Types of Rodents in Florida

Rodents are gnawing small furry mammals whose teeth never stop growing. Florida is home to many rodents, but rats are the most common rodents that create a problem for many homeowners. The cooler temperatures and food scarcity in the fall season are when the rodents are most likely to invade your home. 

Why rats are a problem

Florida rodents can be dangerous and destructive. Their urine and other droppings contaminate the house and can cause a host of diseases. These diseases include rabies, food poisoning, eosinophilic meningitis, bubonic plague, leptospirosis, and rat-bite fever. They chew through electrical wires that can lead to dangerous house fires.

Rats can be a nuisance inside your home, and getting them out can be a hassle. The first step in eliminating them is to know which kind of rodent has invaded the house. There are three main types of rodents found in Florida- roof rats, Norway rats, and house mice.

Roof rats

They are the most common and the worst invaders found in south Florida homes. Also called fruit rats, citrus rats, palm rats, ship rats, or black rats, they mostly thrive in attics, fruit and palm trees, woodpiles, cabinets, garages, and garbage bins. They are either black or brown and can be between 6.5’ and 8” long. They have smooth fur, pointy faces, and large ears. They tend to be vegetarians and prefer veggies, fruits, grains, and nuts. A female roof rat can produce 20 offspring in a year. They are nocturnal creatures and hide in secluded dark places during the daytime.

Norway rats

In Florida, they are pretty standard along the sea coasts and canals. Also known as brown rats, sewer rats, and ship rats, they can grow up to 16 inches. They are reddish-brown to gray with a blunt muzzle. Unlike roof rats, they are a burrowing species and can dig structures like buildings and concrete slabs, destroying foundations and sewer lines, and erode levee banks. They make nests near water sources (pools, ponds, sewers, canals, lakes and streams, and inside walls and basements) and can enter your home in search of food. They are also nocturnal and generally prefer to eat fish, meat, and grains, but can also survive on garbage and water. Females can produce between 48-264 offspring.

House Mice

They live in fields, yards, and bushes outdoors and behind walls, near boiler or furnaces, wall and ceiling insulation, and in and behind cabinets and furniture inside homes. Usually gray or brown, house mice have a hairless tail, pointed snout, large black eyes, and rounded ears. These small and nocturnal rodents are 5-7 inches in length and can eat about anything that humans eat. They chew anything from cardboard boxes, wood to electrical wires, to keep their teeth from growing long. A single house mouse can produce 35 offspring in a year. 

“I am certainly not chasing that thing, Jack! Call Kinder Pest Control!”

No matter what type of rodent has invaded you home, it is essential to take them seriously. Acting fast can save you from costly damages. It is ideal to call a Florida pest control service. They will not only help you get rid of the rodents but will also remove their nests and other contaminated materials using environmentally-friendly pest control techniques. The professionals are equipped to handle infestations effectively and help keep your home rodent-free.

Kinder Safe Pest Solutions offers 17 years of experience in commercial and residential pest control serving Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Hillsborough, and Pinellas Counties. Call (941)254-2180 today!