Rat exclusion in Southwest Florida
Rat exclusion & rodent proofing in Fort Myers
Hearing scratching in the attic at 2 AM? Finding droppings in the garage? You don't have a “rat problem.” You have an entry point problem.
Rats don't break into homes. They walk in through gaps you didn't know were there. Poison won't fix that, and neither will traps on their own. The permanent fix is exclusion: finding every opening and sealing it shut with commercial-grade materials.
That's what we do, and our founder has been doing it for over 25 years.
Why exclusion works (and poison doesn't)
Poison creates a cycle, not a solution. Kill the rats inside and the gaps are still open, so new rats follow the old scent trails right back in. That's the vacuum effect. Meanwhile, poisoned rats can die in your walls, and owls, hawks and neighborhood cats that eat a poisoned rat are poisoned too.
Exclusion stops the cycle. We seal every entry point with stainless steel and exterior-grade materials that rats can't chew through. Once sealed, they can't get back in, and the scent trails don't matter anymore.
Roof rats: Florida's most common attic visitor
In Southwest Florida the rat in your attic is almost always a roof rat (also called a fruit rat, palm rat or black rat). Norway rats are rarely seen here. Roof rats are climbers. They use tree branches, power lines and fence lines to reach the roof, then squeeze through gaps about the size of a quarter.
Common roof rat entry points we seal
- Soffit gaps and damaged soffit panels
- Ridge vents and gable vents without proper screening
- A/C line penetrations and plumbing stacks
- Gaps where the roof meets the fascia
- Garage door seals and worn weatherstripping
- Foundation vents and crawlspace access points
- Damaged or missing vent screens
Signs you have rats in the attic
- Scratching, scurrying or thumping at night
- Droppings: small, dark pellets about ½ inch long
- Gnaw marks on wood, wires or food packaging
- Greasy rub marks along walls and beams
- Nesting material: shredded insulation, paper, fabric
- Pets fixating on walls or ceilings
Roof rats don't only come in high. A worn garage door seal or an open corner at the bottom of the door is a common way in at ground level. We repair and harden garage door seals so they're rodent-proof: see garage door seal repair.
Rats chew wiring and soil insulation, so it's worth acting sooner rather than later.
From real Seal Em Out jobs
Signs and ways in from real jobs
What roof rats leave behind on Southwest Florida homes, inside the attic and at the roofline.
Our exclusion process
Full property inspection
Ground to roof, inside and out: attic, crawlspace, garage, exterior walls and roofline. We find every current and potential entry point, runway and nesting area.
One-way exclusion
One-way doors at the main entry points let rats leave but not return. When trapping is needed, it's indoor traps only, checked regularly, and always together with the sealing.
Complete sealing
Once the structure is clear, every entry point is sealed with stainless steel and commercial-grade, exterior-rated materials, and vents keep their airflow.
Warranty & follow-up
Sealed for life. If roof rats get back in, we come back and fix it free. Getting a new roof, a new AC line, or a hole drilled for cable? Let us know within 10 days and we'll rodent-proof it as part of your coverage. A yearly inspection keeps your lifetime warranty active, $150 for homes.
What homeowners say
“Paul from Seal Em Out did a fantastic job ridding our attic of rodents. He explained his plan clearly and in detail. He made several return visits to follow-up on his work, making sure the rats were eradicated and all entry points were sealed tight.”
“Paul did the exclusion work for rodents in my attic. He was easy to communicate with, up front with his pricing, sealed the house the same day I contacted him and he came back several times to make sure the rodents were gone and that I was satisfied.”
From real Seal Em Out jobs
Find the gap. Seal it for good.
Ways in we've found on Southwest Florida homes. A roof rat only needs a gap about the size of a quarter.
What makes Seal Em Out different
We're not a pest control company. We don't spray chemicals, we don't sell monthly contracts, and we have never used poison.
We do exclusion, and only exclusion. Our founder, Paul Trapp, has spent 25+ years focused on one thing: sealing structures so pests can't get in. In 2005 he opened Connecticut's first mouse-proofing company, the first to offer a mouse-proof guarantee. In 2025 he started Seal Em Out to bring the same approach to Southwest Florida, adapted for roof rats, our humidity, and building styles with plenty of entry points.
Pest control companies across Florida call us when they need exclusion done right.
Start with a free quote
Your quote is free and often done remotely with satellite mapping. We price by the linear foot, with no hidden fees.
- Full property inspection
- Indoor trapping and removal when needed
- Complete sealing of all identified entry points
- Commercial-grade materials
- No poison, ever
- Lifetime warranty, renewed each year with a $150 home inspection
Most homes land between $800 and $1,500 – we'll give you an exact price up front. Larger properties may be higher. We'll explain exactly what's needed before any work begins.
Text your property address to (239) 946-RATS (7287)(239) 946-7287
Get my quoteService area: Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral and beyond
- Lee County: Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero, Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel
- Collier County: Naples, Marco Island, Golden Gate, Immokalee, Ave Maria
- Charlotte County: Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Englewood
- Sarasota County: Sarasota, Venice, North Port, Osprey, Nokomis
- Manatee County: Bradenton
If you're hearing scratching in the attic anywhere from Marco Island to Bradenton, we can help.
Frequently asked questions
Are fruit rats and palm rats the same as roof rats?
Yes. Fruit rat, palm rat and black rat are all local names for the roof rat, the rat that gets into homes in Southwest Florida.
How long does rat exclusion take?
Most residential jobs take about 7 days from start to finish. Active rodents are usually cleared within 3–5 days, then the sealing is completed.
Will you remove dead rats from my walls?
If we can reach them, yes. If rats have died in a wall cavity that can't be reached (often from poison used by a previous company), we can deodorize the area to reduce the odor while nature takes its course.
Do you offer recurring pest control services?
No. A yearly inspection keeps your lifetime warranty active, $150 for homes. The goal is to solve the problem once, not to sell a subscription you pay forever.
What does the warranty cover?
Sealed for life. If roof rats get back in, we come back and fix it free. Getting a new roof, a new AC line, or a hole drilled for cable? Let us know within 10 days and we'll rodent-proof it as part of your coverage. A yearly inspection keeps your lifetime warranty active, $150 for homes.
I had Seal Em Out work done through another company. Can I extend the warranty?
Yes. Text or call (239) 946-RATS (7287)(239) 946-7287 and we'll set up an inspection and keep your warranty going.
Is exclusion safe for my pets?
Yes. We use no poisons of any kind. When trapping is needed, it's indoor traps only, placed where pets can't reach them, and always alongside the sealing. One-way doors pose no risk to pets.
What if rats come back after you're done?
We come back and fix it free. That's what the lifetime warranty is for.
How much does rat exclusion cost?
Most homes land between $800 and $1,500, and we give you an exact price up front. Your quote is free and often done remotely with satellite mapping. Larger properties may be higher.
