Rats and mice are the main cold-weather pest across the Eastern Suburbs. From about April, as the nights cool, they move from gardens, parks and creek banks into roof spaces, wall cavities, cellars and garages. The first sign is often a scratching or scurrying noise in the ceiling around dusk, or droppings in the pantry, the kitchen drawers or the back of the laundry.
Roof rats climb well and use fences, vines, power lines and overhanging branches to reach the roof. House mice get in through gaps around pipes, vents and doors. Period homes with timber floors and old brickwork have plenty of these gaps, so the crew we book looks at how rodents are getting in as well as where they are living.
- A check of the roof space, cellar, kitchen and laundry
- Lockable bait stations placed away from children and pets
- Traps in spots where baits are not suitable
- Entry points marked, with advice on how to seal them
- Tips on trimming branches and storing food and pet food
Tell us about dogs, cats and young children when you call, as this shapes where baits and traps can go. Store food in sealed containers and pick up fallen fruit in the garden. Activity usually drops over one to two weeks. A busy roof may need a return visit, which the crew will talk through and we will price before booking.
Homes near Gardiners Creek, the Yarra, Central Park and Caulfield Park often see more rodents, as do homes with chook pens and compost bins. Call 03 9022 1290 for upfront pricing on rodent control in the Eastern Suburbs.