Rodent Control Sydney: The Ultimate Guide
With a population of over 500 million, rodents have been a problem in Sydney for a while. But the problem is getting bigger, and the need for rodent control in Sydney is growing.
Read on to learn more about the DIY options, when it’s best to hire pest control experts, and how to prevent future infestations.
3 Types of Rodents You’ll Find in Sydney
There are many rodents in Sydney, including the shy and adorable rakali.
However, when people say “rodent infestation,” they’re often talking about unwanted guests like rats and mice. Both of them are common pests in Sydney.
Here are two types of rats and one mouse species to consider:
Norway Rat | Black rat | House Mouse | |
Scientific Name | Rattus norvegicus | Rattus rattus | Mus domesticus |
Alternative Name | Brown rat, sewer rat | Roof rat, ship rat | – |
Colour | Grey or brown | Dark brown | Brown, grey, and black |
Shape | Robust | Sleek and slender | Rounded |
Size | 20–27 cm | 12–24 cm | 7–9 cm |
Droppings | Capsule-shaped, 1.8–2 cm | Spindle-shaped, 1.2–1.5 cm | Pellet-shaped, 0.3–0.8 cm |
As you can see, the roof rat is relatively small compared to the Norway rat. This pesky creature is actually a good climber, which means it can nest in high spots.
Norway rats, however, are gifted swimmers and diggers. They also happen to be quite vocal. You’ll likely hear their high-pitched screams.
7 Signs That You’re Dealing With a Rodent Problem
Before you rush in and look for a removal strategy, you might want to double-check that what you’re dealing with is an actual rodent infestation.
Here are some warning signs:
- Droppings: You might confuse cockroach poo or even insect larvae with rodent droppings. Look for the key characteristics of rat and mouse feces.
- The smell of Ammonia: That’s likely rodent urine.
- Gnaw Marks: Look at fences, wheelie bins, electrical wiring, and food debris.
- Rub Marks: When rodents scurry along a place often enough, they leave greasy smudges behind.
- Burrow Holes: Look around your shed and any outdoor plants.
- Nighttime Sounds: Rats will likely scratch, gnaw, vocalize, and fight at night.
- Pet Behavioral Changes: Domestic animals (like cats and dogs) can sense the presence of rodents. If they start acting up, you might be facing an infestation.
So, you go over the common signs and realise that you have a rodent problem. What now?
Well, you could either DIY the rodent treatment or leave it to the experts. Let’s check out the DIY approach first.
How to Deal With Rodent Infestations: The DIY Approach
Here’s what you can do to get rid of the rodents on your own:
1. Locate the Rodent Nests and Runways
Search around your house and follow the droppings and rub marks. Try to find out the entry sites, nesting spots, and pathways. Those are your target areas.
2. Start a Warm-up Period
For the next 3–4 days, set out non-poisoned food or unset traps around your target areas. You’ll know you picked the right spots if the food disappears regularly.
This step is optional, but it can get the rodents used to eating whatever you give them.
3. Pick Your Control Method
Now that you know where the rats are, the next step is to leave a control method within their reach.
Home (or business owners) who decide to tackle the issue themselves usually resort to one of two mice control methods: Traps and rodenticides.
Using Traps
Non-toxic mouse traps are a cheap and often effective method of pest removal.
You’ll want to use the traps along the wall rats run by the most. As a rule of thumb, you need a trap for every yard. Just set each one at a right angle to the wall.
Remember to wear gloves because your scent can scare the rodents away from the trap. You also need to be prepared for a long wait. It could take a week for your trap to catch anything.
Of course, your baited traps will only work if your bait is tempting enough to lure rodents in search of food. Think sardines, peanut butter, or oatmeal. You could add cotton balls (an excellent nesting material) to the trap as well.
Side Note: Glue traps are very indiscriminate. Unfortunately, Sydney-based animal rescue groups report that the glue can catch non-target animals, like lizards and small kittens!
Using Rodenticides
The main perk of trapping is that you won’t have to put up with the smell of carcasses rotting somewhere out of reach. Yet some folks prefer grabbing poisoned bait from their local shops.
The options on the market include rodent bait stations and trays that you fill with cheese, wax blocks, or liquid bait. These aren’t just any cheese or wax blocks, though. They’re loaded with a toxic agent, which is typically an anticoagulant (causes internal bleeding).
Other rodenticides contain sodium chloride and work by dehydrating the rat.
4. Get Rid of the Carcases
If you use traps, you’ll have to check the traps daily until you find dead rodents. Never touch those pests with your bare hands. Rodents can carry diseases like leptospirosis!
Instead, you’ll want to wear rubber gloves and double-bag the body. If you live in an urban area in NSW and have access to a waste collection service, you should drop the dead animal in the red waste bin and secure the lid to keep scavengers away.
Make sure the whole bin isn’t sitting in direct sunlight. Otherwise, the decomposition odours will be too much of a nuisance.
And if you’re in a rural setting? You could bury the rodent somewhere away from water surfaces and neighbouring houses.
Either way, you’ll want to dispose of the tools used and wash your hands well when you’re done.
5. Relocate or Reuse
One round of trapping/baiting might not cut it. Reuse the traps after a couple of weeks to catch maturing rodents.
Of course, if you never caught any rodents, you’ll need to relocate the traps and maybe even use more tempting (and stronger-smelling) bait.
When to Call a Professional Pest Control Service
The DIY approach works for some homeowners, but it’s not without its risks and drawbacks.
Hiring a local rodent control services is a good idea if:
- You can’t get decent results from store-bought mouse control products.
- You can’t figure out the best trap placement for your residential or commercial property.
- The infestation has reached your kitchen, and you can’t risk contaminating your food preparation area.
- You’re worried the pest control treatment will hurt your pets and little children.
- This isn’t the first time you’ve had to deal with rodents and their damage to property.
In short, getting a professional pest control company to handle the situation can provide peace of mind.
Dealing With Rodent Infestations: The Safe Pest Control Way
Here, at Safe Pest Control, we have 30 years of collective experience under our belt.
We’ve handled everything, from possum removals to wasp control. And all that experience made us realise that any effective treatment needs a few critical phases.
Here’s what our process looks like:
Phase 1: FREE Inspection
To really figure out the extent of the infestation, we need to do a thorough and systematic inspection.
Our team will look for hiding spots, damaged areas, entry points, and food sources. And they’ll do all that free of charge as long as you’re in Sydney.
Phase 2: Creating and Implementing a Custom Treatment Plan
Our team will then analyze all the information and filter down the possible treatment methods. The result is a tailored, effective solution that takes into consideration your family, pets, budget, and unique rodent infestation.
Don’t worry; you’ll still be involved in the decision-making process. The technicians will discuss the situation with you to make sure you like the long-term solution they’re offering.
Once we’re all on the same page, the rodent removal team will get to work according to plan, which could call for a whole lot of rodent bait stations, industrial-grade rodenticides, and tracking powders.
Phase 3: Aftercare and Monitoring
Just because we set up some bait stations around your property doesn’t mean our pest service is done. This only takes us to the follow-up and prevention phase.
Our expert technicians will walk you through the aftercare (dealing with residual chemicals, general upkeep, etc.). Expect follow-up calls and/or visits too, depending on the specifics of the treatment plan.
Keeping the Rodents Away for Good: Preventative Measures
It’s true that a professional team with a well-executed treatment plan can make the rodent removal process easy. However, no one wants to go through that experience twice.
Let’s make sure the current infestation is the last with some simple preventive measures:
1. Seal up All Entry Points
Believe it or not, a mouse could fit through a hole that’s as wide as a pencil. So, it’s vital to look for even the tiniest gaps and wall cavities.
Check around the windows, door frames, fireplaces, vents, floor drains, and pipes. If you see any holes, fill them with steel wool, caulk, and strong mesh.
2. Keep Your Property Clean
Every time you leave food scraps around, you’re tempting rodents to come to your house. The same applies to outdoor pet food bowls and bird feeders.
The less clutter you have in your shed and attic, the fewer hiding spots these pesky creatures will find.
3. Empty the FOGO Bin Often
If possible, have your green bin collected more often. Inner West has reinstated the weekly collections, and you can opt for the service.
Using a tight lid will also help keep the rodents away in between collections.
4. Use Rodent Repellents
Try soaking a bit of cotton with peppermint oil and placing it in the usual entry holes and nesting spots. The scent can overwhelm the mice.
That said, peppermint oil alone might not be enough to create a pest-free environment. You’ll likely need a more holistic approach.
The Worst Case Scenario: Health Risks and Damage to Homes
Suppose you decided to leave the rodent problem unchecked. What’s the worst that could happen?
It’ll grow exponentially, for a start. Rodents have a short gestation period, and a single female rodent can produce up to 128 young in a year!
Each of those little pests is a health risk. Remember that they spread diseases to you and your family.
Plus, a large enough infestation can easily cause structural damage. After all, rodents can chew through pipes and timber.
Your car isn’t safe from the extensive damage, either. If the pests find their way from your garage and into the hood of your car, they can eat up the electrical wiring. Mechanics in NSW see this sort of damage often.
Electrics aside, a ravenous rat might gnaw the seats, floor mats, and door trims just to nest inside the dashboard. This scenario happened before in Hunter Valley and set the owner back $20,000!
FAQs
How can I protect myself until the rodent problem is solved?
Safe Pest Control offers same-day service, so you won’t have to wait long for help with the current infestation.
But if you want to protect yourself in the meantime, start by securing all food containers. Throw away any food or drink the rodents might have gotten to.
When is the peak time for rat infestations in Sydney?
Rodents breed in the winter, which means that the population peaks around October and March.
What are the rodent hotspots in and around Sydney?
Because of the city’s construction boom, lots of neighbourhoods are in need of effective rodent control from experienced technicians.
How much do rodent pest control professionals charge?
The overall rat pest control cost depends on the extent of the mice infestation and the type of property (home or commercial space).
Get in touch with our team for a quote.
Final Thoughts: Your Ticket to a Rodent-Free Home
Whether you’re in Bondi, Dover Heights, Croydon, CBD, or elsewhere, Sydney’s Safe Pest Control is a phone call away.
Call 1300 119 085 to get rid of the unwanted guests as soon as possible.