Specialist Rodent Control – Adelaide

Inspection first

As well as discussing with you the nature of your rodent problem, before we start any treatment we carry out a thorough inspection. We need to confirm 5 key elements before designs a treatment plan:

• Rodent species
• Level of infestation
• Nest locations
• Building entry points
• Feeding sites

Treatments

Most treatments will consist of placement of rodent baits at various locations around the property. We always place the baits in lockable bait stations for safety. In certain situations, we may also use traps.

Even a low-level problem (eg. Single rat) will take at least a week to get under control. A major infestation may take several weeks. Also, see “How our rodent treatments work”.

Follow up visits

Even with a low-level infestation we plan for at least one follow up visit to make sure the problem has been eliminated.

For larger rodent problems, several visits will be required – to monitor bait uptake, replace baits as required and monitor performance.

In certain circumstances, it may be necessary to have an ongoing rodent management plan in place (but normal for commercial premises).

Rodent removal

The rats and mice will die in a variety of places (inside and outside). As soon as a dead rodent is spotted, it should be pick up (wearing gloves) and placed in a bag, sealed and placed in the bin. Hindmarsh Pest Control can offer rodent removal as an add-on service.

Rodent proofing

As part of any rodent treatment service, we will make recommendations about rodent proofing your property to help avoid future rodent problems. If required, Hindmarsh Pest Control can provide a quote to carry out the rodent proofing.

Professional rodent baits contain “single feed” rodenticides – rats and mice only need to eat a very small amount for them to ingest a lethal dose. However, it does take up to a week for them to die.

After bait placement, the rodents may not eat the bait immediately – rats especially are frightened of new things. As such it can take up to 2 weeks to get on top of a problem. If it is a big infestation with a number of rodents it can take longer.

Safety considerations ​

As always safety is our number one consideration.

Rodents are mammals (as are humans and dogs), so it’s important to make sure rodent baits are used safely to avoid accidental poisonings.

The baits we use all contain bittering agents which make the baits distasteful to dogs and humans but it is still important that the baits are kept away from children and pets, which is why we think carefully about the placement of bait stations and we always use lockable bait stations to keep the bait clear of prying fingers and paws.

The baits we use are based on cereal and so are not attractive to cats, and dogs would need to eat several kilograms of bait for a lethal dose. If a pet does accidentally ingest a small amount of bait, vets can administer vitamin K1 as an antidote.

Before we carry out a treatment we will always discuss our proposal before we start. If you have any safety concerns, we can develop an alternative strategy including the use of traps. Although these improve the safety margin, these programs tend to take longer to gain control.

Do the rats and mice die outside?

This is a bit of an urban myth – it’s what everyone want to hear! The reality is that typically the rodents will die in or near their nest. If the nest is outside it does normally create a problem, if the nest is inside it’s important to remove the rodents. This is one of the reasons why we take time to try and identify the rodent nesting places before we start a treatment.

Rats and mice will come into buildings looking for food and shelter. As such actions to prevent a rodent problem fall into two main areas;

• Rodent proofing the building to prevent rodent entry
• Removal of potential food sources

Rodent proofing

Rodent proofing isn’t as easy as it sounds as rodents can squeeze through very small gaps – rats can squeeze through gaps as small as the end of your thumb and mice through caps as small as the end of your little finger.

Rodent proofing tips:

• Ensure insects screens and door weather stripes are in good order
• Place wire screens behind vents and openings to chimneys
• Seal cracks and openings around – use caulk, steel wool or a combination of both
• Trim back branches that may provide a runway to access the roof

Remove potential food sources:

• Store food in airtight containers
• Dispose of rubbish regularly and place in sealed plastic bins
• Make sure petfood and chicken food (grains) are not readily available and stored in airtight containers