Running in the ceiling
Quick footsteps or scratching above the ceiling after dark, most often a roof rat that dropped in from a nearby tree line.
Scratching in the attic or droppings in the garage? Florida Rodent Control Pros removes rats and mice from homes and businesses in Wright, from the block homes off Racetrack Road to the rental housing that fills up along Eglin Parkway. We find how they got in, seal it, and remove the rodents already inside.
Rodent problem right now? Our team is taking calls in Wright.
Call (561) 562-7607Wright is an unincorporated community in Okaloosa County that sits right up against the south side of Eglin Air Force Base, with Fort Walton Beach bordering it to the south. Racetrack Road and Eglin Parkway run through the middle of the community, lined with a mix of single-story block homes, apartments and rental housing that turns over often as military families move in and out of the base.
Roof rats are common along the tree lines that buffer neighborhoods from the base and drop from branches onto rooflines, getting in through soffit gaps, roof vents and attic openings. House mice are just as common here as rats, especially in apartments and rental homes along Beal Parkway and Racetrack Road, where shared walls and dumpsters give them easy cover.
Norway rats stay lower, denning under sheds, storage buildings and slabs, and showing up around dumpsters at strip shopping centers and apartment complexes. Wright’s population grew from 23,127 people in the 2010 census to 26,277 in 2020, and that growth means newer construction sitting next to older homes, each with its own weak points, so we inspect every property on its own.
Most Wright 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 Wright 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, most often a roof rat that dropped in from a nearby tree line.
Dark pellets about 1/2 inch long point to rats. Tiny ones about 1/8 inch point to house mice.
Rodents gnaw on wiring, AC insulation and irrigation lines, which can lead to shorts, leaks and costly repairs.
Chewed corners on cereal boxes and bags of pet food are a common first sign in apartments and rental homes.
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 near the wooded buffer along Eglin’s fence line, house mice get into kitchens and pantries in apartments and rental housing, and Norway rats turn up around dumpsters and under storage sheds. Knowing which one you have tells us where to look and how to stop it.
Every job in Wright 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 the home is built, since an older block ranch and a newer subdivision home 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 rodents 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 rodents 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 rodents 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 rodents but leave the openings in place, so new ones move in from the tree line 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 |
| Rodents in a shared-wall apartment | Neighboring units can reinfest yours | Coordinated sealing with property management |
From single-story block homes off Racetrack Road to apartments and rental housing that turns over often with military families moving in and out of Eglin, each property has its own weak spots. We look at the roofline, attic, garage and yard, then seal the openings rodents 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 restaurants along Beal Parkway and Racetrack Road deal with daily deliveries, shared dumpsters and doors that open all day. Property managers of apartment and rental communities near Eglin also need a plan that covers shared walls and dumpster pads, not just one unit at a time.
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 dumpster pads and shared walls closed with rodent-proof materials.
Simple changes to dumpster areas and dry storage that make your site less attractive to rodents.
Wright has a mix of older single-story block homes and newer construction, plus a large amount of apartment and rental housing. The way a property is built tells us where to look first.
Wright is a small community but it is not all the same. Here is what we usually check first in each part.
Wooded buffer land gives roof rats a path onto nearby rooflines. We check attics, roof vents and any tree limbs touching the roof first.
Shops, offices and apartment complexes line these two roads. We set up scheduled commercial service and shared-wall sealing here.
Older block homes sit close to newer construction along this line. Roof edges and AC line gaps are the usual entry points.
Restaurants and retail near Beal Parkway and the Santa Rosa Mall area in neighboring Mary Esther deal with dumpster pads and shared loading areas that draw Norway rats.
Wright is in the Central time zone, unlike most of Florida, and its winters run cooler than the peninsula. Rodents stay active year-round, but the season changes where they go.
Afternoon thunderstorms push rats and mice out of low-lying areas and toward garages, sheds and storage buildings.
Tip: Keep garage doors closed and clear stored items off the floor.
Hurricane Opal made direct landfall near Fort Walton Beach in October 1995 and remains the storm the area is best known for. Wind and rain can open new gaps in soffits and roofs.
Tip: After any storm, walk around the house and check the roofline.
Wright’s Panhandle winters are cooler than South Florida, and rodents look for warm, dry attics and wall voids when temperatures drop. This is when many residents first hear them.
Tip: Check vents and soffits in the fall, before cooler weather sets in.
Summer PCS moves at Eglin bring heavier turnover in rental housing. A new resident often finds signs a previous tenant never reported.
Tip: Ask for a rodent inspection at move-in if the unit has sat vacant.
Wright is not one kind of property. What we do at an older block home near the base fence line is different from what we do at an apartment complex on Racetrack Road.
Wooded buffer land along the base gives roof rats cover close to homes, and they use overhanging branches to reach the roof.
Our approach: We inspect the roofline and any trees touching the house, seal soffit and vent gaps with hardware cloth, then trap in the attic until activity stops.
Mice move between units through shared walls and utility penetrations, and Norway rats gather at shared dumpster pads.
Our approach: We work with the property manager to seal shared entry points and set stations near dumpster pads, not just inside one unit.
Daily deliveries, propped doors and loading docks give rodents easy access to storage and dry goods.
Our approach: We check the loading area and storage room first, then seal ground-level openings and set a scheduled service plan.
These steps follow CDC cleanup guidance and help keep your family safe.
Call (561) 562-7607Wright falls within ZIP code 32547. We also cover the neighboring Fort Walton Beach ZIP codes below. Call if you do not see yours.
Wright · Fort Walton Beach · Mary Esther · Shalimar · Hurlburt Field area · Cinco Bayou
“Florida Rodent Control Pros found the gap in our soffit fast. Attic has been quiet since they sealed it up.”
Jason D.Wright, FL
Verified“We manage a few rental units off Racetrack Road and they worked directly with us to seal shared walls, not just one apartment.”
Sandra M.Wright, FL
Verified“Professional, showed up on time, and explained exactly where the mice were getting in before they started work.”
Tom L.Wright, 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 rodents are inside and how many openings the property has. We tell you what to expect after the first inspection.
The wooded buffer land along the base fence line gives roof rats cover close to homes, and they use tree limbs to reach rooflines. Properties closest to that tree line are usually the ones with the most attic activity.
Yes. In shared-wall buildings we work with the property manager to seal entry points that affect more than one unit, since sealing only your apartment will not stop rodents coming from a neighboring unit or the dumpster pad.
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.
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 Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, Niceville and Destin. 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.