Take control of rodent infestations with this comprehensive guide from Provecta Pest Management’s licensed technicians. Learn how to identify signs of mice and rats including droppings, gnaw marks, and sounds, locate entry points, secure food sources, and implement immediate response measures. Understand why professional treatment is essential for eliminating breeding populations and preventing reinfestation. Our decade of Sunshine Coast experience shows that early intervention prevents extensive property damage to wiring, insulation, and structural timber while protecting your family’s health.
Rodent infestations pose health risks and cause property damage. Early detection and proper response prevent serious problems.
1. Identify Signs of Rodent Activity Throughout Your Property
Look for droppings in cupboards, along walls, under sinks, and in storage areas. Mouse droppings are small (3 to 6 millimeters) and pointed at the ends, while rat droppings are larger (10 to 20 millimeters) and blunt. Check for gnaw marks on food packaging, wooden structures, electrical wiring, and plastic containers. Fresh gnaw marks appear lighter in color, while older marks are darker. Listen for scratching, scurrying, or squeaking sounds in walls, ceilings, or subfloor areas, particularly during evening and nighttime hours when rodents are most active. Look for grease marks along walls and corners where rodents regularly travel, as oils from their fur leave dark smudges on surfaces.
2. Locate Entry Points and Inspect Vulnerable Areas
Inspect your home’s exterior for potential rodent entry points. Mice can squeeze through gaps as small as 6 millimeters, while rats need openings of about 12 millimeters. Check around pipes, cables, air conditioning units, vents, gaps under doors, damaged weatherstripping, and cracks in foundations. Examine areas where utilities enter the building, as these are common access points. Look for burrows near foundations, gaps in mortar, missing roof tiles, and openings around eaves. Check garage doors, pet doors, and any structural damage that might provide access. Document all potential entry points for professional assessment and exclusion work.
3. Secure All Food and Water Sources Immediately
Transfer all pantry items from cardboard boxes and plastic bags into sealed glass or heavy plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. This includes cereals, flour, pasta, rice, pet food, and bird seed. Clean up any spilled food immediately and wipe down surfaces regularly. Store garbage in bins with secure lids, both inside and outside. Don’t leave pet food bowls out overnight, and store pet food bags in sealed containers or elevated bins that rodents cannot access. Fix leaking taps, pipes, and any plumbing issues immediately, as rodents need water daily to survive. Wipe down sinks before bed and remove pet water bowls overnight if you suspect rodent activity.
4. Remove Shelter and Eliminate Nesting Opportunities
Declutter storage areas, garages, and sheds where rodents can nest undisturbed. Remove piles of newspapers, cardboard boxes, fabric scraps, and other materials rodents use for nesting. Clear vegetation away from your home’s exterior walls, and remove woodpiles, leaf litter, and debris from around the property perimeter. Store firewood elevated and away from the building. Keep garage doors closed, especially overnight, and ensure shed doors seal properly. Move stored items away from walls to eliminate hiding spaces and make inspections easier. Check behind appliances, inside cupboards, and in rarely accessed areas for signs of nesting materials.
5. Implement Initial Control Measures While Awaiting Professional Help
While waiting for professional treatment, you can place snap traps or enclosed bait stations in areas showing rodent activity. Position traps along walls where rodents travel, with the trigger end facing the wall. Place traps in corners, under sinks, along garage walls, and near entry points. Use appropriate bait like peanut butter, chocolate, or bacon, which are more attractive than cheese. Check traps daily, wearing gloves when handling dead rodents or resetting traps. Never use poison baits without professional guidance, as rodents may die in inaccessible wall cavities causing severe odor problems. Document all locations where you’ve observed activity to share with pest control professionals.
6. Contact Professional Pest Control for Complete Elimination
While traps may catch individual rodents, professional treatment is necessary to eliminate breeding populations and prevent reinfestation. Contact Provecta Pest Management at 0474 562 661 for comprehensive rodent control. Our licensed technicians conduct thorough inspections, identify all entry points, implement strategic baiting programs using professional-grade products, and provide exclusion recommendations to prevent future problems. We use placement strategies and monitoring techniques more effective than retail options available to homeowners. Our team provides ongoing monitoring and follow-up visits to ensure complete elimination and offers advice on long-term prevention measures tailored to your specific property.
Pro Tip:
Rodent problems escalate quickly because a single breeding pair can produce 50 or more offspring in a year. What appears as one mouse is often a larger population already established in your walls or roof space. Our decade of experience shows that successful rodent control requires combining trapping, professional baiting, and exclusion work. Don’t wait until rodents have caused extensive damage to wiring, insulation, or structural timber. Early intervention saves money and prevents health risks associated with rodent-borne diseases and contamination. Call us for a thorough assessment and professional treatment plan.