MELBOURNE, Fla. — When the weather starts to get cold, experts say rats invading homes in Central Florida can become a growing hazard.

LJ Martin has been a wildlife exclusion expert with Slug-A-Bug pest control in Melbourne for eight years, and said the call he was currently answering was at a home that was suffering from a serious infestation.

“This house has a wildlife issue, unfortunately,” he said. “Rats, in that corner, about 1 foot wide, and about that thick. We actually had a rat poking its head out at us when we were installing the one-way valve cage system. Kind of takes the guesswork out of it when they are smiling right back at you."

Along with that sighting, Martin said there was plenty of other evidence, including droppings, claw marks and an oily residue left behind by rats' skin.

Slug-A-Bug owner Steve Lum said his company usually sees a spike in calls to remove critters like rats from homes as the cold winter months set in.

He said rats are opportunists and often find warm attics to crawl into.

But Lum said there can be other reasons causing rats to be on the move looking for warmth to begin with.

“Definitely the constant construction in the area will bring them out," he said. "They are looking for a new home. Especially in the new neighborhoods they just level it, and they take away all of the trees. You’re going to have an influx.”

Martin said rats can do lots of damage like chew on electrical lines, so it's important to catch the problem early before it becomes dangerous.

“They think it’s nesting material," he said. "When, in fact, it’s a massive hazard that could cause a potential fire.”

Martin said that if a rat is determined to get in an attic, they can find a way in by scurrying up pool enclosures, trees and even the sides of houses, which is why it is key to seal off gutters, soffits and any other open spaces.