come back to make sure no new droppings, chewing or noise show up before we close the job.
Primary Ocala response zone
Ocala service coverage
Is your ZIP on the route?
Ocala has 14 ZIP codes. These are the ones we serve most, but we cover the whole city and Marion County. Call if you do not see yours.
344703447134472344733447434475344763447934480344813448234483
Areas we serve
Check my address →
Historic District · Downtown Ocala · Tuscawilla Park · Northeast Ocala · Southwest Ocala · Northwest Ocala horse farm country · East Ocala near Silver Springs · South Ocala
Ocala rodent questions
What Ocala Homeowners and Horse Owners Ask
Something we did not cover? Call and ask. We pick up 24/7.
Call (561) 562-7607 →House mice in hay, grain and tack rooms, roof rats in rafters and lofts, and Norway rats burrowing under slabs, sheds and manure areas. Each one gets in differently, so the plan depends on what we find.
Yes. We set up scheduled service for show barns, boarding stables and feed stores, with traps inside, locked bait stations outside only and a written visit log. A check before and after busy show weeks helps a lot.
Ocala nights get much cooler than South Florida in winter. Mice and rats move toward warm buildings, and attics, garages and hay lofts are the easiest spots. That is a good time to seal openings before they settle in.
Homes built between about 1880 and 1930 often have open crawl space vents, gaps under wood siding and unscreened gable vents. Big oak limbs over the roof give roof rats an easy path. We seal with materials that fit an older home and still keep rodents out.
By 7 a.m. on your collection day, and back in by 7 a.m. the next day, per the City of Ocala. Drain liquids, tie your bags and never leave trash on the ground, since that feeds rats overnight.
Inside city limits, call City of Ocala Code Enforcement at 352-629-8309. They do not take anonymous reports, so be ready to give your name and address. On your side of the fence, sealing your home is still the fix that lasts.
Yes. Our rodent control in Ocala also covers nearby Marion County communities like Silver Springs Shores, Marion Oaks and Dunnellon, plus The Villages area. Call and we will confirm your address.
Ocala dispatch is ready
Rats in Your Ocala Home, Farm or Business?
Call now. We will inspect the property, show you where rodents are getting in, and seal it so they stay out.
Request Ocala service
Give us a call. We’ll handle the next step.
Call us, tell us what you are seeing and where you are located, and our team will confirm the right appointment type and timing.
Serving OcalaOcala, Florida(561) 562-7607Open 24 hours · 7 days a week
