The cooler Winter months in our tropical Mackay region bring rodents inside our homes and businesses in search of food, warmth and shelter.
Houses located in rural settings or close-by cane fields often notice an influx of rodent populations in and around their home when rodents are disturbed from farming or clearing.
Rodent problems can be difficult to get on top of on your own, especially in commercial settings where there is a never ending food source stored on the site and areas outside of your control.
Damage caused by rats and mice can easily run into the thousands, so the importance of having a pest management plan in place with regular inspections and treatments, is paramount in a commercial situation.
What Are The Signs I have Rodents?
Droppings:
Finding rat or mouse droppings is a sure-fire way of knowing you've got a rodent problem. Rodent poo is usually concentrated in areas where food is stored, such as inside kitchen cupboards, pantries and even walk-in fridges & freezers motors in commercial environments.
Rodent feces carry harmful bacterial that can transmit Salmonella, Hantavirus and even trigger allergies. Due to these health threats, rodent droppings should be promptly removed using protective gloves with the area thoroughly sanitized after.
Droppings found along roof beams, fence lines and even electrical and air-conditioning piping is an indication of a well used rodent track.
Nests:
Rats and mice prefer to nest in dark and undisturbed areas.
Stored Christmas decorations, paperwork, seasonal clothing, boxes, green waste and anywhere that provides warmth are just some of the areas rodents are fond of of nesting within.
Holes that have been made for electrical wires and plumbing give easy access to entire voids under kitchen cabinetry and with a pantry or bin close-by this is rodent heaven.
House mice specifically construct their nests inside from paper materials, cotton, fabrics and even insulation material. Mice can fit through a crack about the width of a pencil.
Outdoors, you'll commonly find them nesting anywhere protected within stones, bricks, piles of green waste or other debris.
Rats are incredibly intelligent creatures. They will adapt to any situation they find themselves in. In commercial settings where food sources are readily available,
Norway rats will nest in burrows alongside a homes foundations, garbage areas, woodpiles, Hen houses or farm equipment. If a burrow is active, it will be clear of vegetation and the track leading to it is compacted dirt.
Indoors, they will gnaw 5cm holes through timber and plasterboard. Tracks to their nests are often free from dust and dirt, with the exception of rub marks.
Roof rats, as their name suggest, are more commonly found nesting off the ground in roof voids, dense scrub and even palm trees.
Often confused with a possum, Roof rats gain access to the roof void through small holes under the eaves and are most active at night.
Smells often become apparent after months of fecal matter building up and ceiling staining is common from prolonged exposure to rodent urine.
Gnaw Marks:
Rodents will chew through just about any kind of material such as plastic and metal to gain access to a water or food source.
Norway rats and mice can increase the risk of fire within a property by chewing on wires within wall cavities to use for nesting material.
Tracks or Rub Marks:
Rodents have oily, dirty fur. A well used track from their food source to their nest often results in dirty, greasy stains where their bodies have rubbed along vertical surfaces.
Keep an eye out along the tops of framing boards, under patio beams and along objects attached to walls and fence lines when rodents traverse.
A dark staining is a high indication of a well used rodent track.
Blocking entry holes and securing bait stations along these tracks is a good way to stop rodents in their tracks.
Unusual noises:
Hearing scampering and knocks within the wall and roof void at night can be a sign of an uninvited guest within you home.
In Mackay homes, we've found all kinds of pests hiding in roof voids. From native Possums, overfed carpet snakes to Sparrows, Pigeons and hungry termites. If it's not one of those making the noises, then chances are you've got a rodent problem.
If you're hearing unusual sounds within your wall voids or ceiling, such as scraping, sliding, chewing and scuttling, give your local Mackay pest control company a buzz.
Our technicians at All Things Pest Control can conduct a thorough investigation to determine what kind of Rodent or other pest is causing your problems.
We'll tailor a treatment schedule to suit your needs and your budget that'll give you peace of mind your home and business is protected.
