The pest guide
Rats and mice
That noise in the roof is not the house settling.
Rats and mice move in for food, water and somewhere warm, and they are very good at staying out of sight. You will usually hear them or find what they leave behind before you see one. They breed quickly, so it pays to act on the early signs.
What to look for
Signs you have them
- Scratching, scurrying or gnawing sounds in the roof, walls or under the floor, mostly at night.
- Droppings. Mouse droppings look like dark grains of rice. Rat droppings are larger.
- Gnaw marks on food packets, timber, plastic, pipes or wiring.
- Greasy, dark rub marks along walls, beams and pipes where they run the same path every night.
- Nests made of shredded paper, fabric or insulation.
- Burrows in the garden, under the compost bin or beside the shed.
- A sharp ammonia smell, or pets staring at a wall or cupboard and refusing to let it go.
Usual hiding spots
Where they hide
- Roof voids and wall cavities, where it is warm and quiet.
- Under the house, behind kitchen appliances and inside the backs of cupboards.
- Garages, sheds and storage areas.
- Compost bins, chook pens, aviaries and anywhere pet food or bird seed is kept.
- Dense garden growth, palm trees and overhanging branches, which give them cover and a path onto the roof.
The honest version
Why it matters
Rats and mice contaminate food and surfaces with their droppings and urine, and can carry diseases that affect people and pets.
They gnaw constantly. Chewed electrical wiring is a fire risk, and chewed pipes cause leaks.
They breed fast. A couple of mice can become a real infestation in a matter of months.
Before we get there
What to do, and what not to
Do this now
- Store food, pet food and bird seed in hard containers with tight lids.
- Keep lids on bins and pick up fallen fruit in the yard.
- Wear gloves to clean up droppings. Dampen them first and wipe them up, then wash your hands.
- Note where and when you hear noises. It helps us find how they are getting in.
- Cut back branches that touch or overhang the roof.
- Tidy stacked materials and clutter near the house so there are fewer places to nest.
Do not do this
- Do not touch droppings, nests or a dead rodent with bare hands.
- Do not sweep or vacuum dry droppings. It puts dust into the air you breathe.
- Do not leave pet food out overnight.
- Do not put anything where children, pets or wildlife could get to it. Leave that part to us.
Our part
How we deal with it
Every home is different, so the detail comes with the quote. This is how a job like yours usually runs.
Inspect
We look for droppings, rub marks and gnawing to work out what you have, how many and where they are active.
Find the way in
We look for the gaps and paths they are using to get into the roof, walls or subfloor.
Treat
We set up a control program suited to your home. We explain what it involves and where everything goes at the quote.
Advise
We tell you what to seal, store or tidy so the next lot does not move straight in.
Asked a lot
Rats and mice: common questions
Something else on your mind? Put it in the quote form and we will answer it when we reply.
How do I know if it is rats, mice or a possum?
Droppings are the best clue. Mouse droppings are small like rice grains, rat droppings are larger, and possum droppings are larger again. Possums also tend to be heavy footed and noisy around dusk and dawn. Send us a photo of what you find and we can usually tell you.
Are rats and mice a health risk?
Yes. Their droppings and urine contaminate food and surfaces and they can carry diseases. Clean up with gloves, dampen droppings before wiping, and wash your hands well afterwards.
Why do I only hear them at night?
They are most active after dark, when the house is quiet. Noises in the roof or walls in the evening and before dawn are typical.
I have pets and children. Is that a problem?
Tell us when you get in touch. We explain at the quote exactly what we will use, where it will go and what you need to do, so you can make an informed decision before any work starts.
The rest of the line-up
Other pests
Got rats and mice?
Better call Saulo. Send the details and a photo of what you are seeing and we will come back with a quote.