Running in the ceiling
Quick footsteps or scratching above the ceiling after dark. Roof rats are most active a few hours after sunset.
Hearing scratching in the attic or finding droppings in the garage? Florida Rodent Control Pros removes rats and mice from homes and businesses across Royal Palm Beach, from the Colony section and LaMancha to The Willows and Counterpoint Estates. We find how they are getting in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Royal Palm Beach.
Call (561) 562-7607Royal Palm Beach was incorporated in 1959 and grew up around a network of drainage canals built to turn former wetlands into buildable land. Those same canals, plus warm weather all year and mature landscaping in older sections of the village, give rats a steady path from the water into attics and garages.
Roof rats are the rodent we remove most often here. They travel along melaleuca and oak canopy, fences and power lines in neighborhoods like the Colony section and LaMancha, then drop onto the roof and get in through soffit gaps, roof vents and gaps where the eaves meet the wall. In The Willows and Counterpoint Estates, mature trees planted when the village was built now touch many rooflines.
Norway rats stay lower and closer to water. We find them along the canal banks that border much of the village, near the lake at Royal Palm Beach Commons, and in garages and sheds close to the Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area on the western edge of town. After heavy rain, when the canals rise, both species move toward higher, drier ground, which is often someone’s garage or crawl space.
Most jobs in Royal Palm Beach 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 homeowners here 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, often found under the sink or around stored pet food.
Rats gnaw on wiring, AC insulation and irrigation lines near canal-side yards. This can lead to shorts, leaks and costly repairs.
Look for fresh gnaw marks with light wood color showing through, usually near the roofline or a pool screen frame.
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 here, Norway rats show up near canal banks, sheds 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 Royal Palm 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 canal bank. What we check depends on how close the home is to water and how old the landscaping is.
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 in yards near the canals 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 along a canal bank or 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 nearest canal, fence line or hedge.
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 along a canal-side fence | Burrows and cover are hard to clear safely | Bait and seal ground-level entry points |
From the Colony section and LaMancha to The Willows and Counterpoint Estates, most homes here are single-story block-and-stucco houses built from the 1970s through the 2000s, many backing onto a canal or a common green space. We check the roofline, attic, garage, fence line and canal bank, 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.
Shops, restaurants and offices along Southern Boulevard, Okeechobee Boulevard and the Village Center deal with daily deliveries and shared dumpsters. 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.
Most of Royal Palm Beach was built out from the 1970s through the 2000s as a planned village, so home styles are more alike than in an older city, but the details still matter.
Royal Palm Beach is a compact village, but each section has its own layout and landscaping. Here is what we usually check first in each one.
Some of the village’s older homes, with mature trees over the roofline and fences that often back onto a canal. We check roof edges and canal-side fence lines first.
Established single-family neighborhoods with mature landscaping. Roof rats travel the tree canopy into attics here more than any other section.
Homes and businesses close to the 19-acre lake and trail system at the Commons. Norway rats gather near the water’s edge, especially after rain.
Properties closest to the 773-acre natural area see more rodent pressure from the surrounding habitat moving toward yards and sheds.
Shops and restaurants near Village Hall and along Southern and Okeechobee Boulevards. We set up scheduled commercial service with written logs here.
Block-and-stucco homes closer to Wellington and The Acreage. Rodents move in from surrounding open land, so sealing early matters.
Royal Palm Beach has hot, humid weather most of the year with a wet season that runs roughly June through September. Rodents stay active year-round, but heavy rain and the canal system change where they go.
In September 2026, nearly 9 inches of rain fell on western Palm Beach County in a single day, and canals near Royal Palm Beach and The Acreage overflowed into yards faster than local drainage could keep up. Heavy rain like this pushes Norway rats out of canal-bank burrows and toward garages, sheds and crawl spaces on higher ground.
Tip: After a heavy storm, check the garage floor and any low-lying storage for new rodent activity.
Wind and heavy rain during hurricane season can open new gaps in soffits and roof edges. The Village of Royal Palm Beach maintains its own hurricane and flood preparedness guidance for residents near the canals.
Tip: After any named storm, walk the roofline and check screens and soffit vents for new damage.
On cooler nights from December to February, rats look for warm, dry attics. This is when many homeowners first hear scratching overhead.
Tip: Check vents and soffits in the fall, before cooler weather sets in.
Backyard fruit trees are common in the village’s older sections, and fallen mangoes or citrus are an easy meal for roof rats.
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.
Royal Palm Beach is not one kind of property. What we do at an older home in LaMancha is different from what we do along a canal bank or at a shop near the Village Center.
Trees planted when these sections were built now touch many rooflines, giving roof rats a direct path from the canopy to the attic.
Our approach: We inspect the roofline and soffits, trim recommendations where needed, seal entry points with hardware cloth and metal, and trap inside the attic.
Homes backing onto the village’s drainage canals see Norway rats burrowing along the bank, especially after heavy rain pushes them toward higher ground.
Our approach: We inspect the fence line and canal bank, then bait and seal the ground-level gaps we find at the garage and foundation.
Businesses along Southern and Okeechobee Boulevards deal with daily deliveries and shared dumpster areas that attract rodents.
Our approach: We set up scheduled service with written visit logs, seal door and loading area gaps, and advise on dumpster placement.
These steps follow CDC cleanup guidance and help keep your family safe.
Call (561) 562-7607Royal Palm Beach spans 3 ZIP codes. We serve the whole village and nearby western communities. Call if you do not see yours.
The Colony section · LaMancha · The Willows · Counterpoint Estates · Crestwood · Village Center · areas near Royal Palm Beach Commons and Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area
“Florida Rodent Control Pros did an excellent job at my home near the Commons. They were prompt and thorough, and I haven’t seen any rodents since their visit.”
John D.Royal Palm Beach, FL
Verified“The team was professional and handled our rat problem quickly. I appreciated their attention to detail and the follow-up service they provided.”
Sarah M.Royal Palm Beach, FL
Verified“I highly recommend Florida Rodent Control Pros. They knew the area well and offered a real solution for the rats coming in near our canal fence.”
Tom L.Royal Palm 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.
Yes. Norway rats burrow along canal banks throughout Royal Palm Beach, and heavy rain that raises canal levels pushes them toward higher ground, which is often a nearby garage or fence line. Homes backing onto a canal are worth an extra look after storms.
We do not recommend it. Poisoned rats often die inside walls or ceilings where you cannot reach them, and bait placed near a canal bank can wash into the water. 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 canal-side neighborhoods, yes. Nearly 9 inches of rain in one day overwhelmed local drainage and pushed water into yards near Royal Palm Beach and The Acreage. Flooding like this drives Norway rats out of canal-bank burrows and toward garages and sheds on drier ground.
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.
Yes. We work with both homeowners and renters, and can coordinate with a property manager or landlord when the fix involves sealing structural gaps the tenant does not control.
Yes. We also serve Wellington and other communities in western Palm Beach County. 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.