Rats and Mice (Rodents)

Rats and mice are rodents that carry disease and are a public health concern in the community. They breed rapidly in the right environment and can quickly also cause significant property damage.

Signs of Rodent Activity

Rodent activity commonly many signs.

Signs of Rodent Activity

Droppings around your property or in your house
Fruit and vegetables with bite marks
Greasy rub marks along paths they travel
Burrow holes around buildings, in the side of embankments or around compost bins
Signs of gnawing damage, for example, stripping of electrical cables and bite marks on food containers
Other pets such as dogs, cats, birds become more excitable in a particular area of the property
Squeaking, gnawing and movement noises in walls, cupboards, ceilings, under floors and behind furniture
Piles of empty snail shells with chewed holes in the garden.

Preventing Rodent Activity

Prevention can include simple things such as avoiding leaving food around such as pet food in bowls around but you can also take action.

How to Prevent Rodent Activity

Store bulk food supplies in sealed containers
Ensure gaps and holes under eaves, roof tiles and through external walls are sealed for all buildings
Regularly lay traps inside your house and baits in your roof and outside and check them regularly for activity
Remove fruit and nuts from trees or vines at the end of the season
Ensure vegetation does not directly touch your house as rodents use trees and vines as ladders to your roof
Remove garden waste or other disused materials from your property
Store firewood away from the sides of sheds and fences and keep it well clear of the ground.
Rubbish bins and compost containers should be well-maintained and free from holes. Avoid composting meat products

Controlling Rodent Activity

If you have found signs of rodent activity on your property or nearby properties, there are a number of steps you can take:


Location	Responsibility	Contact/Action
Your Property	The resident	Lay traps inside the house and lockable bait stations in the rodent activity areas including under the house and in the roof space. Take care not to expose, children, pets or native animals to the baits. Information about native bird friendly rodent baits is available from the Birdlife Australia website. If the problem continues, contact a pest control company.
Your Neighbour’s Property	Your neighbour	Speak to the property owner about your observations. Direct them to this page for information. If the problem continues, Contact Council.
Council Property (including parks, nature strips, reserves or a Council building)	Council	Contact Council
Food Premises	The food premises owner	Contact Council

More Information

For more information on rats and mice:

Department of Health and Human Services website

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Signs of Rodent Activity

Preventing Rodent Activity

Controlling Rodent Activity

More Information