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The crawl space under a mobile home is an attractive shelter for all kinds of pests—rodents, snakes, insects, and wildlife. In Florida, where warm weather year-round keeps pest pressure high, preventing them from getting under your home is essential. Here's how to keep your crawl space pest-free.
Why Pests Love Mobile Home Crawl Spaces
Your crawl space offers everything pests want:
- Shelter from weather and predators
- Warmth from your home's floor above
- Moisture from condensation and ground
- Darkness for nesting
- Easy access through gaps, holes, and damaged skirting
Once pests establish themselves, they can cause damage, create odors, and even enter your living space.
Maintain Your Skirting
Your skirting is the first line of defense. Inspect it regularly for:
- Holes or gaps, especially at corners and joints
- Sections that have pulled away from the home
- Damage from lawn equipment, weather, or animals
- Missing or damaged vent covers
Even small gaps can admit mice and snakes. Repair damage promptly—a small hole today becomes a pest highway tomorrow.
Seal All Entry Points
Beyond skirting, check and seal:
- Pipe and wire penetrations: Where plumbing, electrical, and AC lines enter the home, seal gaps with caulk or foam
- Vent openings: Use hardware cloth (1/4" mesh) behind decorative vent covers
- Access doors: Ensure doors close tightly with weatherstripping
- Ground-level gaps: Fill gaps between skirting bottom and ground with foam backer rod or soil
Mice can squeeze through holes the size of a dime. Be thorough.
Control Moisture
Moisture attracts pests and creates the humidity they thrive in:
- Ensure proper drainage away from the home
- Repair any plumbing leaks immediately
- Install or maintain vapor barriers on the ground
- Ensure vents allow adequate airflow
A dry crawl space is far less attractive to pests than a damp one.
Remove Attractants
Reduce what draws pests to your home:
- Food sources: Keep pet food inside, secure garbage cans
- Water sources: Fix dripping faucets and AC drains
- Debris: Remove wood piles, leaf litter, and storage near the home
- Vegetation: Trim plants away from skirting—they provide cover and bridges
- Bird feeders: Position away from the home (spilled seed attracts rodents)
Common Florida Pests and Prevention
Rodents (mice and rats):
- Seal all holes larger than 1/4 inch
- Use hardware cloth at vents
- Remove food attractants
Snakes:
- Eliminate rodent populations (their food source)
- Clear debris and hiding spots near the home
- Seal gaps at ground level
Palmetto bugs and roaches:
- Reduce moisture
- Seal entry points
- Remove organic debris from crawl space
Armadillos and opossums:
- Secure skirting firmly to ground
- Use concrete or metal skirting (they can dig under vinyl)
- Remove food sources
Regular Inspection Routine
Establish a quarterly inspection routine:
- Walk the perimeter checking skirting for damage
- Look for signs of digging at skirting base
- Check access doors for proper closure
- Look for pest droppings or damage near entry points
- Listen for sounds of activity under the home
- Inspect inside the home for signs of pest entry
Catching problems early prevents infestations from establishing.
When Pests Have Already Moved In
If you already have pests under your home:
- Identify the pest to choose appropriate control methods
- Remove or treat the infestation (traps, professional pest control)
- Clean the crawl space (remove nests, droppings, damaged insulation)
- Repair entry points before new pests move in
- Address attractants that drew them in the first place
Don't just seal pests inside—remove them first, then prevent re-entry.
Professional Help
Some situations require professional assistance:
- Large rodent infestations
- Venomous snake concerns
- Extensive damage requiring repairs
- Wildlife removal (armadillos, raccoons)
- Damaged skirting or access doors
Pro Specialty Services can help with skirting repairs and replacement and general mobile home repairs throughout Lake County. Proper skirting is your best long-term pest prevention.
Caleb Hutchinson
Owner, Pro Specialty Services
"I see a lot of mobile homes with pest damage, and it almost always traces back to damaged skirting or gaps that were never sealed. An afternoon spent inspecting and sealing can save you from dealing with rodent damage, snake encounters, or insect infestations. Prevention really is worth the effort."
