How to Identify Common Wildlife in Your Central Florida Home

Living in Central Florida means sharing your environment with a diverse range of wildlife. While most wild animals prefer to avoid human contact, some species have adapted well to urban and suburban environments, often finding their way into homes and properties. Identifying which animal has taken up residence in your home is the first step toward effective wildlife removal and exclusion.

Signs of Raccoons

Raccoons are intelligent and adaptable creatures that commonly invade attics, crawl spaces, and chimneys in Central Florida homes. Here's how to identify raccoon activity:

• Sounds: Heavy thumping or walking noises, often heard at night. Raccoons are nocturnal and make distinctive scratching and vocal sounds including chittering, purring, and occasional screams.
• Droppings: Raccoon feces are tubular, about 2-3 inches long, and often found in concentrated "latrine" areas.
• Tracks: Raccoon prints resemble small human handprints with five long fingers.
• Damage: Torn roof shingles, damaged soffits, or ripped vent covers. Raccoons have strong front paws capable of tearing through many building materials.
• Visual confirmation: Raccoons are medium-sized animals (15-20 pounds) with distinctive black "mask" markings and ringed tails.

If you've identified these signs, you likely have a raccoon problem. Learn more about our professional raccoon removal services to safely address the issue.

Signs of Rats

Roof rats and Norway rats are common in Central Florida homes. Here's how to identify rat infestations:

• Sounds: Light scratching, scurrying, or squeaking noises in walls, ceilings, or under floors, typically more active at night.
• Droppings: Rat droppings are spindle-shaped, about ½-¾ inch long, often found along walls or near food sources.
• Gnaw marks: Rats constantly gnaw to keep their teeth trimmed, leaving marks on wood, plastic, and even electrical wiring.
• Grease marks: Rats leave dark, greasy rub marks along walls and baseboards from their oily fur.
• Nests: Shredded paper, fabric, or insulation gathered into nests in hidden areas.

Rat infestations can quickly grow out of control and pose serious health risks. Our professional rat control services provide comprehensive solutions for Central Florida homes and businesses.

Signs of Bats

Several bat species inhabit Central Florida, and they sometimes roost in attics or wall voids. Signs include:

• Sounds: Chirping or squeaking noises, particularly at dusk and dawn when bats are entering or exiting.
• Guano: Bat droppings (guano) look similar to mouse droppings but crumble easily and contain visible insect parts.
• Stains: Dark stains around entry points from body oils and urine.
• Odor: A distinctive ammonia-like smell from accumulated guano and urine.
• Visual confirmation: Bats flying around your home at dusk, or observing them entering or exiting small openings.

Remember that bats are protected in Florida, and removal must follow specific regulations. Our bat exclusion specialists ensure legal and humane removal while protecting your home.

Signs of Squirrels

Eastern gray squirrels and flying squirrels are common in Central Florida homes. Look for:

• Sounds: Running, scampering, or rolling nut sounds, typically heard during daylight hours (except for flying squirrels, which are nocturnal).
• Droppings: Similar to rat droppings but more barrel-shaped.
• Entry points: Chewed openings about 2-3 inches in diameter, often near rooflines.
• Nests: Leaf nests visible in attics or collections of shredded insulation and material.
• Activity patterns: Most squirrel activity occurs in early morning and late afternoon.

Squirrels can cause significant damage to your home's wiring and insulation. Our squirrel removal and exclusion services provide effective, long-term solutions.

Signs of Opossums

North America's only marsupial, opossums often take up residence under decks, in crawl spaces, or in outbuildings:

• Sounds: Relatively quiet animals, but may make low hissing or growling sounds when threatened.
• Droppings: Similar to cat droppings, often found near den sites.
• Tracks: Distinctive star-shaped rear footprints with an opposable thumb.
• Evidence: Disturbed garbage cans, pet food disappearance, or fruit missing from low trees.
• Visual confirmation: Medium-sized grayish animals with pointed faces, naked tails, and visible ears.

While opossums can be beneficial for controlling pests, they can become a nuisance around homes. Learn about our humane opossum removal methods if you're experiencing problems.

Signs of Snakes

Central Florida is home to numerous snake species, both venomous and non-venomous. Signs of snake presence include:

• Visual sightings: The most obvious sign is seeing a snake on your property.
• Shed skins: Snakes periodically shed their skin as they grow, leaving behind a translucent "shell."
• Tracks: In dusty areas, snakes leave distinctive S-shaped patterns.
• Unusual pet behavior: Dogs and cats may act strangely, barking or pawing at areas where snakes are hiding.
• Rodent decrease: A sudden reduction in rodent activity might indicate a predator snake has moved in.

If you're concerned about snakes on your property, our professional snake removal services can safely address the situation while identifying whether the species is venomous or beneficial.

When to Call Professional Wildlife Removal

While identifying the wildlife in your home is important, removing them safely and effectively requires professional expertise. At Creature Control, we specialize in humane wildlife removal throughout Central Florida. Our trained technicians can:

• Accurately identify the species causing your problem
• Safely remove animals without harming them
• Implement exclusion measures to prevent future intrusions
• Clean and sanitize affected areas
• Repair damage caused by wildlife

If you suspect wildlife has taken up residence in your home, contact Creature Control for a professional inspection. Our wildlife removal experts serve Lake Mary, Orlando, Sanford, and all of Central Florida with humane, effective solutions to your wildlife problems.

For more information about preventing wildlife intrusions, check out our guide on how to wildlife-proof your home.