08/14/2026
The summer of 1999 gave rise to one of the most unique episodes in Apopka history, the “War on Mice”🐁
🚜Just months after the Lake Apopka North Shore Muck Farms were closed and flooded a sudden surge of mouse complaints occurred in the Zellwood, Plymouth, Apopka area in July, 1999 and peaking in October
💭Many theorized that the tens of thousands of mice seemed to be moving out from the former muck farms and saw the change in the environment as the cause
💵Orange County and the State government along with local water and health departments spent over $1 million to combat the outbreak which invaded subdivisions such as Zellwood Station, Valencia Estates, and Country Landing. Around 5,000 homes during the time called the hotline which was set up to deal with the situation and report mice sightings
🧪Many mouse traps, and poison were used to combat the issue as well as later mowing of vacant land which seemed to improve the situation by November 1999, when the epidemic ended almost as suddenly as it had began⏳
1📸) Tim Brown of Benchmark Foliage scooping up dead mice, Orlando Sentinel Oct 8, 1999
2📸) Map of affected area, Orlando Sentinel Oct 6, 1999
