Rat Removal in Hernando County, FL

In August 1999, the Tampa Bay Times reported that several Spring Hill neighborhoods had roof rat infestations, citing Al Gray, environmental manager for the Hernando County Health Department.

In 1999, near Tipton Lane and Skyline Court, a county health department specialist climbed a large oak to a nest the rats had taken over, the Times reported. He stopped counting at 30 and estimated three times that many.

Exterminators took 30 to 40 rats from one Liberator Court home in 1999, the Times reported. The rats had eaten attic duct work, damaged a couch and torn through blinds.

In 1999, the health department pointed to debris piles, a shed full of cardboard and old rugs, garbage in uncovered containers, leaky faucets, dog food left outside and extra bird feed: the shelter, water and food rats need.

Spring Hill has had a recurring problem with roof rats, the county's specialist said in 1999, with complaints also from Chase Street and Fireside Street. He called it an ongoing problem for years.

DOH-Hernando's rabies page says rats and other rodents are rarely found to be infected and have not been known to cause human rabies in Florida. Bites still need washing and a call to your doctor.

Hernando code treats an accumulation of trash bags, decaying vegetation or exposed appliances and furniture as a violation, the same kind of debris the health department linked to the Spring Hill rats.

Hernando's garbage rules say cart lids must be closed to prevent scavenging of animals, and only garbage inside the closed blue cart is collected. Uncovered garbage was one of the 1999 rat draws.