What kind of rodent is in my house?
In the attic, it's most often a roof rat; in the kitchen, often a house mouse. UF/IFAS describes the roof rat as a non-native, sleek, dark rat with large ears — a skilled climber that lives mostly in trees and the upper levels of homes, and eats fruit, nuts, seeds, pet food and garbage. If the noise is overhead at night, think roof rat. If it's daytime scratching in a soffit, it may be a squirrel instead (see below).
What are the signs of rats or mice?
Droppings, chewing, nesting and noise. The FWC lists chew marks on wood or wiring, damaged or tunneled insulation, scurrying sounds in walls or the attic, droppings near entry points, and greasy rub marks around openings as signs an animal is using a structure.
- Dark, rice-sized droppings in drawers, under sinks or along attic walls.
- Gnawed food packages, wiring or wood; shredded paper or insulation used as nesting.
- Smudge marks along beams or where a pipe enters the wall.
- Pets staring or pawing at one spot in a wall or ceiling.
Why does exclusion matter more than poison?
Because a sealed house stays rat-free; a baited house just gets new rats. UF/IFAS calls exclusion — covering entry points with rodent-proof material like hardware cloth or steel mesh — the key to prevention, and recommends trimming limbs that overhang the roof, capping chimneys, and using snap traps during an active infestation. It says rodenticides should be a last resort, used only in tamper-resistant stations away from children and pets, because they can harm other wildlife.
| Step | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Inspection | Roofline, soffits, gable and ridge vents, AC line sets, plumbing and garage door gaps. |
| Removal | Traps placed along runways in the attic and walls; checked on a schedule. |
| Exclusion | Sealing gaps with steel mesh, hardware cloth or metal flashing once activity stops. |
| Clean-up | Removing droppings and soiled insulation; the company should explain how they handle it safely. |
Is it a rodent or wildlife — and who handles it?
Rats and mice are pest control work; raccoons and opossums are wildlife work. Florida's pest control law defines "rodent" to include rats, mice and squirrels. Some wildlife trappers hold an FDACS "LW" certificate that lets them trap rats and mice with non-chemical methods only — not use pesticides. For raccoons, UF/IFAS notes they often den in uncapped chimneys and that trapped nuisance animals must be humanely killed or released on the same property, and the FWC doesn't license nuisance trappers, so vet them carefully.
Rodents around Plant City
Plant City sits among strawberry fields, groves and big live oaks, and towns just west like Seffner and Dover still mix farms with new subdivisions. Roof rats travel along branches and fences, so a tree touching the roof is a common way in — trimming it back is part of most exclusion jobs. It's one of the problems we route for local pest control in Plant City. Found droppings and roaches in the same cabinet? See cockroach control too.