Rat Burrow and Seawall Treatment in Fort Lauderdale

Rat holes along the seawall, a burrow under the shed slab, fresh dirt at the edge of the patio. These are ground rats, usually Norway rats, though UF/IFAS says roof rats will also nest in burrows in canal banks and under sidewalks. Fort Lauderdale has miles of canals and seawalls behind homes, so this is a common call.

UF/IFAS describes the classic sign as freshly dug dirt scattered in front of openings about 3 inches wide, with runways leading to them. Those holes connect to tunnels that can run under slabs, docks and planters.

What people usually notice first:

• Holes about 3 inches wide with fresh dirt at the mouth
• Smooth, packed trails leading to the holes
• Burrows behind or along the seawall cap, or under the dock
• Sinking soil or voids behind the seawall
• Droppings around dock boxes and pool equipment

What thorough burrow treatment includes

Filling a hole with dirt doesn't solve anything. The rats dig a new exit a foot away. A real job deals with the rats, the burrow and the reason they're there:

• Mapping every active burrow and runway on the lot
• Trapping along the runways and at burrow exits
• Locked, anchored bait stations if the plan uses bait, never loose bait in a hole
• Collapsing and filling burrows once activity stops
• Pointing out voids behind the seawall that need a marine contractor
• Removing food and cover: fish scraps, fallen fruit, stacked pavers, junk

Step by step

A burrow job usually goes like this:

1. Walk the seawall, dock, slab edges, sheds and planters to find holes
2. Lightly close the holes and check the next day to see which reopen. Reopened ones are active.
3. Set traps and any bait stations along active runways
4. Recheck and repeat until holes stay closed
5. Collapse, fill and tamp the burrows, and seal any gaps into the house or garage

Why burrows are harder in Fort Lauderdale

Seawalls lose fill behind them over time through cracks and weep holes, and the voids that form are perfect rat housing. Docks and boat lifts add cover right at the water. The soil is sandy, so tunnels are easy to dig and easy to collapse, and rats rebuild fast.

Neighbors share the canal. A colony under one dock spreads along the seawall to the next yard, so a block where only one owner treats will keep seeing rats. Talk to the neighbors, or to your HOA if it maintains the seawall. Homes in Rio Vista, Coral Ridge, Lighthouse Point and Harbor Beach see this most.

Seawall voids are a separate repair

A rodent provider can find and treat burrows, but a failing seawall needs a marine contractor and usually a permit. If the technician finds sinkholes or large voids behind the cap, get the wall looked at. Rats are often the first sign that fill is washing out.

Burrows away from the water

Inland lots get burrows too. Look along the edge of the house slab, under sheds and air conditioner pads, in raised planters and under piles of pavers or lumber. Compost bins and chicken coops draw burrowing rats fast. So do fruit drops under a mango tree.

The fix is the same: confirm which holes are active, trap along the runways, and close burrows once they go quiet. Then take away the cover. Fort Lauderdale code cases cite outdoor storage that may become infested by rodents, so clearing junk from the yard helps with the city as well as the rats.

Related services: Rat Control, Rodent Exclusion & Sealing, Rodent Inspection

Areas served: Victoria Park, Las Olas, Rio Vista, Sailboat Bend, Tarpon River, Croissant Park, Harbor Beach, Coral Ridge, Imperial Point, Downtown & Flagler Village, Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, Plantation, Davie, Hollywood, Dania Beach, Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Coral Springs.