Rodents Are A Nuisance And Here’s How To Get Rid Of Them

Besides roaches, members of the rodent family are certainly the most reviled household pests. At Poor Richard’s Household Pests, we hate rodents, but we know how to deal with them.

If mice and rats gain entry to your home, they can do damage and stress you out. Rats are very destructive and can chew through electrical cables, timber flooring and insulation. They also gnaw through packaging, damaging foodstuffs. Worse, they can bring other pests like fleas and lice with them.

They’re known to spread diseases, mostly plague. You’re in danger of infection if you’re bitten by a rat. Handling an infected rat or coming into contact with rat saliva, urine or faeces puts your health at risk too. On the whole, though, rats aren’t filthy animals. Unlike other pests, they look after themselves quite well that they have separate ‘bedroom’ and ‘bathroom’ areas in their refuges.

Rodents are common in Australia, especially in urban areas, where they have abundant food sources and nesting locations. NSW is Australia’s rodent capital, with Penrith the #1 suburb.

Identifying a Rodent Problem

You have a rodent problem if any of the following signs are evident:

• Noises near your dustbins or in your ceiling
• Small droppings in your cupboards or on the ground
• Signs of chewing and gnawing
• Holes in your doors, fence or other access points

DIY Rodent Control

Making your home unattractive to rats or mice is the easiest way to avoid a rodent problem. This begins with denying them food and shelter:

• Remove fallen fruits from the ground
• Keep firewood off the ground
• Limit the amount of rubbish lying around
• Repair or seal potential access points, like gaps
• Remove all water sources, including leaking pipes and dripping taps
• Keep your bins closed and rubbish secure

Getting Rid of Rodents

Rodenticides, or chemical baits, are normally used to control rodents. Warfarin is one of the most popular poisons, but some rats have become immune to it. Newer, more effective chemicals have been developed. These come in liquid or solid form and only require one dose. Poisons don’t work instantly. They take around a week, and one downside is that rodents smell when they die. All rodenticides should be used with care if kids and pets are around. Pest control experts use glue traps, snap traps and rat traps which are non-lethal.

Cost of Rodent Control

Depending on where you live, the extent of your problem and the size of your property, expect to pay $250 – $350.

Hiring a Pest Controller

Pest controllers are regulated on a local state basis. Licensing requirements are different, so check with your local regulator. Before you hire, ask a few questions: Are you licensed and insured? How long have you been in business? Can you prepare a written quote? Do you have references I can contact? What products will you use and how effective are they?

Request a detailed quote, including the cost of labour and all materials used. Choose the service you think or have been told will do a great job. Try not to be swayed by price. Cheaper isn’t necessarily better. Local rodent controllers have the know-how, training and equipment to get rid of the hairy critters permanently.

For reliable pest control use cpestcontrol.com.au. They have a full list of their pest control services on their site. Check them out!