The Village of Lazy Lake is a handful of houses on a single lane around a quarry lake, completely surrounded by Wilton Manors and home to only a few dozen residents. It is small, quiet and full of character, and its pests are the ones that come with older homes, mature landscaping and a lake at the back door. Toro Pest Management has protected South Florida homes since 1969, and we treat every Lazy Lake property as the individual home it is.
- Since 1969Third generation, protecting South Florida
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Why Lazy Lake Has Its Own Pest Challenges
Lazy Lake is one of the smallest municipalities in Florida and the smallest in Broward County, by both population and area. The 2020 census counted 33 residents. The village covers only a tiny patch of land and is a landlocked enclave entirely inside the City of Wilton Manors, just north of Fort Lauderdale. Its one road is Lazy Lane, in a pocket bounded by NE 24th Street, NE 21st Court, NE 1st Avenue and North Andrews Avenue.
The village has an unusual origin. In 1946, developer Hal Ratliff began building homes around an old rock quarry, which filled with water to form the lake. Architect Clinton Gamble designed the original houses. According to local lore, a friend of Ratliff’s said the water looked “so lazy and peaceful,” and the name stuck. The village began with 13 homes on 13 acres, the most its charter allowed, and Lazy Lake was incorporated as a village on June 3, 1953. Over the years residents have debated selling the entire village and, at one point, joining Wilton Manors, but it remains an independent municipality.
For pest control, that history translates into three facts. First, the houses are not new: the oldest go back to the late 1940s, and older wood framing, roofs and furniture are where drywood termites and other wood pests settle in. Second, almost every home has a lake on one side, so moist soil, shoreline vegetation and humidity are part of daily life, which favors mosquitoes, ants, subterranean termites and iguanas. Third, with homes this close together around one lake, a problem on one lot such as rats in a tree canopy or a termite colony in the soil can easily become the neighbors’ problem too. Add South Florida’s tropical climate and a rainy summer, and pest pressure in Lazy Lake is steady, even if the village itself is tiny.
Common Pests in Lazy Lake and Why They Show Up
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites live inside dry, sound wood and never need to touch the ground. Homes with mid-century roof framing, wood trim and heirloom furniture are classic targets. Colonies are small but a single house can have several, which is when whole-structure fumigation becomes the practical option.
Signs to watch for: small piles of pellets that look like coarse sand on sills and floors.
Subterranean Termites
The Formosan and Asian subterranean termites nest in moist soil, and lakeside lots give them plenty. UF researchers reported in 2026 that their 2016 projection is still on course: about half of urban South Florida's structures could face risk from these two species by roughly 2040.
Signs to watch for: mud tubes on slabs and walls, and winged swarmers near lights in spring.
Mosquitoes
The shoreline gives adult mosquitoes shade and humidity to rest in, and the Aedes aegypti and Asian tiger mosquito breed in the small containers found in any yard. Both bite during the day, right when you want to enjoy the water. Our mosquito control treats resting and breeding areas around the home.
Iguanas and Other Wildlife
Green iguanas are not native to Florida, and they like the same things lakefront homeowners do: sun, water and landscaping. Their burrows can undermine banks, sidewalks and slabs, and they feed on flowers, leaves and fruit. Raccoons and opossums also visit. Our wildlife service handles exclusion and removal.
Roof Rats
Roof rats are climbers. Palms, fruit trees and dense canopies that touch the roofline give them a bridge into attics, and an established community with mature trees offers plenty of those. Our rodent control seals entry points, traps and monitors.
Signs to watch for: scratching above the ceiling at night and gnawed fruit under trees.
Ants
White-footed ants and ghost ants nest in landscaping, under palm fronds and in wall voids, then trail indoors to kitchens and bathrooms. Fire ants build mounds in sunny lawn edges. With nuisance ants, store-bought sprays tend to split colonies rather than end them; baits work better. See our ant guide.
Lazy Lake homeowners may also run into whiteflies on ficus hedges, chinch bugs that brown St. Augustine lawns (our lawn spray service treats them), spiders and wasps under eaves and docks, and American cockroaches that come up from drains after heavy rain.
Residential Pest Control in Lazy Lake
Lazy Lake is entirely residential, so residential service is what we do here. Each house is different: some have been carefully restored, some have been expanded, and each one has its own relationship with the lake, from open lawn running to the water to thick vegetation along the bank.
We start with a free inspection of the home inside and out, including the attic, the foundation line, the yard and the lake edge. We look for termite evidence, rodent entry points, moisture problems and the conditions that draw mosquitoes and ants. Then we explain what we found in plain language and recommend a plan, whether that is a one-time fix or ongoing residential pest control. With regular service, our 110% Satisfaction Guarantee applies: if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
A sale is a good moment for a careful look. If you are buying, ask for a termite inspection before closing; if you have owned your home for years, a yearly check keeps hidden damage from growing. Neighbors who coordinate their service, especially for mosquitoes and rats, often get better results than one home treating alone.
Commercial Pest Control for Lazy Lake Businesses
There are no stores or offices in the village itself, but Lazy Lake property owners still have business needs. Some homes are rented out, and the businesses just outside the village boundary in Wilton Manors face the same pests.
We provide commercial pest control for:
- Property management of rental homes and nearby multifamily buildings, with turnover inspections between tenants.
- Restaurants and food service in the surrounding Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale area.
- Retail stores and offices nearby.
Commercial plans include written service reports and scheduling around your hours. Our technicians train at the TORO Institute, our facility at the Miami headquarters, where on-staff entomologists teach food safety, sanitation, structural practices and pest management techniques.
Lazy Lake Pest Calendar: What to Expect Each Season
| Season | What is active in Lazy Lake | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (dry season) | Roof rats in attics, iguanas basking on banks, whiteflies on hedges | Trim limbs off the roof and schedule a termite inspection before spring. |
| March | Asian subterranean termite swarms around sunset; drywood swarms beginning | Switch off outdoor lights at dusk and save any wings you find. |
| Late April to June | Formosan termite swarms, drywood swarms continuing, ant colonies growing | Check window sills for wings and pellets and call for an inspection. |
| Summer rainy season | Mosquitoes at their peak along the shoreline, ants moving indoors | Empty containers every week and thin out dense vegetation by the water. |
| June to November (hurricane season) | Rodents and wildlife displaced by storms, mosquito surges after heavy rain | Clear fallen branches and debris quickly and inspect the attic after storms. |
How Our Lazy Lake Pest Control Service Works
- Free inspectionWe inspect your home, attic, yard and lake edge and identify the pests and where they are coming from.
- Your planWe explain the findings and recommend a plan matched to your home, from a single treatment to year-round protection.
- TreatmentWe treat nesting, feeding and entry points with products and methods chosen for a lakeside property and applied according to their label directions.
- Follow-up and guaranteeOur 110% Satisfaction Guarantee means that if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
Why Lazy Lake Chooses Toro Pest Management
- A family company since 1969. Founded by Dr. Jose Perez Linares and now run by its third generation.
- Attention to older homes. We know where termites and rodents hide in houses that have stood for decades.
- A response within 24 hours, guaranteed, even for the smallest village in the county.
- Entomologist-backed training at the TORO Institute in Miami.
- Hablamos Español. We are glad to help in English or Spanish.
Free inspection and $25 off your first service in Lazy Lake.
Schedule Your Free InspectionLazy Lake Pest Control FAQ
Do you really service a village as small as Lazy Lake?
Yes. Every home on Lazy Lane, in ZIP code 33305, gets the same service as a home anywhere else in South Florida: a free inspection, a written plan and a response within 24 hours, guaranteed. Being a small village simply means we get to know each property well.
Why do I see so many mosquitoes on the lake side of the house?
Shady, damp vegetation along a shoreline is where adult mosquitoes rest during the day, and summer rains fill every small container nearby. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, the daytime biter most people notice, breeds in water as small as a bottle cap: plant saucers, bromeliads, boat covers and gutters. Emptying those weekly and treating the resting areas around your yard makes a noticeable difference.
Iguanas are digging along my lake bank. Can you help?
Iguanas are a common nuisance around South Florida lakes and seawalls. Their burrows can undermine banks, sidewalks and slabs, and they eat landscape plants and fruit. Our wildlife service can assess the problem and recommend exclusion and removal options for your property.
My house was built decades ago. Should I worry about termites?
It is worth checking. Lazy Lake's homes date back to the late 1940s and later, and older wood in attics, trim and furniture has had many swarm seasons of exposure to drywood termites. Damp soil near the lake also suits subterranean termites. A yearly inspection is the simplest way to catch either one early.
Will fumigation take care of every kind of termite?
No. Tenting works for drywood termites, but it does not reach subterranean termites, whose colony lives underground and simply returns after the tent comes down. Those are treated with soil applications or bait stations. We identify the species before recommending anything.
Is the inspection free, and do you speak Spanish?
Yes. Your first inspection is free, you get $25 off your first service, and our team speaks Spanish. Call 305-594-4767 or use the Free Inspection form on this page.
Pest Control Near Lazy Lake
Toro also serves the communities around Lazy Lake:
- Wilton Manors
- Oakland Park
- Fort Lauderdale
- Lauderdale Lakes
- Lauderhill
- Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
- Sea Ranch Lakes
Last updated: October 29, 2026
110% Satisfaction Guaranteed
If the bugs come back, so will TORO at no additional cost to you. TORO will respond with in 24 hours Guaranteed. Our technician will arrive quickly and deal with the pest problem to prevent recurrence.
