Signs of Rodents in Your House and How to Get Rid of Them

Cold snaps don't hit Orlando very often. But when they do, something predictable happens about a week later. Homeowners start noticing signs that rodents have moved in. Scratching in the attic at weird hours. Droppings in the garage that weren't there before. Chew marks are showing up in places that make absolutely no sense.

Here's what nobody tells you—the cold snap itself isn't when the problem starts. You're too focused on covering plants and adjusting the thermostat to notice anything else. It's afterward, once temperatures return to normal, that the evidence appears. And if you're dealing with this right now? You're definitely not alone. It happens every single time we get a cold snap around here.

What's Actually Going On

So why does this keep happening? Mice and rats do just fine outdoors most of the year in Central Florida. We have mild winters, plenty of humidity, and many places to hide. They're up in palm trees, under landscaping, nesting in whatever dense vegetation they can find. Not bothering anyone.

Then a cold snap rolls through and changes the whole equation. Nighttime temperatures drop into the forties or fifties, and suddenly every rodent within a half-mile radius decides your house looks pretty good. Consistent warmth. Food in the pantry. No owls trying to eat them. Can't really blame them, honestly.

Orlando's landscape makes this worse. Way worse. All those mature trees and dense shrubs right up against houses? Roof rats use them like highways to your roofline. Professional mouse exterminator services stay busy after cold snaps, specifically because of how common this problem is in Central Florida.

And here's the part that really gets people—rodent populations around here never die back. Up north, harsh winters naturally keep the numbers down. Not here. Florida rodents breed year-round. So when cold weather finally pushes them indoors, you're not dealing with a stray mouse that wandered in. You're potentially looking at an established colony shopping for new real estate.

How to Tell if They're Already Inside

Rodents are nocturnal, and they actively avoid you. Most homeowners never see a mouse or rat until the problem is already serious. The trick is learning to spot the indirect stuff early.

Droppings. That's your clearest sign. Mouse droppings look like small dark grains of rice—maybe a quarter inch long. Rat droppings are noticeably bigger, about half an inch. Fresh ones look dark and moist. Older ones turn gray and begin to crumble. Check behind the fridge. Inside cabinets. Along baseboards where walls meet floors.

Gnaw marks show up in weird places. Rodents have to chew constantly because their teeth literally never stop growing. So they'll go after food packaging, sure, but also wood trim, plastic containers,and even electrical wiring. That last one isn't just annoying—it's a legitimate fire hazard that insurance companies take very seriously.

You might notice greasy smudge marks along your baseboards, too. Rodents travel the same paths over and over, and oils from their fur leave these dark streaks behind. Usually appears near gaps around pipes, behind appliances, or anywhere they're squeezing through regularly.

And the sounds. Scratching or scurrying inside walls and ceilings, mostly at night. If you're hearing that, something's nesting in there. Not great news, but at least you know now.

Why Waiting Makes Everything Worse

Look, rodent populations grow fast. Uncomfortably fast. One pair of mice can produce dozens of offspring within a few months. And those offspring? They start breeding within weeks of being born. What starts as "I think I heard something in the attic" turns into a full-blown infestation before most people even realize what's happening.

The health stuff is real, too. Droppings and urine contaminate anywhere rodents travel—kitchen counters, pantry shelves, storage areas. Hantavirus, Salmonella, and Leptospirosis. These aren't made-up risks. And the property damage just compounds. They gnaw through insulation, ductwork, wood framing, and wiring. It adds up.

Orlando pest control professionals can identify what you're dealing with and address it before it escalates.

What Actually Works for Prevention

Okay, so prevention. It comes down to making your house harder to access and less appealing once they're looking.

Start outside. Walk around your foundation and look for gaps. This is important—mice can squeeze through holes the size of a dime. Not exaggerating. So even tiny cracks around utility penetrations, damaged soffit, worn weatherstripping under doors, and gaps where pipes come through walls. All of it matters. Steel wool stuffed into smaller holes works well. Hardware cloth for bigger openings.

Trim back trees and shrubs that touch your roofline. Roof rats are everywhere in Central Florida, and they're excellent climbers. That palm tree branch brushing against your soffit? Basically, a welcome mat.

Inside, think about food access. Sealed containers for pantry stuff—glass or metal, not plastic, so they cannot chew through. Pet food is stored instead of left out all day. Crumbs cleaned up. Dishes are done instead of piling up in the sink overnight. Basically, stop making it easy.

Water matters too. Fix dripping faucets and leaky pipes. Rodents need to drink daily, and that slow drip under your sink is basically a water fountain for them.

When DIY Isn't Cutting It

Sometimes you do everything right and still end up with a problem. It happens. When signs of an infestation appear despite your best efforts, professional help typically delivers results faster and more thoroughly than DIY.

Pest control pros know where to look. They understand how rodents behave around here, specifically. They handle rodent removal and exclusion work that actually addresses why the problem started—not just the symptoms you're seeing right now.

ABC Home & Commercial Services serves the Orlando area with inspections, treatment plans, and ongoing prevention services. Content strategy by digital marketing agency ASTOUNDZ.

ABC Home & Commercial Services Orlando
City: Orlando
Address: 823 East Colonial Drive
Website: https://www.abchomeandcommercial.com/orlando
Phone: +1 407 265 0665