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? Florida Rodent Control Pros removes rats and mice from Ormond Beach homes and businesses, from the beach cottages of Ormond-by-the-Sea to the newer block homes of Plantation Bay and Breakaway Trails. We find how they get in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Ormond Beach.
Call (561) 562-7607Ormond Beach sits on the Halifax River lagoon, just across the Intracoastal from the Atlantic, with the Tomoka River draining into the same basin at Tomoka State Park to the north. A barrier island, a historic riverside downtown, and newer mainland subdivisions all sit within the same city limits, so rats have several different ways in depending on where you live.
On the barrier island in Ormond-by-the-Sea, roof rats and Norway rats move in from dune vegetation and beach scrub, then climb into attics through weep holes, vent screens and roof edges softened by salt air. In the historic district near The Casements and downtown, oak-canopy streets and older homes built when the city was first platted in 1880 give rats plenty of cover and easy attic access.
Further west, newer communities like Plantation Bay and Breakaway Trails back up to preserves, ponds and golf course rough. Rodents move out of that cover and into garages, lanais and AC line openings on block-and-stucco homes. Every part of Ormond Beach has rodents, just for different reasons, so we inspect each property on its own.
Most Ormond Beach 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 Ormond Beach 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 citrus still on a backyard tree, or seed spilled and chewed under a bird feeder, is a classic roof rat sign here.
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 Ormond Beach, Norway rats show up along the Halifax River, 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 Ormond Beach 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 a home is to the beach, the river or the woods.
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 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 same dune scrub, oaks or preserve edge.
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 raised beach home | Crawl space is hard to reach and seal | Skirting and pier sealing with hardware cloth |
From raised beach homes on Ormond-by-the-Sea to block-and-stucco homes in Plantation Bay and Breakaway Trails, each Ormond Beach home 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 Granada Boulevard and A1A deal with daily deliveries, shared dumpsters and doors that open all day. 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 docks and walls closed with rodent-proof materials.
Simple changes to dumpster areas and dry storage that make your site less attractive to rats.
Ormond Beach has homes from the 1880s downtown to new construction near I-95. The way a house is built tells us where to look first.
Ormond Beach runs from the barrier island to inland subdivisions. Here is what we usually check first in each area.
Raised beach homes on the barrier island between the Atlantic and the Halifax River. Rats move in from dune scrub and use weep holes and roof edges softened by salt air.
Homes platted when Ormond was first incorporated in 1880, under a canopy of old oaks along the Halifax River. Roof rats in the attics, Norway rats near the riverbank.
Newer golf course communities backing up to ponds and preserve. Rodents move out of that cover into garages and lanais on block-and-stucco homes.
Where the Tomoka and Halifax rivers meet, north of the city. Homes near this wooded, river-fed area see steady pressure from Norway rats along the water.
Established mainland neighborhoods near I-95. Mostly 1970s to 1990s construction, where soffit and roof vent screens have often aged out.
Ormond Beach has a humid subtropical climate with mild winters, so rodents stay active all year. The weather changes where they go more than whether they are active.
Afternoon storms from June to September raise the water table along the Halifax and Tomoka rivers, pushing Norway rats toward garages, sheds and low crawl spaces.
Tip: Keep garage doors closed and clear stored items off the floor.
Hurricane Milton caused more than 267 million dollars in damage across Volusia County in 2024, with flooding and downed trees county-wide. Storms like this push rats out of low cover and open new gaps in soffits and roofs.
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 Ormond Beach homeowners first hear them.
Tip: Check vents and soffits in the fall, before cooler weather.
Backyard citrus and full bird feeders are an easy meal for roof rats in the cooler months, and a reason they stay close to the house.
Tip: Pick fruit as it ripens and switch to a squirrel-proof feeder.
Sealing the openings does most of the work. These habits help keep new rodents from moving in.
Ormond Beach is not one kind of property. What we do at a raised beach cottage on the barrier island is different from what we do at a block home in Plantation Bay.
Coastal homes near the dunes take on salt-air corrosion around soffits and weep holes, giving rats a soft spot to chew through.
Our approach: We inspect the roofline and weep holes, seal gaps with corrosion-resistant hardware cloth and metal flashing, then trap in the attic until activity stops.
Homes built in Ormond Beach’s early decades often have older attic vents with no screens, under oak limbs that give rats a bridge to the roof.
Our approach: We screen every vent opening, trim back the branches that reach the roofline, and trap inside until the attic is clear.
Newer homes backing up to a pond or preserve still get rats through garage doors, AC line openings and tile roof edges.
Our approach: We check the garage and roofline first, then seal the openings we find with metal flashing and hardware cloth.
These steps follow CDC cleanup guidance and help keep your family safe.
Call (561) 562-7607Ormond Beach has 3 main ZIP codes. We cover the whole city, the barrier island and Volusia County. Call if you do not see yours.
Ormond-by-the-Sea · Downtown Ormond Beach · The Casements area · Plantation Bay · Breakaway Trails · The Trails · Ormond Beach Estates · Tomoka State Park area
“Florida Rodent Control Pros did an excellent job at my Ormond-by-the-Sea home. They were prompt and thorough, and I haven’t heard anything in the attic since their visit.”
John D.Ormond Beach, 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.Ormond Beach, FL
Verified“I highly recommend Florida Rodent Control Pros. They knew the area and offered effective solutions for my rodent problem near downtown.”
Tom L.Ormond Beach, 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.
Ormond-by-the-Sea is a barrier island community between the Atlantic Ocean and the Halifax River. Dune vegetation and beach scrub give rats cover close to homes, and salt air can wear down soffits and weep holes, giving them a way in. We seal those openings with corrosion-resistant materials.
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.
It can. Hurricane Milton alone caused more than 267 million dollars in damage across Volusia County in 2024, with flooding and downed trees that pushed rodents out of low-lying cover and opened new gaps in roofs and soffits. 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 Daytona Beach, Holly Hill, Port Orange and Palm Coast. 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