Southwest Ranches was created so it could stay country: one-acre-plus lots, no sidewalks or streetlights, horses, chickens and plant nurseries on the eastern edge of the Everglades. Toro Pest Management has protected South Florida properties since 1969, and in Southwest Ranches we plan around the whole property, from the main house to the barn, the coop, the pasture and the tree line.
- Since 1969Third generation, protecting South Florida
- 110% GuaranteeIf the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost
- Within 24 HoursResponse guaranteed
- Free InspectionPlus $25 off your first service
Why Southwest Ranches Has Its Own Pest Challenges
Southwest Ranches is one of the youngest municipalities in Broward County. When Pembroke Pines proposed annexing the area in the late 1990s, residents pushed back, and in 2000 they voted to form their own town instead. The goal was simple: protect a semirural way of life. The name was chosen because the area has so many horse ranches.
That decision still shapes daily life. Town rules prevent new homes on lots smaller than an acre and generally keep out streetlights and sidewalks. Most properties are one acre or larger, and many are small farms, equestrian ranches or hobby farms where families grow produce, raise chickens and keep horses. Plant nurseries and farms are part of the landscape, and miles of multiuse trails serve riders, cyclists and walkers. The 2020 census counted about 7,600 residents across roughly 13 square miles, a fraction of the density of the cities around it.
Geography completes the picture. Southwest Ranches sits on the eastern edge of the Everglades, about 15 miles southwest of Fort Lauderdale, and it is split into three non-contiguous areas. The Tequesta lived here for many centuries, and a burial site with artifacts over a thousand years old was excavated in the 1970s. Today the open land, ponds, pastures and tree lines are prime habitat for wildlife, fire ants, rodents and mosquitoes, and a single property often has a home, a barn, a coop, a shed and a pasture, each with its own pests.
Common Pests in Southwest Ranches and Why They Show Up
Rodents
Chicken feed, horse grain, hay and fallen fruit draw rats and mice from the surrounding fields. Roof rats travel through tree lines and fences into barns and attics, and mice nest in feed rooms and garages. Our rodent control uses tamper-resistant stations, traps and exclusion placed with animals in mind.
Signs to watch for: chewed feed bags, droppings near coops and burrows along foundations.
Fire Ants
Pastures, riding rings, trail edges and big open lawns give fire ants room to spread across a property. Mounds hidden in tall grass are a risk to riders, children, dogs and livestock. A property-wide approach works much better than chasing single mounds. More in our ant guide.
Mosquitoes
Everglades-edge ponds and ditches, water troughs, rain barrels and buckets keep mosquitoes going all through the wet season. The Aedes aegypti and Asian tiger mosquito breed in small containers near the house and bite during the day. Our mosquito control targets breeding and resting areas.
Wildlife
Open land and nearby wetlands mean frequent visits from raccoons, opossums and iguanas. Raccoons raid coops and feed bins, opossums settle under sheds and decks, and iguanas dig into canal banks and eat landscaping. Our wildlife service removes the animals and closes the spots they use to get in.
Whiteflies
With nurseries, long ficus hedges, fruit trees and large ornamental beds, Southwest Ranches has a lot of plants for whiteflies to feed on. Heavy infestations cause leaf drop and sticky, black sooty mold on leaves, cars and patios.
Signs to watch for: clouds of tiny white insects when you brush a hedge.
Termites
Barns, sheds, wooden fences and large custom homes all offer wood. Drywood termites live inside dry lumber, while the invasive Formosan and Asian subterranean termites work up from moist soil into posts and foundations. Our termite control starts with identifying which one you have.
Southwest Ranches owners also call us about flies around manure and stalls, paper wasps in barn rafters and under eaves, spiders in sheds and tack rooms, fleas on dogs and barn cats, lawn damage handled by our lawn spray service, and palmetto bugs coming in from mulch and drains (see our cockroach guide).
Residential Pest Control in Southwest Ranches
Homes in Southwest Ranches sit on much bigger lots than in the surrounding cities, and they rarely stand alone. A typical inspection covers the house, the garage, the pool area, the barn or stable, the chicken coop, feed and hay storage, sheds, fences and the edges of the pasture. Pests that start in the outbuildings often end up in the home, so we look at everything.
Our residential pest control starts with a free inspection of the full property. We find the pests, the places they nest and the things that attract them, such as open feed, standing water in troughs or brush piles along the fence line. Then we recommend a plan scaled to your acreage, with regular service to keep the house and outbuildings protected. Simple habits help between visits: store feed in sealed metal bins, collect eggs and fallen fruit every day, keep brush piles and firewood away from the house, and dump standing water from troughs, wheelbarrows and buckets after it rains. Our 110% Satisfaction Guarantee means that if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
If you are buying in Southwest Ranches, ask for a termite inspection that includes the barn, sheds and guest house along with the main home. Outbuildings often get skipped and can hide years of activity.
Commercial Pest Control for Southwest Ranches Businesses
Business in Southwest Ranches looks different from the cities around it. Instead of office towers and malls, you find plant nurseries, farms, equestrian facilities, riding schools, places of worship, a few schools and, along the western edge near U.S. 27, an area the town has zoned for light industrial use, mainly warehouses.
We provide commercial pest control for:
- Plant nurseries and farms, with whitefly, ant and rodent programs.
- Equestrian centers, boarding stables and riding schools.
- Distribution centers and warehouses in the light industrial area near U.S. 27.
- Schools and educational facilities, with service outside class hours.
Commercial accounts receive service reports for every visit. Our technicians train at the TORO Institute at our Miami headquarters, where on-staff entomologists teach food safety, sanitation, structural practices and modern pest management techniques.
Southwest Ranches Pest Calendar: What to Expect Each Season
| Season | What is active in Southwest Ranches | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| December to February (dry season) | Rodents moving into barns, coops and attics, whiteflies on hedges and nursery stock | Keep feed in sealed metal bins and inspect hedges for whiteflies. |
| March to June (swarm season) | Asian subterranean termites at dusk in March, Formosan swarms from late April, drywood termites March to June | Shut off barn and porch lights at dusk during swarms and save any wings you find. |
| Spring | Fire ant mounds spreading in pastures and rings, wasps starting new nests | Walk pastures and rings for mounds and check barn rafters. |
| May to October (rainy season) | Mosquitoes at their peak, flies around manure, ants after storms | Refresh trough water often and empty buckets and containers weekly. |
| June to November (hurricane season) | Wildlife and rodents pushed out of flooded fields, mosquito surges | Clear downed branches and brush quickly and check sheds and coops. |
How Our Southwest Ranches Pest Control Service Works
- Whole-property inspectionWe inspect the house, outbuildings, pastures and tree lines at no cost and identify the pests and their sources.
- A plan sized to your landWe explain the findings and recommend a plan that fits your acreage, animals and budget.
- TreatmentWe treat nesting, breeding and entry points, placing products with livestock and pets in mind and applying them according to their labels.
- GuaranteeWith our 110% Satisfaction Guarantee, if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
Why Southwest Ranches Chooses Toro Pest Management
- In South Florida since 1969. Founded by Dr. Jose Perez Linares, Toro is led today by its third generation.
- Comfortable with acreage. Barns, coops, nurseries and pastures are part of the job, not an afterthought.
- Response within 24 hours, guaranteed.
- Residential and commercial, from family ranches to nurseries and warehouses.
- Hablamos Español. We can help you in English or Spanish.
Free inspection and $25 off your first service in Southwest Ranches.
Schedule Your Free InspectionSouthwest Ranches Pest Control FAQ
Do you service every part of Southwest Ranches?
Yes. The town is made up of three separate areas, and we cover all of them, including Sunshine Ranches, Rolling Oaks, Ivanhoe Estates, Green Meadow, Country Estates and Landmark Ranch Estates, in ZIP codes 33029, 33330, 33331 and 33332. Response within 24 hours is guaranteed.
Can you treat a large lot, not just the house?
Yes, and on most Southwest Ranches properties we recommend it. Rodents, fire ants, mosquitoes and wildlife usually start in barns, coops, feed storage, pastures and tree lines before they reach the home. We size the plan to the acreage and to the animals that live there.
How do you handle rats around chickens and horses?
Carefully. Rodenticide bait stations have to be tamper-resistant and placed where livestock, pets and wildlife cannot get to them, and in some areas traps and exclusion are the better choice. We also look at how feed is stored, because sealed metal bins and clean feeding areas cut off the rats' food supply.
Why are there so many mosquitoes out here?
The town sits on the eastern edge of the Everglades, and ponds, canals, ditches, water troughs and buckets all hold water after rain. Near the house, the Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds in small containers and bites during the day. Changing trough and bucket water often and tipping out containers every week helps a great deal, and we can treat the shady areas where adults rest.
My hedges and fruit trees are sticky and covered in tiny white insects. What is it?
That is very likely whiteflies. They feed on the underside of leaves, leave a sticky honeydew that turns black with sooty mold, and are a common problem on ficus hedges and many ornamentals in South Florida. Our whitefly program treats the plants and helps you keep the infestation from returning.
Is the inspection free, and can I get service in Spanish?
Yes. Your first inspection is free, new customers get $25 off the first service, and our staff speaks Spanish. Call 305-594-4767 or use the Free Inspection form on this page.
Pest Control Near Southwest Ranches
Toro also serves the communities around Southwest Ranches:
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.
