Rat removal in Lakeland, FL
Rat removal in Lakeland means figuring out which rat you have first. Roof rats run the attic and the citrus trees, Norway rats stay low in crawl spaces and sheds, and each one needs a different plan.
- Roof rats, Norway rats and mice
- Top to bottom inspection
- Entry gaps sealed for good
Rats in the house? Start here
Tell us what you are hearing or seeing. We will get back to you, set up a visit and give you a straight answer on what it takes.
- Firm quote before any work starts
- Call, text or email, your pick
- Licensed and insured in Florida
Quick answer. Critter Guys does rat removal in Lakeland, FL for homes and businesses. We inspect the attic, roof line and ground level, trap the rats inside, place locked bait station boxes outside, and seal the gaps they use to get in. That covers roof rats, Norway rats and house mice. To book an inspection in Lakeland, call or text (321) 203-6963.
Why rats do well in Lakeland
Lakeland has a lot going for a rat. Backyard oranges and grapefruit, palms and oaks that brush the roof, and lakes and retention ponds with thick vegetation around them all give rodents food and cover. In the older parts of town, including the bungalow streets around Lake Morton and Lake Hollingsworth, many houses sit on piers with crawl spaces underneath, which suits Norway rats.
Then there’s the commercial side. Lakeland sits on I-4 between Tampa and Orlando and has a big warehouse and distribution presence, and loading docks, dumpsters and stored goods attract rodents. Neighborhoods next to that kind of property tend to feel the spillover.
Lakeland field notes
- Polk County, on I-4
- Backyard citrus across town
- Crawl space homes near downtown
- Warehouse and distribution corridors
Which Lakeland rat are you dealing with
Both live in Lakeland, but they behave very differently. Here’s how to tell them apart.
| Roof rat | Norway rat |
|---|---|
| Slim body, tail longer than body | Heavy body, shorter thick tail |
| Climbs: attics, soffits, trees | Digs: burrows, crawl spaces, sheds |
| Comes in along wires and limbs | Comes in at foundation and slab gaps |
| Eats fruit right on the tree | Eats garbage, pet food, seed |
On the job
What Lakeland homeowners notice before calling about rat removal
Rats are good at hiding. These are the clues that give them away.
Scratching inside walls at night
Rats are most active after dark. Quick, scurrying runs along the ceiling or inside a wall usually start soon after the house goes quiet.
Hollowed-out fruit on the tree
Oranges with a neat hole and the inside eaten out are a roof rat calling card.
Droppings in the garage or pantry
Dark, capsule-shaped pellets along walls, behind appliances or in stored boxes.
Grease marks along beams
Rats run the same path over and over, leaving dark rub lines on rafters, pipes and entry gaps.
Chewed wires or AC insulation
Gnawing on wiring, refrigerant line wrap or the corners of stored items.
How our rat removal works
Baiting alone doesn’t fix a rat problem. This is the order we work in.
Inspect high and low
We check the attic, roof line, crawl space or slab edge, garage, and yard. Rats can squeeze through a gap about the size of a quarter, so we look for every one.
Trap inside
Traps go along the runways in the attic or crawl space and get checked and cleared on a schedule. No poison inside the living space, so nothing dies in the walls.
Bait station boxes outside
Locked, tamper-resistant stations go around the outside of the house to cut down the population moving in from the yard.
Seal the gaps
Roof returns, vent screens, plumbing penetrations and AC chases get closed with rodent-proof material. For full roof line and foundation work, see our Lakeland exclusion service.
Clean up
Droppings, urine-soaked insulation and nesting come out, and the area gets sanitized. Heavier jobs go through our attic cleanup in Lakeland.
How Lakeland customers rate our rat work
4.9
141 reviews on Google
★★★★★
Called Critter Guys through a recommendation from my sister in Lakeland after we saw a squirrel peaking out from a hole above the garage at my mother’s home in Riverview. My sister had the same issue at her Lakeland home. We got an appointment for the Riverview house right away and Craig came out to do an assessment and estimate. The price was reasonable and Craig was very professional and friendly. He quickly assessed the issue and found 4 holes in the roof. He set up traps and came back a few days later. During that waiting time one of the traps in the attic caught a mouse. So, when he came back, he sealed off 3 of the holes and set up a one-way trap in the 4th hole to draw out any remaining critters. He’ll come back in 2 weeks to close off the remaining hole. He also gave us a 30 day warranty if anything else happens. So far we haven’t seen or heard anything else. I’m very happy with the service received and would highly recommend this company.
Pramela IttoopGoogle review
★★★★★
Craig from Critter Guys was wonderful! Very responsive with great communication. We had a rat issue he came right out the next day to access the problem. If you have a critter concern look no further Critter Guys is awesome!
Christine FerkileGoogle review
★★★★★
Craig is great! Always ready to go above and beyond!!
Orazio TartagliaGoogle review
Read every review on Google or see more Critter Guys reviews
Ways to make your Lakeland property less inviting to rats
After the rats are out, these habits help keep them out.
- Pick up fallen citrus every few days
- Trim palms and limbs at least a few feet back from the roof
- Store pet food and birdseed in sealed bins
- Keep firewood and lumber off the ground and away from walls
- Close garage doors at night
- Have the roof line checked after a big storm
Related Lakeland services
Rat removal near Lakeland
Rat Removal in Lakeland: quick answers
Don’t see your question? Call or text (321) 203-6963 and ask a real person.
How much does rat removal cost in Lakeland?
We quote after the inspection, since the price depends on how many entry points need sealing, how big the infestation is and how much cleanup the attic needs. A home with a few gaps costs less than one with years of activity. You’ll know the plan and number before we start.
Can roof rats in a Lakeland attic make my family sick?
They can carry disease, so it is worth dealing with them promptly. Rodent urine can spread leptospirosis, and droppings and nesting contaminate insulation and anything stored up there. We remove the rats, clear out what they left and sanitize so the risk leaves with them.
Can I put rat poison in my Lakeland attic instead?
We advise against it. Poison inside the house often means rats die in the walls or ceiling, and the smell can last for weeks, and it does nothing about the gaps that let them in. We trap inside, use locked bait station boxes outside, and seal the entry points.
How many weeks does a Lakeland rat job usually run?
Most homes need a couple of weeks of trapping and follow-up checks, depending on the number of rats and how quickly the gaps get sealed. Once the house is closed and the traps stay empty, we know it is clear.
Do you handle rats at Lakeland businesses and warehouses?
Yes. We work with businesses, property managers, HOAs and townhome communities. Commercial jobs usually mean exterior bait stations around the building plus sealing dock doors, utility penetrations and roof gaps.
I hear squirrels too. Can you handle both?
Yes. Lakeland attics sometimes have rats at night and squirrels in the morning. One inspection covers both, and our squirrel removal in Lakeland uses the same sealing work.
Stop hearing scratching in the walls
Call or text (321) 203-6963 to book your Lakeland rat inspection. Our methods match what we do for rat removal in Orlando, and we work around our Lakeland service area every week.