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 Pembroke Pines homes and businesses, from the older ranch homes along Pines Boulevard and University Drive to the newer block homes of West Pines, Chapel Trail and Silver Lakes. We find how they get in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Pembroke Pines.
Call (561) 562-7607Pembroke Pines was incorporated as a city in 1961 and grew fast after Hurricane Andrew pushed thousands of families north out of Miami-Dade County in 1992. That growth left a mix of older 1960s and 1970s ranch homes near Pines Boulevard and University Drive next to newer block subdivisions built from the 1990s onward in West Pines, west of Interstate 75. Both types of homes give rats and mice a way in, just for different reasons.
Roof rats travel along fence lines, ficus hedges and the many drainage canals that run through the city, then climb onto the roof and get in through soffit gaps, roof tile edges and vents. In the older sections near Pines Boulevard, low rooflines and mature trees make this an easy trip. In West Pines neighborhoods like Chapel Trail and Silver Lakes, roof rats use screened lanai frames and queen palms to reach the roof instead.
Norway rats stay lower, near water and food. We find them along the canal banks that border many Pembroke Pines yards, around dumpsters near Pembroke Lakes Mall and The Shops at Pembroke Gardens, and in garages throughout the city. Large condo communities such as Century Village also see steady mouse activity in ground-floor units near shared trash areas. Every part of Pembroke Pines has rodents, just for different reasons, so we inspect each property as its own job.
Most Pembroke Pines 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 Pembroke Pines 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.
Rats chew through pool cage and lanai screening to use it as a path to the roof. Fresh tears near the top corners are a common Pembroke Pines 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 Pembroke Pines, Norway rats show up near canals, dumpsters and garages, and house mice get into kitchens, pantries and ground-floor condo units. Knowing which one you have tells us where to look and how to stop it.
Every job in Pembroke Pines 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 canal bank. What we check depends on how the home is built, since a 1960s ranch home near Pines Boulevard and a 2005 block home in West Pines have very 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 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, and we keep coming back until the activity stops.
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. Canal banks and 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 or along a canal bank 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 next hedge, canal or lanai over.
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 |
| Torn lanai or pool cage screening | Hard to patch so rats stay out | Screen repair advice plus roofline sealing |
| Activity near a canal bank | Burrows are hard to find and close | Bait placement and exclusion along the yard edge |
From 1960s and 1970s ranch homes near Pines Boulevard and University Drive to newer block homes in West Pines, Chapel Trail and Silver Lakes, each Pembroke Pines home has its own weak spots. We look at the roofline, attic, garage, lanai screening 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.
Retailers and restaurants near Pembroke Lakes Mall and The Shops at Pembroke Gardens, along with offices and charter schools throughout the city, 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, board or inspector.
Door sweeps and gaps at docks and walls closed with rodent-proof materials.
Simple changes to dumpster and dry storage areas that make your site less attractive to rats.
Pembroke Pines grew in waves, from the 1960s through today. The way a property is built tells us where to look first.
Pembroke Pines covers a lot of ground. Here is what we usually check first near each of these spots.
This large county park has canals, picnic areas and mature trees along its edges. Homes bordering the park often see roof rats using the tree canopy to reach the roof.
The civic core of the city, surrounded by offices and older residential streets. We treat this area as a mix of light commercial and older ranch-home rodent activity.
Busy retail and restaurant centers with shared dumpsters. We set up scheduled commercial service with written logs for businesses in these areas.
A large 55 and older condo community off Pines Boulevard. Ground-floor units near shared trash rooms are the areas we check first for mice.
Newer subdivisions west of Interstate 75, next to canals and preserve land toward the Everglades. Rodents move in from the edges, so sealing early matters.
Homes and hangars near the airport mix light industrial and residential rodent pressure, with sheds and storage buildings a common nesting spot.
Pembroke Pines has a tropical monsoon climate with hot, wet summers and warm, dry winters. Rodents stay active all year, but the weather changes where they go.
Afternoon storms from June to September raise canal levels and flood burrows, pushing Norway rats toward garages, sheds and lanais.
Tip: Keep garage doors closed and clear stored items off the floor.
Hurricane Wilma in 2005 brought sustained winds of 92 mph to Broward County and damaged roofs and screening across Pembroke Pines. Storms push rats out of canal burrows and into homes, and damaged soffits or lanai screens give them a way in.
Tip: After a storm, walk around the house and check the roofline and lanai screening.
December through February is drier, and rats look for water as much as warmth. Yards near canals and lakes stay active year round.
Tip: Check vents, soffits and lanai screens in the fall, before winter.
Backyard mangoes and citrus are an easy meal for roof rats, and a reason they stay close to the house in neighborhoods with mature fruit trees.
Tip: Pick fruit as it ripens and clear what falls every day.
Sealing the openings does most of the work. These habits help keep new rodents from moving in.
Pembroke Pines is not one kind of property. What we do at a 1960s ranch home near Pines Boulevard is different from what we do at a canal-front lot or a newer home in West Pines.
These 1960s and 1970s single-story homes have low, easy-to-reach rooflines, and mature hedges or oak canopies often touch the eaves.
Our approach: We inspect the soffits and roof vents first, seal gaps with metal and hardware cloth, then trap in the attic until activity stops.
Homes backing onto the canals that run through Pembroke Pines, including areas near C.B. Smith Park, often have Norway rats burrowing along the bank.
Our approach: We inspect the yard edge and any burrows, then bait and close off the ground-level openings we find.
Newer block-and-stucco homes west of Interstate 75 still get rats through screened lanais, garage doors and tile roof edges.
Our approach: We check the lanai screening 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) 562-7607Pembroke Pines spans several ZIP codes shared with neighboring cities. These are the ones we serve most, but we cover the whole city. Call if you do not see yours.
West Pines · Chapel Trail · Silver Lakes · Century Village · Pines Boulevard corridor · Pembroke Lakes · University Drive corridor
“Florida Rodent Control Pros did a thorough job at my home near Chapel Trail. They found how the rats were getting into the lanai and sealed it up.”
Maria R.Pembroke Pines, FL
Verified“Quick response and very professional. They explained exactly what they found in the attic and followed up until the noises stopped.”
David K.Pembroke Pines, FL
Verified“They handled a mouse issue in our condo near Century Village fast and were easy to schedule around our building’s rules.”
Linda P.Pembroke Pines, 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 keep coming back until the activity stops.
Rats chew through screening to use the frame as a climbing path to the roof. Torn screens near the top corners are a common sign. We check the screening during every inspection and can advise on repairs along with sealing the roofline.
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. We work with condo owners, renters and HOA or property management boards. Ground-floor units near shared trash rooms and utility chases are the most common spots for mouse activity.
Hurricane Wilma hit Broward County in 2005 with sustained winds of 92 mph, damaging roofs and screening across the area. Any storm that damages a roofline, soffit or lanai screen opens a new way in, so it is worth checking those spots after a bad storm.
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 Miramar, Cooper City, Davie and Hollywood. 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