How to keep rats and mice out of your home

Rats and mice look for warmth, food and shelter, and in Sydney they move indoors as the weather cools. Besides chewing wiring and contaminating food, rodents can carry diseases such as leptospirosis and salmonella.

Seal the entry points

A mouse can squeeze through a gap the size of a pen, and a rat through a gap the size of a coin. Check weep holes, pipe penetrations, gaps under doors, roof lines and garage doors, and seal them with steel mesh or weather strips.

Remove food and water

• Store pet food and pantry goods in sealed containers.
• Keep bins closed and away from the house.
• Pick up fallen fruit and fix leaking taps.

Clear hiding spots

Trim vegetation away from walls and the roof, and move wood piles and clutter off the ground and away from the house.

Watch for the signs

Droppings, gnaw marks, grease marks along walls and scratching in the ceiling at night all point to rodent activity.

When to call a professional

If you have ongoing activity, our team uses tamper-resistant bait stations, traps and proofing advice to remove rodents and keep them out, with placement that is safer around children and pets.