Roof rats, Norway rats, and house mice are common in South Florida. Where there's one, there's a colony. Our three-phase elimination program removes them, seals entry points, and stops them from coming back.
Rodents reproduce fast. A pair of rats can produce up to 200 offspring per year. By the time you hear them at night, they've been nesting for weeks.
Roof rats can enter through holes the size of a quarter. They don't need much.
Rodents gnaw electrical wiring — a leading cause of house fires in South Florida.
Their urine and droppings contaminate insulation, ductwork, and food storage areas.
Traps alone never solve the problem — without sealing entry points, new ones replace the old.
We identify all active entry points, nesting sites, and runway paths. You receive a photo-documented report of every finding.
Strategic trap placement in attic, crawlspace, garage, and exterior. We check and service traps weekly until activity ceases.
All identified entry points are sealed with wire mesh, steel wool, and expanding foam. Eliminates reentry permanently.
Rodents are nocturnal and highly secretive. By the time most homeowners notice activity, the infestation is already established. Know what to look for.
Scratching sounds at night — Roof rats are nocturnal. Scratching, scurrying, or thumping sounds in the ceiling or walls after dark are the most common first sign of attic activity.
Droppings — Rat droppings are dark, spindle-shaped, and about ¾ inch long. Mouse droppings are smaller (¼ inch). Fresh droppings are dark and moist; old ones are dry and gray.
Grease marks along walls — Rats run the same routes repeatedly, leaving dark smear marks from body oils along baseboards, rafters, and pipes — a clear sign of established runways.
Gnaw marks — Rats gnaw constantly to keep their teeth trimmed. Look for bite marks on wooden beams, electrical wiring, pipes, and food packaging. Chewed wiring is a fire risk.
Nesting material — Shredded insulation, paper, fabric, or plant material collected in corners of the attic, inside walls, or in storage areas indicates active nesting.
Strong ammonia smell — A heavy ammonia odor in the attic or walls is from urine accumulation. This indicates a large or long-established colony and requires immediate professional attention.
Entry holes on the exterior — Roof rats can enter through gaps as small as a quarter. Check roofline gaps, soffit vents, utility penetrations, and where pipes enter walls for gnawed or enlarged openings.
Roof rats (Rattus rattus) are the dominant rodent species in Miami-Dade and Broward County — agile climbers that nest in attics, palm trees, and dense vegetation. They're a year-round problem that worsens in fall as fruit trees ripen.
South Florida's fruit tree culture is a primary driver: mango, avocado, lychee, and citrus trees in residential yards are a major food source sustaining large roof rat populations. A single productive mango tree can support a colony of 10+ rats. Neighborhoods with dense tree canopy — Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Pinecrest, and parts of Hollywood — see consistently higher rodent pressure.
Roof rats enter structures through surprisingly small gaps — any opening larger than a quarter is sufficient. Common entry points include damaged soffits, gaps where roof meets wall, open gable vents, and utility conduit penetrations. Without sealing these points permanently, removal is always temporary.
Norway rats are less common in South Florida but do appear near restaurants, dumpster areas, and older commercial districts. They burrow rather than climb — treatment approach is completely different from roof rat protocols.
Rodent control service areas:
Miami · Coral Gables · Kendall · Doral · Homestead · Fort Lauderdale · Hollywood · Davie · Weston
Flat-rate pricing. Written estimate after inspection. No surprise charges.
Inspection, trap placement, weekly service visits, and removal until the property is clear. 30-day guarantee.
Get My QuoteComplete elimination + sealing all entry points permanently. The only long-term solution.
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Free inspection. Exclusion included. 30-day guarantee.
(305) 503-9725
Knockdown Pest Solutions