A condemned house on Florida’s Atlantic coast may be empty of people; in their absence, however, other inhabitants have reportedly made themselves at home, to the distress of their human neighbors.
Residents of Atlantic Avenue in Indialantic say rats, snakes and coyotes are showing up around their homes with increasing frequency as the abandoned property becomes more overgrown.
On Sept. 2, FOX 35 Orlando reported that neighbors said rats were burrowing into nearby yards, snakes were moving through properties, and coyotes were appearing on the street. Some residents have even pointed to coyotes as the cause of the deaths of neighborhood cats.
The latest complaints come months after the house itself was declared unsafe. County code-enforcement records reviewed by FOX 35 show that unpaid liens and violations tied to the property have now reached about $70,000. Meanwhile, neighbors say they are still waiting for the conditions around the house to improve.
The House Was Condemned, but the Problems Stayed
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Residents had complained about the property for years before Brevard County condemned it on Dec. 10, 2025. Earlier FOX 35 reporting documented violations involving an unsafe structure, lack of safe water service, junk vehicles, overgrowth and property maintenance.
By March, the focus had shifted heavily toward rats. Neighbors reported seeing rodents move beyond the abandoned property and into surrounding yards and streets, with some homeowners spending hundreds of dollars on bait boxes and considering much more expensive work to seal their homes.
At the time, Brevard County’s Planning Department said it lacked a legal mechanism to enter the privately owned property and clean it inside and out. The case continued through hearings in March and May. In spite of this, residents say they have seen little physical improvement.
“We still have the mess and it’s a health hazard,” said resident Cheryl Cataldo, according to FOX 35. Donna Reyes likewise said she has watched snakes move from the property into her own yard.
Overgrowth Can Give Wildlife Exactly What It Needs
Homeowners should exercise vigilance when tall vegetation and rodents start amassing. The University of Florida IFAS Extension notes that tall grass can serve as the perfect cover for rats and mice, which can in turn attract predators such as snakes. Piles of debris are worth monitoring too, as they and other piles of clutter can offer additional shelter.
That does not mean every animal seen on the street necessarily came from this one property. Coyotes are already established throughout Florida and regularly live near people, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Food, garbage, pets, and potential shelter can encourage them to spend time in the area.
For nearby homeowners, state wildlife officials recommend keeping cats indoors, supervising small dogs, and securing both pet food and garbage. UF/IFAS similarly recommends reducing tall vegetation, piles of various items, and other groupings that can serve as shelter around homes when rodents and snakes become a problem.
Neighbors around Atlantic Avenue are now asking the county to either maintain the overgrown property or help with the critter situation with resources such as rat boxes.