Running in the ceiling
Quick footsteps or scratching above the ceiling after dark. In condos this can sound like it is coming from a neighboring unit.
Scratching in the attic or droppings in the garage? Florida Rodent Control Pros removes rats and mice from Tamarac homes and condos, from the 55 plus communities of Kings Point and Woodmont to the canal front homes of Tamarac Lakes and Mainlands. We find how they get in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Tamarac.
Call (561) 562-7607Tamarac was incorporated on August 15, 1963 by developer Ken Behring, who built it as an active adult community of maintenance free homes and named it after the nearby Tamarac Country Club in Oakland Park. Today the city covers about 12 square miles of Broward County, with a network of canals and lakes running through nearly every neighborhood.
A large share of Tamarac’s housing is made up of age restricted condo and villa communities such as Kings Point and Woodmont, built around golf courses, clubhouses and shared green space. These low rise buildings have flat or tile roofs, shared attics and utility chases that give roof rats an easy path between units, and building managers usually need pest control coordinated through the HOA or property manager rather than a single homeowner.
Single family neighborhoods like Tamarac Lakes, Mainlands of Tamarac and the Woodlands sit close to the canal system that drains this part of Broward County. Norway rats burrow along the canal banks and move into garages, sheds and crawl spaces looking for dry ground, especially after heavy rain. We inspect condos and single family homes differently because the entry points are different.
Most Tamarac 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 Tamarac residents 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. In condos this can sound like it is coming from a neighboring unit.
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 fruit still on a tree or seed scattered under a feeder is a common roof rat sign in Tamarac yards.
Urine and nesting material leave a sharp odor, often strongest in closets, cabinets and around 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 and condo ceiling calls in Tamarac, Norway rats show up along canal banks and in 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 Tamarac 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 whether the property is a condo unit, a villa or a single family home.
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 or roof access 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 property 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. 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 or shared ceilings.
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 a shared condo roof space 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 nearby canals, hedges or a neighboring unit.
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 bank | Burrows are hard to find and seal | Bank inspection and ground level sealing |
From condo and villa buildings in Kings Point and Woodmont to single family homes along the canals in Tamarac Lakes and Mainlands, each property has its own weak spots. We look at the roofline, attic or shared chase, garage, lanai 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 Commercial Boulevard and University Drive, along with clubhouses, pump houses and common areas inside HOA communities, all deal with shared roofs, dumpsters and doors that open all day. We work directly with property managers and boards when a building needs pest control coordinated for multiple units.
Regular visits to check traps and stations, planned around your building or business hours.
A record of each visit that you can share with a board, manager or inspector.
We can schedule several units or common areas in the same visit to reduce disruption.
Simple changes to dumpster areas and dry storage that make a property less attractive to rats.
Tamarac has more condo and villa communities than most nearby cities, next to canal front single family homes. The way a property is built tells us where to look first.
Tamarac’s neighborhoods range from age restricted condo communities to canal front single family homes. Here is what we usually check first in each one.
A large age restricted condo community with clubhouses, shared roofs and utility chases. Roof rats travel between buildings through attic gaps and roof penetrations.
Villas and homes built around the Woodmont Country Club golf course. Hedges and course landscaping give rats cover close to homes.
Some of the city’s original 1960s neighborhoods, built along the lakes and canals that give Tamarac its name. Norway rats burrow near the water and move into garages.
Homes near the city’s larger parks sit close to mature trees and open green space that roof rats use to travel toward rooflines.
Shops, offices and shopping plazas along Tamarac’s main commercial corridors, where dumpsters and shared loading areas draw Norway rats.
A quieter residential section of the city where mature landscaping and backyard fruit trees are the main draw for roof rats.
Tamarac has a warm, humid climate with a wet summer season and mild winters. Rats stay active all year, but the weather changes where they go.
Afternoon storms from June through September raise canal and lake levels around Tamarac, pushing Norway rats toward garages, sheds and higher ground.
Tip: Keep garage doors closed and clear stored items off the floor.
In April 2023, parts of Broward County received more than 25 inches of rain in about 12 hours, one of the heaviest rain events ever recorded in the area. Storms of that size raise canal levels quickly and can push burrowing rats out of the banks and toward dry ground near homes.
Tip: After a heavy storm, check the yard and garage for new burrows or droppings.
On cooler nights from December through February, rats look for warm, dry attics and shared roof spaces. This is when many Tamarac residents first hear them.
Tip: Check vents and soffits in the fall, before cooler weather.
From roughly November through April, many condos in Tamarac’s 55 plus communities fill back up for the season. A property that sat empty over the summer can have new rodent activity that was not caught early.
Tip: Ask your building manager for an inspection before you arrive for the season.
Sealing the openings does most of the work. These habits help keep new rodents from moving in.
Tamarac is not one kind of property. What we do at a condo building in Kings Point is different from what we do at a canal front home in Tamarac Lakes.
Low rise condo buildings often share a continuous attic or roof void, so rats that get in through one roof penetration can travel above several units.
Our approach: We inspect the full roofline and shared attic access, seal penetrations with metal and hardware cloth, then trap and coordinate the visit with the HOA or property manager.
Norway rats burrow into canal banks behind these homes and move into garages and sheds, especially after heavy rain raises the water level.
Our approach: We check the bank and yard for burrows, seal ground level entry points at the home, and set traps along the paths we find.
Homes backing up to the golf course have dense landscaping and irrigation lines that give roof rats a hidden path from the course to the roofline.
Our approach: We inspect where landscaping meets the structure, seal roof and soffit gaps, and give homeowners simple trimming tips to remove the cover.
These steps follow CDC cleanup guidance and help keep your family safe.
Call (561) 562-7607Tamarac spans several ZIP codes across Broward County. These are the ones we serve most, but call if you do not see yours.
Kings Point · Woodmont · Tamarac Lakes · Mainlands of Tamarac · The Woodlands · Sunflower · areas near Caporella Park and Veterans Park
“Florida Rodent Control Pros inspected our building in Kings Point and worked directly with our property manager to schedule the visit. Straightforward and professional.”
Ruth G.Tamarac, FL
Verified“We had rats coming in from the canal behind our house. They found the burrows, sealed the yard and followed up until it was clear.”
David M.Tamarac, FL
Verified“Knowledgeable about the area and easy to schedule. They explained everything before starting the work.”
Anna P.Tamarac, FL
VerifiedHave a question that is not listed? Call and a team member will help.
Call (561) 562-7607 →Yes. We regularly coordinate with HOA boards and property managers to schedule inspections and treatment across multiple units or common areas, and we can provide written visit logs for the board’s records.
Many low rise condo buildings have a continuous attic or roof void above several units. Once a rat gets in through one roof penetration, it can travel above other units through that shared space. We inspect the full roofline, not just one unit.
We do not recommend it. Poisoned rats often die inside walls or ceilings where you cannot reach them, which causes a strong smell. In a shared building this can affect a neighboring unit. Trapping indoors and sealing the openings works better.
Norway rats burrow into soft banks along canals and lakes, which are common throughout Tamarac. Heavy rain can raise the water level and push them out of the bank and toward garages, sheds and yards on higher ground.
Most properties 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 property has.
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 North Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Sunrise, Lauderdale Lakes and Oakland Park. 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