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Rodent control
Rat and Mouse Control in Melbourne
We get rid of rats and mice by baiting where they feed and sealing the gaps they use to get in. Rodent treatment with entry-point sealing starts from $239 including GST and comes with a 3-month written warranty.
- Bait + seal on the same visit
- Pet and wildlife-aware placement
- 3-month warranty
Identify it
Which rodent is in your home?
Three rodents cause almost all the problems in Melbourne homes. Knowing which one you have tells us where to look and how to treat it.
| Rodent | How to recognise it | Where it lives | Droppings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) | Heavy body, blunt nose, small ears, tail shorter than its body | Ground level: burrows in gardens, drains, subfloors and under sheds | Large and capsule-shaped, around 2 cm |
| Roof rat (Rattus rattus) | Slim, pointed nose, large ears, tail longer than its body | Up high: roof voids, wall cavities and trees. An agile climber | Spindle-shaped, just over 1 cm |
| House mouse (Mus musculus) | Small, large ears, often seen in kitchens and pantries | Wall cavities, behind appliances, stored boxes | Rice-grain sized, dark and pointed |
Warning signs
Signs you have rats or mice
Droppings
Along skirting boards, in cupboards, the pantry, the roof void or the garage. Fresh droppings are soft and shiny.
Noises at night
Scratching and scurrying in the ceiling or walls after dark, often busiest in the early evening.
Gnawing
Chewed food packets, cables, irrigation pipes and timber. Rodent teeth never stop growing, so they chew constantly.
Rub marks and nests
Greasy smudges along regular runways, and shredded insulation or paper used as nesting material.
Local factors
Why rodents move into Melbourne homes
Rodent calls rise in autumn and winter as nights cool and rats and mice look for warm, dry shelter close to food. They follow the same routes every night, which is why one gap can let a whole colony in.
Construction nearby, overgrown gardens, pet food left out, compost bins and leaking taps all make a property more attractive.
- Terraces in Carlton, Fitzroy and South Melbourne share party walls and rear laneways, so rodents move between neighbours.
- Weatherboards on stumps in Brunswick, Reservoir and Footscray have open subfloors that give Norway rats ground-level access.
- Leafy streets in Kew, Hawthorn and Camberwell have trees and branches touching rooflines, the roof rat’s highway into the roof void.
Our process
How we get rid of rats and mice
- Inspect. Roof void, subfloor where there is safe access, kitchen and laundry, garage, and the whole exterior including rooflines, vents, pipes and weep holes.
- Identify the species and routes. Droppings, rub marks and damage tell us which rodent it is and where it travels.
- Place bait where they feed. Tamper-resistant stations outside and in reach of pets, and secured bait in the roof void away from possum access.
- Seal the entry points. A mouse can squeeze through a gap about the width of a pencil. We close common gaps with durable materials such as steel mesh, not foam alone.
- Explain the timeline. Rodents keep feeding for several days before the bait works, so you may hear them for a little while. That is normal.
- Report and follow up. Photos of what we found and sealed, the products used, and what to fix next.
Dead rat smell? We locate and remove carcasses from roof voids and accessible wall areas, then treat the area with an odour neutraliser. The odour treatment is an add-on from $45.
Pricing
Rodent control prices
Fixed prices, GST included. Larger proofing jobs are quoted on site before any work starts.
| Service | Unit or apartment | 3-bedroom house | 4-bedroom or double-storey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodent treatment + entry-point sealing | from $239 | from $289 | from $339 |
| Dead animal odour treatment (add-on) | from $45 | from $45 | from $45 |
| Roofline or subfloor proofing | Quoted on site | Quoted on site | Quoted on site |
See every price on our pest control pricing page.
Prevention
How to keep rodents out after treatment
- Trim branches and vines back from the roofline and gutters.
- Store pet food, bird seed and pantry goods in sealed containers.
- Fix dripping taps and leaking irrigation.
- Keep firewood, rubbish and building materials off the ground and away from walls.
- Use bins and compost bins with tight-fitting lids.
- Tell us about renovations or new gaps so we can re-check them under warranty.
FAQ
Rodent control questions
How long does it take to get rid of rats or mice?
Most activity drops within one to two weeks. Rodents feed on bait several times before it takes effect, so you may still hear them for a few days. Once the population is under control, the sealed entry points stop new ones moving in.
Is rat bait safe around pets and possums?
Rodent baits are poisons, so placement matters. We use tamper-resistant stations wherever children, pets or wildlife could reach them, and position roof void baits where possums are unlikely to access them. Tell us about pets when you book so we can plan placement.
Can you seal the entry points on the same visit?
Usually yes. Common gaps around eaves, pipes, vents and weep holes are sealed on the day. Larger jobs, such as roofline or subfloor proofing, are quoted on site before we start.
Is it rats, mice or a possum in my roof?
Light scratching and scurrying at night is usually rodents. Heavy thumping from dusk, strong smells and urine stains on the ceiling point to a possum. Droppings are the easiest tell: mouse droppings are rice-sized, rat droppings are much larger.
What is the smell after rodent treatment?
A strong, sweet, rotting smell usually means a rodent has died in a wall or roof void. We locate and remove carcasses where access allows, then treat the area with an odour neutraliser.
What does the rodent warranty cover?
Rodent treatment with entry-point sealing is covered for 3 months. If activity returns in that period we re-bait and re-check the gaps we sealed at no charge. Leave bait stations in place and tell us about any new gaps or building work.
Book rat and mouse control
Tell us where you are hearing or seeing activity and we will give you a fixed price and a two-hour arrival window.
Mon to Sat, 7am to 6pm · Licensed and insured · GST-inclusive prices