Rodent Info

The three major pest species in Australia are:

  • Norway Rat
  • Roof Rat
  • House Mouse

These animals are well adapted to living in very close association with humans, sharing their food and shelter.

How can I tell I have a rodent problem?

Rodent activity is seldom observed during daylight hours, hence it is important to recognize signs of infestation, such as;

  • Droppings
  • Urination stains
  • Greasy smear marks – wear they rub against obstacles in their path
  • Gnawings – rodents gnaw on a wide variety of materials to keep their teeth short, e.g. woodwork, soft metals, soap, food containers etc.
  • Short circuiting – rodents gnaw at electrical wiring to shorten their teeth
  • Sounds – bumping, gnawing, squeaking and fighting sounds may be heard in the evening
  • Nests – may be found hidden, usually made of rags, paper, cardboard, straw etc.
  • Excitement of pets – pets such as dogs may become very excited over the intrusion of rodents, sometimes barking and clawing at the part of the building where rodents are active
  • Odour – the long-term presence of rodent infestation creates a distinct odour
  • Food missing – rodents often carry away food to their nests
  • Burrows – some rodents burrow in soil areas such as garden beds, vegetable patches or under concrete slabs.

Where am I likely to find rodents in my home?

  • Roof cavity
  • Subfloor areas
  • Garden areas
  • Living areas
  • Kitchen areas
  • Garbage areas
  • Outbuildings
  • Behind electrical appliances or equipment

Why are rodents a problem?

  • Spreading diseases
  • Their fleas and lice can adversely affect pets and humans
  • Contaminating food, food preparation areas and utensils, causing food poisoning
    Creating foul odours
  • Chewing through electrical wiring which may result in fires
  • Causing serious damage to buildings
  • A large nuisance to everyone in your home and office!

What do I do if I have rodents in my home?

  • Do not clean droppings, or disturb any nesting areas as the technician needs these signs to determine type of rodent and how best to eliminate it.
  • Call the experts at PESTFREE ASAP!

Rodent Eradication

At PESTFREE our technicians are highly trained in pest control eradication techniques. They will assess the individual needs of your property, identifying the particular species your premises are infested with and the extent of infestation in order to determine the best regime.

In general a rodent eradication treatment involves the following:

  • Baiting of roof void
  • Baiting of subfloor areas
  • Baiting all internal or external areas of premises using cardboard and tamper proof bait stations as appropriate
  • Application of liquid rodenticide
  • Application of rodent wax blocks
  • Application of rodent tracking powder
  • Use of sticky boards / glue boards
  • Use of a non-poisonous monitoring bait (this indicates presence of rodent infestation)
  • Rodent traps

By using PESTFREE you can rest assured that all of our pest control and treatment methods are Environmentally Friendly and most of all effective. With over ten years experience we guarantee you will be satisfied with the results -

Call us and have a PESTFREE day!

Type     Description Picture
Norway Rat Heavy-set with small close-set finely haired ears and a blunt nose. Its fur is coarse, red-brown with a tail that is shorter than its bodyand head. Their droppings are about 18mm and blunt.  
Roof Rat Slender with large, prominent, almost hairless ears and a pointed nose. Its fur is fine, grey, black, brown, may be white beneath with a tail of uniform in colour and longer than their body and head.Their droppings are about 12mm and pointed.  
House Mouse Slender with fairly large, hairy ears and a pointed nose. Its fur is fine, brown to grey with a hairless tail that is as long as its body and head.Their droppings are about 3-4mm.  
ERADICATION AND CONTROL OF RATS AND MICE IN AUSTRALIA 

It is often the autumn that rats and mice begin to move into our homes, shops, offices and factories. Rodents seek warmth and shelter as the weather turns colder and fresh food supplies as food supplies are exhausted outdoors. It is always a good time of year to be thinking of preventing mouse and rat infestation.

Call PESTFREE and an expert will visit and give you a free quotation for proofing your building(s) against rodent entry and preparing to prevent an infestation of rats or mice, should they gain entry. You will be surprised how simple the proofing can be and it will save you the much greater expense of a full mouse and rat eradication, should an infestation occur. Call now, before you are feeding and housing these unwanted rodent guests.

 

Preparative Baiting

 

Rodenticide (rat and mouse poison) bait is placed at strategic, safe points, inside and outside, in order to reduce populations around buildings and to deal with individuals that enter, before an infestation can take hold.

 

Proofing

 

A mouse can squeeze beneath a door if there is a gap large enough to fit a pencil! Draft-excluding brush strips are an ideal method of proofing such gaps. However, there are almost always other possible entry points around any building. Gaps around pipework and cables. Broken vent covers. A thorough survey can identify these and suggest proofing options.

 

Housekeeping

 

This is an important and often over-looked aspect of controlling rats and mice. For example, rodents are what we would call agoraphobic; they fear open spaces, and like to be under cover. A wide clear area around a building will deter rodents from reaching and entering the building. The removal of available food and shelter from within a building can have a powerful deterrent effect. PESTFREE can identify and advise on all mice and rat control matters for AUSTRALIAN rodent problems.

 

Monitoring

 

In some situations, particularly where the use of rodenticide is restricted, it is useful to guage the level of activity of pests and other animals. Target Pest can carry out monitoring using non-toxic baits, traps and tracking tunnels.

 


 

Bait Stations and Bait Preparations

 

PESTFREE uses ‘tamper resistant’ rodent bait stations. These lockable bait stations are designed to prevent unauthorized access to the bait preparations, to stop bait spilling out or ‘crumbs’ being carried away by mice and rats, and to control access by Australian non-pest animals.

Pestfree’s bait preparations combine effective control of mice and rats with low toxicity to humans (S4). They are MAF category ’C‘ approved and registered.

Many commercial bait preparations available over the counter have bittering agents to deter non-target species. Unfortunately these agents cause bait shyness and reduced effectiveness. Because PESTFREE uses non-spill baits in lockable, tamper resistant bait stations our baits do not require bittering agents. Therefore, rodents will continue eating the bait for longer periods of time, ensuring more rapid and efficient control, breaking the rodent breeding cycle and being more cost effective.
Mouse station Rat (and mouse) station
•     Tamper Resistant•     Lockable

•     Compliant for use in the public        or food preparation areas

•     Mouse and rat type        stations

 •     Non-spill•     Takes all bait types

•     Tuff durable plastic        manufacture
•     Suitable in damp areas

•     Safe for pets and humans
Commercial Rodent Control Programme

 

Rodent Control Programmes include:

 

•     Tamper-proof rat and mouse bait stations placed/fixed in all suitable internal and external areas of premises.

•     Internal and external stations monitored a minimum of eight (8) times a year.

•     Rodenticide baits inspected and replaced on each visit.

•     Monthly inspections and service over the winter and every two months in summer when mice and rat activity is less.

•     Free call out.

 

In addition to the tamper proof interior and exterior bait stations:

 

•     Block baits are fixed in ceiling and floor voids.

•     Perimeter rodent stations may also be discretely placed to provide additional control of new rodents entering the area.

•     Written and verbal reporting of all pest activity and other issues including recommendations for proofing, prevention and housekeeping.