Rodents
RODENT CONTROL MIAMI
At Monster Pest Control, we’re dedicated to ensuring the safety and comfort of your home or business by providing expert rodent control and Miami pest control services. Our team is licensed, certified, and highly experienced in eliminating rats, mice, and other rodents commonly found in South Florida. Whether you’re dealing with a minor infestation or a larger problem, our specialists are here to help you take control.
As trusted Miami pest control experts, we understand the local pests that threaten Miami residents and businesses. Learn more about the different types of rodents in South Florida, and how we can help protect your property with effective, environmentally-friendly solutions.
Learn More About Local Rodents in Miami
Raccoons
Raccoons are small dog-sized animals known for their black “mask” markings and bushy ringed tail. Weighing 8-15 pounds, they are common throughout Florida, particularly in urban areas with trees and reliable water sources.
Raccoons are highly intelligent and opportunistic feeders, eating fruits, plant material, eggs, small animals, and garbage. They are most active at night, although their behavior may adjust depending on food availability.
While raccoons help control pests, they can cause problems when they invade homes and businesses. Securing food sources and potential entry points is key to preventing infestations.
If you’re dealing with a raccoon problem, Monster Pest Control offers expert raccoon removal and pest control services in Miami. Contact us today to keep your property pest-free.
Adult Norway rats typically weigh around 1 pound and have coarse fur,
usually brownish or reddish gray on the back, with a whitish gray belly.
These rats live in close proximity to humans and are commonly found in both urban and suburban areas. Norway rats can be found in residences, cellars, warehouses, stores, slaughterhouses, docks, and sewers. On farms, they often inhabit barns, granaries, livestock buildings, silos, and kennels. These rats may burrow to create nests under buildings, beneath concrete slabs, along stream banks, around ponds, and in garbage dumps. They prefer locations that offer easy access to food, water, and shelter. Although Norway rats can climb, they generally favor the lower floors of multi-story buildings.
Norway rats are not picky eaters and will consume nearly any type of food. However, when given the choice, they prefer a nutritionally balanced diet, selecting fresh and wholesome items over stale or contaminated foods. Their favorites include cereal grains, meats, fish, nuts, and some types of fruit.
Females are highly reproductive and may come into heat every 4 to 5 days, mating shortly after giving birth. Breeding activity peaks in the spring and fall, with a decline in summer heat and often stopping in winter depending on their environment. On average, a female rat has 4 to 6 litters per year and may successfully wean over 20 offspring annually.
You may find Norway rat droppings along their runways, in feeding areas, and near their nests. These droppings can be as large as 3/4 inch long and 1/4 inch in diameter. Norway rats memorize their pathways and habitually use the same routes, making them easier to track and manage.
If you’re dealing with a Norway rat infestation in Miami, it’s important to contact a professional rat removal Miami expert. At Monster Pest Control, we specialize in rodent removal and offer reliable pest control services to eliminate rats and prevent future infestations. Contact us today for safe and effective rat removal solutions.
House mice are small rodents with large ears and small black eyes
Typically weighing about 1/2 ounce, they are light brown to gray in color. An adult house mouse measures about 5 to 7 inches long, including a 3- to 4-inch tail.
While house mice prefer cereal grains, they are opportunistic feeders and will nibble on a variety of foods. Mice have exceptional senses of taste, hearing, smell, and touch, making them highly adept at finding food. Additionally, they are excellent climbers and can easily scale rough, vertical surfaces.
In a single year, a female house mouse can have 5 to 10 litters, with each litter consisting of 5 to 6 young. Mice are born 19 to 21 days after conception and reach reproductive maturity in just 6 to 10 weeks. The average lifespan of a mouse is typically 9 to 12 months.
Due to their small size, house mice can enter homes and other buildings much more easily than larger rodents like rats. This makes them a common problem in homes and businesses, especially in Miami.
If you’re dealing with house mice or suspect an infestation, it’s important to contact a professional in mouse removal Miami. At Monster Pest Control, we specialize in rodent removal and provide comprehensive pest control services to protect your home or business from these pesky intruders. Call us today for expert mouse removal and to prevent future infestations.
The roof rat, also known as the same species that historically carried the bubonic plague, is a significant pest in Florida, especially in Miami. These rats are the primary reservoir host for murine typhus and are among the most problematic rodents in the state. Roof rats cause extensive damage by consuming and destroying stored food, attacking fruit crops, and taking residence in attics, soffits, hollow walls, and out-buildings.
When these rats invade buildings, they can cause structural damage by chewing through wires (posing a fire risk), gnawing through plastic and lead water pipes, and creating holes in walls. Their destructive behavior is not only harmful but costly.
The damage they cause to fruits like citrus, papaya, cantaloupe, and watermelon is unmistakable: a circular hole about the size of a quarter or half dollar, with the fruit hollowed out.
Adult roof rats are typically 12-14 inches long and weigh between 5-10oz. They have a distinctive long tail, longer than their body and head, which is hairless, scaly, and black in color. These rats come in three color phases in Florida: black with a slate gray belly, gray with a lighter gray belly, and brownish gray above with a white or cream-colored belly.
Roof rats are omnivores, eating both plant and animal-based food, but they are especially fond of fruits. They feed on cultivated fruits, native fruits, nuts, livestock feed, pet food, bird seed, and garbage. These rats are notorious for contaminating and damaging more food than they consume.
Reaching sexual maturity at 3 to 4 months, roof rats breed year-round in Florida, with peak breeding occurring in spring and fall. A female can give birth to 5 to 8 pups after a gestation period of 21 to 23 days, producing up to 4 or 5 litters annually.
If you’re dealing with roof rats or suspect an infestation, it’s crucial to contact an expert in rat removal Miami. At Monster Pest Control, we specialize in professional rodent removal, ensuring that your home or business is free from these destructive pests. Contact us today for safe, effective pest control services to handle any rat infestation.
Opossums have grayish-white fur and are about the size of a house cat. They have long naked tails, small naked ears, and a pointed snout.
Opossums in Miami are nocturnal animals that prefer woodlands with plenty of cover and nearby water, but they are also commonly found in urban areas where food is readily available. These opportunistic creatures are attracted to garbage, pet food, and cultivated fruits and vegetables.
Known for being skilled climbers, opossums can often be seen in trees, atop fences, or even on rooftops. Female opossums typically produce at least two litters per year, with 7 to 11 young that crawl into the mother’s pouch to nurse after a brief gestation period.
As scavengers, opossums frequently raid garbage cans, dumpsters, and any containers where food is left behind. They are drawn to carrion and often feed on roadkill. Their diet also includes grass, nuts, fruit, and small animals such as mice, birds, insects, worms, and even chickens.
When threatened by predators like dogs, foxes, or bobcats, opossums use a unique defense tactic known as “playing dead.” They fall limp, close their eyes, extend their tongues, and appear lifeless—giving them a chance to escape.
Opossums often nest in tree holes or abandoned animal dens, making them a common nuisance in both natural and urban environments.
If you’re dealing with opossums or other pests, Monster Pest Control is your go-to for professional pest control services in Miami. Our experts specialize in rodent removal, exterminator services, and offering safe, effective solutions for your home or business. Contact us today for top-notch pest control to keep your property pest-free!