Two rats, two different jobs.
A roof rat climbs. Its roads are utility lines, fence rails and palm crowns, and it sleeps high up in attics, soffits and dense fronds. A Norway rat digs instead, favoring burrows next to slabs, sheds, retaining walls and woodpiles, and it enters a house through low gaps.
The difference decides where the search begins. Overhead noise at dusk points to a roof rat and a roofline inspection. Droppings in a ground-level garage and fresh soil beside a slab point to a Norway rat and a yard walk first.
| Sign. | Roof rat. | Norway rat. |
|---|---|---|
| Where noise is heard. | Attic or upper walls, near dusk. | Lower walls and garage, at night. |
| Typical entry. | Roof edge, vents, wire entries. | Slab edge, door base, drain gaps. |
| Outdoor clue. | Gnawed fruit, shredded palm fiber. | Burrow holes, packed dirt paths. |
| Trap placement. | Along rails, wires and beams. | Along walls and burrow runs. |
The roofline walk.
A rat needs only a branch or a cable to reach the shingles. We stand back from the house and trace every path to the roof: oak limbs, palm fronds, fence tops, the line that feeds the meter. Each one gets noted, because trimming is part of the fix.
Tomoka State Park lies just north of the city, and homes near large wooded or marshy ground may share a border with wildlife. We make no claim about any single address. We simply ask whether your lot backs onto thick growth, since that edge deserves a walk.
- Cut back limbs and fronds until several feet of air separate them from the roof.
- Gather windfall fruit, nuts and spilled birdseed daily.
- Keep pet food inside and rinse the bowl before dark.
- Stack firewood on a rack well clear of walls and fence.
Traps, stations and the lane they sit on.
Rats avoid new objects for a day or two, so placement matters more than quantity. Traps sit along the run, pressed to a wall or laid on a beam, somewhere kids and pets cannot get to. Enclosed stations protect curious dogs and cats.
We prefer trapping combined with sealing. If a bait product is ever part of the plan, you are told which one, where it sits and why, and the EPA page below explains the household rules.
Not ready to commit? Talk anyway, because a chat does not obligate you to book.
Reach us on (888) 686-4821Closing what a rat can open.
A rat can gnaw soft openings wider. Foam, plastic and thin aluminum fail quickly, and salt air speeds up corrosion on coastal buildings. Heavy mesh, flashing and sealant that cures hard cover the openings, and the exclusion page describes each material.
Trim the bridge, close the door, then trap what is left.
Safety during the wait.
Avoid the attic where possible. Treading on insulation kicks up dust you should not inhale. Keep pets clear of the area and never sweep or vacuum droppings. A careful method appears in the CDC steps in the safety box lower on the page.
Before you call: a careful way to treat pellets and nests.
Everything in this box restates guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. It applies to any household, booked visit or not.
- Sweeping and vacuuming dry droppings are off the table, since both fling fine particles toward your lungs.
- Airing comes first. The CDC starts closed-space cleanup with roughly thirty minutes of fresh air.
- With gloves on, skin never meets droppings, urine or nesting material, and that contact is easy to prevent.
- Dampen each pellet and stain fully and let the liquid rest before you touch anything.
- One knotted bag can hold towels and a carcass together, with a second bag if the plastic is thin.
- Anyone who becomes ill after contact with rodent waste needs a clinician, because health questions fall outside pest work.
Origins of the safety advice.
If a point matters to you, verify it at the source listed beneath.
- CDC guide to cleaning up after rodents: A household-level explanation of every cleanup step, with the reasons attached.
- CDC page on preventing hantavirus: The source for our advice on closing gaps and decluttering.