Scratching in the attic or soffit
Quick footsteps or scratching after dark, usually near the eaves where oak limbs reach the roof.
Scratching under the eaves or droppings on the garage floor? Florida Rodent Control Pros removes rats and mice from Silver Springs Shores homes, from the established ranch houses built off Maricamp Road in the 1970s and 1980s to the new construction going up near Juniper Road and SE 80th Street. We find how they get in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Silver Springs Shores.
Call (561) 562-7607Silver Springs Shores is a bedroom community about 10 miles southeast of Ocala in Marion County. Its population grew from 6,539 in the 2010 census to 24,846 in 2020, and new phases are still being approved today, so we see rat problems in 50-year-old ranch homes and in houses finished last year, sitting a few streets apart.
Most of the community was built from the 1970s through the early 2000s, with a median home built in 1996. These are slab-on-grade ranch homes and bungalows on narrow, mostly unpaved-shoulder roads, often shaded by mature oaks. Norway rats dig burrows along slab edges, AC pads and shed foundations where the ground stays soft, and roof rats use the older trees to reach the roofline and attic vents.
The 55-plus, golf-course sections of the community, including Rolling Greens Village and the neighborhood around the Country Club at Silver Spring Shores, add another factor: mature landscaping, irrigation and pond edges that give rats cover and water close to the house. And on the newer side, Marion County has continued approving new phases of the Silver Springs Shores development, such as the 157-home Unit 25 project near Juniper Road and SE 80th Street. Clearing land for a new phase pushes the rodents already living there toward the nearest occupied homes.
Most jobs here 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 after dark, usually near the eaves where oak limbs reach the roof.
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.
A fist-sized hole along a slab edge, AC pad or shed base is a common Norway rat burrow entrance here.
Urine and nesting material leave a sharp odor, often strongest in the garage, a shed or the attic hatch.
Dogs or cats staring at a wall, sniffing under appliances or pawing at a cabinet often sense rodents first.
Norway rats cause most of the ground-level and foundation calls we get here, roof rats use mature oaks and landscaping to reach the attic, 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 Silver Springs Shores 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 slab. What we check depends on how the home is built, since a 1980s ranch house and a home finished last year near Juniper Road have 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 slab edges, 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 ponds and 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 burrowing along a foundation or nesting in an 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 yard, nearby ponds or a vacant lot.
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 burrowing near a slab or shed | Hard to seal at grade level | Hardware cloth and mortar sealing at the base |
From 1970s and 1980s ranch homes to the 55-plus golf-course community of Rolling Greens Village and new construction near Juniper Road, each home has its own weak spots. We look at the roofline, attic, slab edges, 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.
Shops and offices along State Road 464, along with HOAs and property managers for communities like Rolling Greens Village and Summercrest, deal with shared grounds, dumpsters and common-area buildings. We set up service that fits how the site is managed.
Regular visits to check traps and stations, planned around your hours.
A record of each visit that you can show a board, manager or inspector.
Door sweeps and gaps at storage buildings and clubhouses closed with rodent-proof materials.
Rental and turnover checks between tenants so a rodent problem is not passed on.
The community has homes from the 1970s through active new construction today. The way a house is built tells us where to look first.
Silver Springs Shores has distinct sections built decades apart. Here is what we usually check first in each one.
A 55-plus, resort-style community with its own golf club. Mature landscaping and shared common areas give rats plenty of places to hide close to homes.
Homes bordering the golf course and its ponds. Norway rats work the pond banks and irrigation, roof rats use the trees along the fairways.
Mixed-age homes with narrow, quiet streets. We usually start at the slab edges, sheds and older attic vents.
Active new construction, including the recently approved 157-home Unit 25 project. Land clearing here pushes rodents toward the nearest finished homes.
The main commercial strip through the community. We handle scheduled service for the shops, offices and restaurants along it.
Some of the earliest homes in the community, with mature trees and older construction that need a closer roofline check.
Marion County has hot, humid summers and mild winters, so rodents stay active all year, but the weather changes where they go.
Afternoon storms from June to September raise the water table around ponds and low yards, pushing Norway rats toward garages, sheds and higher ground.
Tip: Keep garage and shed doors closed and clear stored items off the floor.
Hurricane Milton in October 2024 spawned an EF-1 tornado in Marion County with winds around 110 mph, and storms like it can tear up soffits and roof edges across the county. Storm damage gives rats a new way in.
Tip: After a storm, walk around the house and check the roofline and soffits.
On cooler nights from December to February, rats look for warm, dry attics and garages. This is when many homeowners here first hear them.
Tip: Check vents and soffits in the fall, before cooler weather.
New phases of Silver Springs Shores are still being approved and built. When land near your home is cleared, it is worth having the perimeter checked in the weeks after.
Tip: If a lot near you is cleared, watch for new burrow holes along your slab.
Silver Springs Shores is not one kind of house. What we do at a 1980s ranch home is different from what we do at a home bordering the golf course or a house near active construction.
Slab-on-grade ranch homes from this era often have settled AC pads and gaps around utility penetrations that give Norway rats a place to dig in.
Our approach: We inspect the slab perimeter and AC pad, seal gaps with hardware cloth and mortar, then trap along the foundation until activity stops.
Homes around Rolling Greens Village and the Country Club at Silver Spring Shores have mature landscaping, irrigation and pond edges that draw both roof rats and Norway rats.
Our approach: We check the roofline, lanai screens and pond-facing side of the home, then seal and trap where we find activity.
When a lot is cleared for a new phase near Juniper Road or SE 80th Street, rodents already living there often move to the closest finished home.
Our approach: We inspect the perimeter of homes bordering cleared lots, seal new gaps, and monitor with traps through the construction period.
These steps follow CDC cleanup guidance and help keep your family safe.
Call (561) 562-7607Most of Silver Springs Shores shares ZIP code 34472. We cover the whole community and the rest of Marion County. Call if you are not sure your address is included.
Rolling Greens Village · The Country Club at Silver Spring Shores · Summercrest · Twin Lakes Village East · Juniper Road and SE 80th Street · State Road 464 corridor
Have 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.
Most homes here were built from the 1970s through the early 2000s on slab foundations, often with mature landscaping and narrow, unpaved-shoulder roads. Norway rats dig burrows along slab edges, AC pads and sheds where the ground stays soft. We seal these at grade level with hardware cloth and mortar.
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. When land is cleared for a new phase of Silver Springs Shores, like the Unit 25 project, rodents living on that land move to the nearest cover, which is often a finished home nearby. If your home borders an active construction site, it is worth having the perimeter 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 Ocala and Marion Oaks. 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.