Rodent Treatment
Common pest rodent species in Victoria include the Norway rat, the roof rat and the house mouse.
Rats and mice are just two of the mammals that belong to the order Rodentia. More than 2,200 species of rodents – such as mice and rats – exist, and more than 40 per cent of all mammal species belong to the Rodentia order.
Australia has more than 60 native rodent species and three introduced pest species.
Rodents have been successful in populating every continent except Antarctica. This is because of their small size, short breeding cycle and ability to eat a variety of foods. They are the second most successful mammal on the planet, coming second only to humans.
Rodents consume and destroy their food source during feeding. This can cause devastating damage to a wide range of different settings, such as domestic households, commercial businesses, farms, manufactures and livestock.
Not only do rodents gnaw through many materials, but they can also ruin food supplies by excreting them.
Not all rodents are considered pests. Many rodents are an important part of the food chain, as they are prey for meat-eating animals such as cats, snakes, large birds and foxes. Rodents are also important ecologically for spreading seeds and spores.
Rodents are characterized by their two sharp front teeth in the upper and lower jaws. These teeth grow continually, and their size is controlled by continual gnawing.
Rodent, Rat, and Mouse Control
All treatments carried out by Casey Pest Management meet the strict health regulations of the Australian Government, as per Section101 of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (PHW Act) and the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009 (PHW Regulations).
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategies
There are several DIY steps you can take to reduce the risk of rodents in your home:
- Keep food in containers with tight-fitting lids
- Clean up after food preparation. Food scraps left around is an open invitation
- Make sure rubbish bins are not open to scavengers. Tight lids are needed
- Don’t leave pet food lying around your premises
- Don’t leave organic food in an open compost
- Keep the house and garden clear of rubbish
Major Rodent Pest Species
Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus) | The Norway rat, also known as the common rat, sewer rat or brown rat, is the larger of the two pest rats. Their life span is usually between 9 and 12 months. Females can have 5-6 litters per year, and average 8-10 pups per litter. The gestation period is 21 days and the young reach sexual maturity at 3-4 months. Norway rats are usually active at night. They are good swimmers and diggers and can communicate through high pitched vocalisation. The Norway rat is an omnivore and will eat both plants and animal matter. They will eat almost anything, although they prefer starch and protein-rich food, such as cereals, which form a substantial part of their diet. Other foods they eat include meat, fish, vegetables, weeds, earthworms, crustaceans, nuts and fruits. The Norway rat is characterised physically by their:
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Roof Rat (Rattus Rattus) | weight of 200–500 grams. the roof rat, also known as the ship rat or black rat, is smaller than the common Norway rat. Their life span is usually 9-12 months. Females can have 4-5 litters per year, and average 6-8 pups per litter. Sexual maturity is reached at 3-4 months and females have a gestation period of 21 days. Roof rats are usually found in built-up areas or near the coast. They have good climbing ability and can nest in buildings, roof voids and ships. Roof rats eat a wide variety of food items, and generally feed on cereals, grains, fruit, and almost any item that has nutritional value. They are omnivores and will feed on insects or meat if necessary. The roof rat is characterised physically by their:
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House Mouse (Mus musculus) | The house mouse is small and has rather large ears, a pointed snout and a tail at least as long as its body length. House mouse live indoors and are usually a darkish grey colour, with lighter grey on the belly, while those living mainly indoors tend to a more sandy or yellow-brown colouring. They tend to live for about one year and may have 6-10 litters per year (each with 5-6 young). The house mouse is characterised physically by their:
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