Rodents can be some of the most destructive pests we deal with in Brisbane. Rats happily chew through electrical wires, plastic water pipes and hoses, as well as put holes through walls. They are potential carriers of diseases that can cause major health problems for humans. Identifying the signs of possum vs rats is the first stage before knowing how to get rid of them from your home. It is because of this that getting rid of rats by our professional rat exterminator in Brisbane is essential. There are a number of steps required in the process of removing rats from your home, from identifying a rat problem through to measures that remove the rats and prevent them from returning.
How much is pest control for rats?
We offer a professional service to control rats, costing from as little as $220* inc GST, which is a small price to pay for peace of mind in the pest control of rats in roof, or outside near bbq’s, compost bins, caged birds and any other space you need a rat exterminator in Brisbane.
(*Price depends on size of property, contributing factors, number of bait stations etc)
DIY rat control solutions can be hazardous to children and pets if not used correctly. The best course of action is to contact one of Possum Man’s trained technicians who can inspect your home or business and offer an obligation free quote. Our expert services cover domestic and commercial properties, use the highest grade rodent baits, and we back our work with a 3 month warranty for your peace of mind.
For expert, cost-effective rat control contact us today! (07) 3250 1111
Get Rid of Rats from Trees
1. How Do You Know if You Have Rats?
The first step is confirming that you have a rat problem in the first place. Rats can be quite elusive as they are mostly nocturnal. You will see signs of rats long before you physically spot one. There are key indicators that you may have a rat infestation, those being scratching in the attic or wall cavities during the night, rice-grain sized brown rat droppings, footprints and tail marks in dusty areas of the home, rat nests consisting of roof insulation, cardboard and soft materials, rat holes that have been burrowed into plaster walls or wood to be used as shelter and food storage and scrub marks on walls and surfaces from the dirt and grease on their bodies.
2. Types of Rats
There are two main types of rats common to the Brisbane area, the Black Rat (Rattus rattus) and the Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus). Black rats are most prevalent in urban environments as well as coastal habitats. Shorter than the Brown rat at between 16-24cm in length, they possess large ears, a slender body and a pointed nose. Black rats are exceptional climbers with great agility meaning that they are usually the culprits if you hear scratching in your walls or ceiling. Brown rats can grow up to 40cm in length and have small ears, a stockier body and a blunt nose. They are not famed for their climbing ability, instead preferring to remain on the ground where they can burrow. Check out these links to learn more about Black Rats or Brown Rats.
3. Effective Rat Control for Your Home
No matter the season, rats can be a constant pest in Brisbane homes. Numbers inside houses can dramatically increase after floods or heavy rains and at the start of colder weather. As soon as you see signs of a rat infestation, either through droppings or through noises in your home, you need to get rodent control and have your home treated to stop the breeding cycle. Rats can breed prolifically with an average litter size of 5-8 young, which can breed at only 3-4 months old. Female rats have up to three litters each year, so numbers can explode if food is available.
4. Rat Prevention Treatments
Rodent control and rat treatment products are toxic and must always be handled correctly and stored in a secure place. There is a risk of carelessly laid baits being eaten by children, wildlife or pets. Should you lay baits for rodents? Before laying any poison you need to call the experts to accurately identify what animals are living in your home.
5. Preventing Infection
Rats have a special place in the history of human infection. The “Black Death” in the 14th Century killed over 25 million people, attributed to fleas borne on the fur of rats that were easily transported between countries as stowaways on ships. Rats have an array of disease transmission capabilities, each with its own set of health problems. Contamination can come via rodent urine or faeces on food or utensils, through bacteria entering cuts or scratches in the skin, indirectly to pets or humans via fleas, contamination by being directly bitten by a rat, or indirect contamination by eating an intermediate carrier. Diseases spread by rats include Salmonella, meningitis, Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease), Typhus fever, Favus, Rat-bite fever and Trichinosis. It is imperative that you do not consume food you suspect has been interfered with by a rat as this establishes a direct line of contamination to your body.
6. Sealing Holes at Your Home
Rats are sneaky and will take advantage of any opening to access your home. Failing that, they are more than happy to chew their way in! There are several techniques to reduce the risk of rats entering your home plus methods of removing access points. Firstly, start in the garden to identify hiding spots. Rats prefer not to be observed as they go about their business, so cut back or remove high grass or thick vegetation close to the house. Secondly, inspect your home high and low for entry points. Remember that Black rats are good climbers; so don’t forget to look up. Once you find a hole, it’s time to seal it up. Holes around the exterior of the home can be sealed with quickset concrete or additional mortar. If you find holes around internal pipework or in walls there are various methods to use such as cutting a steel plate to insert around a pipe, repairing plasterboard holes, or filling gaps with steel wool as rats can’t chew through it.
7. Here’s How You Get Rid of Rats
The safest option for rodent control is to call one of our experienced servicemen to safely dispose of the rodents. We can safely lay rat baits as well as give practical advice for long-term preventive solutions for rat control. We can also install external bait stations that are kind to native animals and are safe for children and pets.
External stations are highly recommended to get rid of rats in areas where there are high attractants for rodents like chickens, guinea pigs or caged birds onsite. Other places that can benefit are homes with lots of palm trees, macadamia trees, rock retaining walls or if you are near to creeks or waterways. The rat stations treat the issue outside the property before the rats get inside your home and business and should be monitored regularly to maintain rat control.
I have lived in Brisbane for 5 years and this is by far the best service I have received from any company we have dealt with. While I’m not happy about having rats in our home, I am happy that we were taken care of by such a professional company.
G.Schaefer – Bellbird Park
8. Use a Professional for Effective Rat Removal
Peter the Possum Man has licensed technicians for rat removal in Brisbane trained to choose the right bait for the situation and handle baits safely. We also check for possums or other creatures nesting in roofs which could be affected by the bait and place the baits for the best effect. While it is not practical to totally exclude rodents from a building we can close off main access points and give advice about food and water sources removal to ensure the chance of re-infestation is reduced. We have been providing expert rodent control around Brisbane for over 30 years and our trained team of professionals will handle any rat problem you may have.
In rental properties, treating infestation of rats is not as simple as throwing baits in the roof. While occupants are permitted to lay baits in their own properties, a handyman is not licensed to lay baits. Only licensed pest controllers are permitted to place rodent baits on another person’s property and they are required to follow safety instructions and health regulations.
9. Check Guarantees and Warranties
Possum Man offers obligation free quotes, expert advice on how to minimise rat reinfestation, and back our work with a 3-month warranty. If the rodents return within that timeframe we will fix the problem for free! Possum Man only uses licensed, experienced rat control technicians in Brisbane who have access to the best commercial grade baits. Along with rodent control for domestic and commercial premises, including kitchens and restaurants, we also provide additional services such as roof vacuuming to remove rat droppings and debris. We also provide a detailed Rodent Pest Control Advice sheet with every rodent treatment we do which includes suggestions on how to minimise future problems.
If you want a free* quote for rodent control for your home or business, fill out our website form or call our office between 8.30am and 3.45pm, Monday to Friday. (07) 3250 1111
Contact us today for fast and effective rat control.
To learn more about rat treatments and rodent control in Brisbane, check out our Rats FAQs or clicks here to find out more on our Pest Control Services.
Other FAQs
Why have I got rats in my house?
Brisbane rats and mice breed well when there is sufficient food from native plants. An increase in their numbers does NOT always mean there are food scraps left about. In Autumn the cooler weather encourages rodents to move into warmer areas and the roof of a house is an ideal safe place.
Some reasons why there might be rodents in your area:
- neighbours are keeping chickens or guinea pigs (often leaving food scraps)
- someone is leaving cat or dog food outdoors, especially at night.
- there are poorly managed waste bins nearby.
- there are storm drains, streams or overgrown gardens nearby.
But remember, most properties in Brisbane are visited by rodents from time to time. It is not a reflection on the management of your property. Even the ceilings of multi storey buildings will get visits from rodents especially if there are tree branches touching the gutters.
What methods reduce the risk of getting rodents?
The key actions are good hygiene, keeping lawns trimmed, removing rubbish and any items leaning against walls that might provide easy shelter. Trees should be trimmed so there are no branches touching the roof or gutter that rats can use as an easy runway to your roof. The fallen fruit and nuts from trees like mangoes and macadamia should be collected. Around Brisbane it is noticeable that bamboo plants attract rats since they nest under the roots and eat new shoots.
The best action, before you notice a problem is to arrange for Peter the Possum and Bird Man to set up rodent bait stations around the property using plastic bait stations that are friendly to wildlife and safe to use around children and pets.
How do you get rid of rats?
The servicemen lay commercial grade baits which the rats eat and then they usually leave the cavity to go outside looking for water. We can also inspect for any main entry points, and advise on long term solutions. We also provide written advice with every rodent treatment. However it is not practical to completely exclude rats and mice from your property since they can gain access through quite small holes.
Do the rats die inside the roof?
As our servicemen are licensed pest controllers they have access to commercial grade baits which are very effective. With our treatments it is uncommon for rats to die inside the roof, but there is no guarantee. If they do die they do smell really bad but the good thing is that it is usually only for a few days. The best thing to do is open the house up as much as possible and ventilate the area to speed up the process, also using a neutraliser like Glen 20 can work well. Although the thought of them dying inside is horrible, if you don’t do a treatment the rats will keep breeding and then when you are finally forced to lay the baits there will be more rats and a higher chance of one dying inside the building.
What damage can rats do?
Rats and mice are rodents which mean their teeth continually grow, so they have to gnaw wood or similar items to wear their teeth down. So rats will chew anything. They like to sleep near warm spots so often chew light fittings and electrical cables. They also chew plastic including plastic water-pipes and flexible water hoses on dishwashers. They often make holes in walls and build nests in insulation. This is why we recommend getting rid of rats straight away.
Will my child or dog be harmed?
When our servicemen lay baits to remove Brisbane rats they take extreme care to place them in secure locations where children and pets can’t access them. We work with children and pets everyday and will advise on pet safety during the consultation. Detailed advice on safety issues and rodent control is included in our written advice sheet.
Can you eliminate rats and mice?
Rodents breed very quickly if there is plenty of food, so a few adults can become one hundred in a year! (In theory). We can treat them and block off the main access holes, but they gain access through very small holes, so it is impossible to eliminate them.
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