We all know that rodents cause millions of dollars in damages each year. Rodents can cause damage to your house by chewing holes, eating food, and spreading diseases like salmonella and listeria.

There are over 150 species of rodents in the world, with only about ten or so being found in Florida. Most of these are introduced species that have been either unintentionally or intentionally released into the wild by people. However, several native species found throughout the state can be just as destructive as any other rodent to your home. Here is a list of the most common rodents in Florida.

Roof rats

Roof rats are an introduced species native to Asia but in large numbers across the United States. They typically inhabit commercial buildings with easy access to food and water sources for their pups. Rooms or areas that receive copious amounts of natural sunlight tend not to harbor many rats because it’s too warm, but mice will thrive up high with plenty of appropriate food for them (and dine on rat tons).

The most common damage you can expect from a roof rat infestation is chewing, and they will chew through wires (or worse, bite the insulation) and consume insulation. Other damages caused by roof rats include rotted posts/rafters, water damage to walls, and possible structural damage to the roof itself.

Norway rats

Norway rats are common throughout the United States. They’re also known as brown-backed wood rats. Norway rats are typically not a huge problem in the winter when they tend to stay underground near their nest. When summer comes along, though, with temperatures too hot for rodents to keep cool and food plentiful above ground, Norway rats will be out and about. They often have easy access through urns, trash cans, and even bird feeders.

Norway rats have been known to bring on illness among people by visiting food sources that they congregate in or chew through cables leading into an accessible area like a utility room. Norway rats also can ruin your home’s aesthetics by leaving behind huge piles of droppings.

House mouse

House mice are native to the United States and multiply quickly under high human populations and abundant food conditions. You can find most people with a house mouse issue only because they live where the rodents have easy access and no inhabitants or regular visitors.

More serious factors that attract these creatures to your home can include, but are not limited to: damaged insulation, gaps between floor joists and rafters resulting from construction defects like nail pops/nail pops.

Why are rodents dangerous?

Whether you’re dealing with Norway rats, roof rats, or house mice—pests are extremely capable of causing a devastating amount of property damage as well as posing a substantial health threat to people and pets.

Rodents set up nests in homes that destroy insulation materials like paper towels, eat electronics like laptop computers and cell phones, damage or chew holes in wires, gnaw through pipes causing plumbing leaks that spray water out into a room.

Rodents also carry diseases; fleas (which they pass on) are known carriers of bubonic plague, and the brown leg mites that burrow into surfaces and walls are carriers of Lyme disease.

Why do I have a rodent problem?

If you have a house mouse, roof rat, or Norway rat problem within your home, then here are some possible reasons why:

They can breed like mad, as much as 20 times their current population, which is the main reason we see an explosion of pests and diseases. However, they can breed exceptionally quickly, not only in the numbers we see today but also within a shorter timeframe than many people are probably used to (3-4 years instead of 30.)

You live in an urban area—an enclosed building amongst buildings. This factor is of great importance because rodent populations become endemic to the area they inhabit. Rats in urban environments don’t have a long time to develop territoriality; hence, local rat problems are much more dramatic than those on rural farms with established territories.

If you come across signs of rodent infestation at your home, the first thing to do is consult with an expert. Many pest control companies specialize in eradicating rats and mouse problems.

If you don’t have experience with this process, consult a professional exterminator to get the job done correctly.

Rodents are among the most common pests in Florida. Their ability to adapt and live in a wide variety of environments makes them difficult to eliminate once they’ve become established. To prevent rodents from entering your home, you must be aware of their habits and how they can enter your property. If you have any questions about rodents or other pests, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us!