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RAT REMOVAL IN DANDENONG

RAT REMOVAL IN DANDENONG

Although the pitter-patter of young feet might be a comforting sound in many homes, one can argue that the sort of feet that generate that sound directly correlates with happiness. Specific to the species. People, we’re talking about rats! Rats and other pests are unwelcome intruders in millions of homes across Australia. The health risks of having an uncontrolled rat population in a house are significantly more severe than one might initially imagine, even while the prevalence of these pests might influence a person’s or family’s emotional welfare. Numerous diseases that can cause significant sickness and, in some cases, even death are known to be transmitted by rats and other rodents. Pest control empire ensures that your house remains safe and secure from such rodents. With the help of professional experts, you can improve your living conditions. Pest control in Dandenong ensures that every family lives a safe lifestyle by removing the rats from the house.

Why Consider Rat Removal in Dandenong?

Professional rat removal in Dandenong helps one control these rodent invasions, thereby reducing the chances of health fatalities. Rats are not only a health hazard but also hazardous for the household, as they tend to damage property. They tend to chew down on solid materials to ensure their teeth wear down. Therefore, when there are rats in one’s house, they might find cuts through cables and timber. As the rats do not differentiate on the material they chew on, they might cut through cables that help you stay connected to the internet. Usually, rats are nocturnal and search for food during the night. However, one might spot a rodent during the day due to food scarcity or an increase in the population of rats.

Common Places for Rats to Thrive

Dandenong is a place that has seen a rise in the invasion of such rodents in the past few years. Rats look for houses or lure close to houses for food and shelter. The cold temperatures make these rodents take shelter in your homes, which is harmful to you and your family. Some common places where you might spot a rat in your house include the roof, subfloors and wall cavities; in some cases, these rodents live in the kitchen or behind the refrigerator. Furthermore, after the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the sightings of rats and rodents. The rats search for food in broad daylight, even when they are close to a human. This desperate behavior that they develop is for two main reasons:

  • They are repeatedly looking for food and shelter
  • They know they’re faster than humans and fit into places that
    humans can’t reach

Why us?

Pest Control Empire provides efficient advice and ensures that your house remains pest-free. Our experts provide all the required equipment needed for rat removal in Dandenong. Your safety and well-being are our top priority. By eliminating rodents, we’ll be able to provide you with a healthy living space. However, various laws describe the ways to remove rats and rodents. Our expert team follows all the protocols, thereby removing the pests lawfully and correctly. Contact Pest Control Empire on 1300 665 573 to discuss Rat Removal in Dandenong, as we operate all over Dandenong. If you require assistance with rat or rodent removal, we are the team for you!

POSSUM REMOVAL MITCHAM

POSSUM REMOVAL MITCHAM

If Mitcham isn’t the possum capital of Melbourne then we’re not sure where is! The natural environment of a possum is a tree. However, as we knock down more and more trees this limits the areas for possums to live. It’s inevitable that they’ll make a cosy home for themselves in our roof. A roof space is warm and keeps the possum dry and safe from predators. We specialise in possum removal Mitcham and all other possum removal Melbourne suburbs.

You may think possums are cute but when they’re partying at night while you’re trying to sleep you attitude with change quickly. So how does a possum find it’s way into your roof? Possums are trapeze artists. They can climb downpipes, walk across power lines or jump from close by fences or trees. Possums are well established in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne and will continue to do so. That’s because the legislation governing the control of possums is quite stringent. Did you know that it’s illegal to trap and relocate a possum? Well it is an for good reason.

That’s because a possum is territorial and will fight other possums that encroach into their areas. If you were to catch and release a possum into a new area it’s likely that the possum will be moved into an already occupied possum zone. The end result will usually be a fight to the death.

Tim from Pest Control Empire is experienced in possum removal in Mitcham and virtually any other suburb where possums frequent. Tim says:

“We’re finding that new homes with flat roofs, box gutters, rain head style gutters and shared walls are easily breached by possums. The builder is supposed to construct a property that keeps out water and vermin. While we can say they do a good job at keeping out water, the same can’t be said for vermin. A possum needs an opening about the size of a clenched fist to push it’s body into a roof cavity or wall space.”

Tim continues:

“Once on the roof the possum will investigate for any breach or weakness that will allow entry into the roof space. If there’s a gap they’ll find it. If there isn’t an opening then a possum will often create one. It’s not uncommon for a possum to chew through timber to create a gap large enough to squeeze into.”

Noises in a roof space, particularly at night is a sign that a possum may be living inside. They’re a nocturnal animal and venture out at night in search of food, exercise and play mates. They will return in the morning before light.

If you hear noises in your roof space be sure to call us to investigate. The possum will relieve its bowels in your roof space and you may have urine stains dripping down your walls or staining your ceiling. If a possum dies in your roof the smell is unbearable. We’ve had several clients that have had to rent a hotel room until we were able attend and retrieve the carcass.

When we attend we confirm that the unwanted occupant is in fact a possum. Often we attend and the culprit is rats or mice. We offer a rodent control so if we find these pests we can assist with that.

If it’s a possum we identify the entry points and block them. We then install a one-way door over the active entry point. The possum will exit through the one-way door and will then be blocked out. We return a few days later to remove the door and close off this entry.

We’re the specialists in possum removal from Mitcham homes and businesses and we offer a 12-month warranty for possum removal Mitcham clients. Call us now on 1300 665 573 for all your possum control needs.

Possum Removal Mitcham
We’re the specialists in possum removal from Mitcham homes and businesses. Call us now on 1300 665 573.

POSSUM REMOVAL DONCASTER

POSSUM REMOVAL DONCASTER

If you live in Doncaster and there are constant noises in your roof then you might require possum removal. Possums will exploit any weakness in your Doncaster property to gain entry and set up camp. Once a possum gets in it won’t leave without human intervention – or until it dies and stinks the place out! If there’s any noise in your roof space then you need to call Pest Control Empire – the possum removal experts in Doncaster and Melbourne’s other eastern suburbs.

We have serviced many households in Doncaster who have possums in their roof space. Possums are nocturnal so they are active while we are trying to sleep. Tim Clinnick is the owner of Pest Control Empire and he has vast experience in possum control.

Tim says, “It’s common for homeowners to say they initially didn’t mind the possum living in their roof. They soon change their minds when the possum keeps the whole household awake! The urine stains on walls and ceilings aren’t desirable either. It’s kind of like a tenant that doesn’t pay rent and trashes the place.”

Signs a possum is in your Doncaster roof space include:

• Exterior damage to your property where they enter the roof;
• Noises like scratching, hissing, shrieking;
• Agitated and anxious pets that can smell their presence;
• Odours such as a decaying possum carcass or urine smell;
• Stains from urine;
• Dislodged light fittings caused by possums walking on them; &
• Live sightings of possums on your roof or fence.

A possum will find any weakness in your property that will allow them entry into your roof space. Common entry points for possums include:

• Broken / dislodged / missing tiles;
• Missing bricks;
• Gaps where electrical wiring is connected to the roof frame;
• Gaps in box gutters and rain heads; &
• Where flashing has been installed as it can be easy for a possum to move it.

You may think there is no way a possum can gain entry onto your roof to enter the cavity. You may have a double storey with no trees that come anywhere near the roof line.

Tim adds; “Many clients say they have inspected their property and can’ see how a possum can get to their roof line let alone gain entry. Well if you have power and communication lines that are above ground then this is the likely access point. If a human can walk on a rope (think of a trapeze artist), then a possum can easily walk along a thin electrical or communication cord to access the roof.”

If you hear noises in your roof then it’s likely that a possum, or even rats or mice have entered your Doncaster roof space. We offer all pest control services including:

• Possum Removal;
• Rodent Control;
• Mouse Control; &
• Rat Control.

Call us on 1300 665 573 or send an email enquiry to have vermin removed from your home now.

POSSUM REMOVAL MONTROSE

POSSUM REMOVAL MONTROSE

We specialise in the removal of possums from homes in Montrose in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Where would you rather live – in a nook in a tree or in a nice, cosy roof space? If you’re a possum this decision is easy, it’s the roof space. For starters wind, rain or the scorching hot sun won’t impact you. You’re also safe from predators such as dogs, cats, large owls and foxes. Snakes have also been known to feed on possums!

You may think having a possum in your roof isn’t such a bad thing. If you ask certain Montrose homeowners who have possums in their roof they’ll tell you the truth. They’re bloody noisy, smelly, unhygienic and destructive. If you grow ornamental plants or have fruit trees or vegetable gardens you can be sure a possum will find them, feed on them and make you very, very mad!

Possums are nocturnal so while you’re sleeping they’re partying! If you own or a neighbour owns a dog they’ll incessantly bark at possums as they scale electricity wires or boundary fences. Possums have even been known to sit directly above a dog to taunt him or her!

So now you’re probably starting to understand that a possum in your Montrose roof space isn’t such a good thing. Now then is the time to call us. We specialise in the removal of possums from your roof. We use lawful and ethical methods to remove possums.

Did you know that it’s illegal to trap a possum in a cage and then relocate it? That’s because possums are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975. The reasoning behind not relocating possums is due to the likelihood that you will release the possum into the territory of another possum. This can lead to a fight and even death.

Let’s avoid trapping altogether as it is also quite stressful on the captured possum. So what is it we do to remove the possum from your Montrose roof cavity? Firstly we audit the entire structure to identify where the possum is gaining entry. We also identify other vulnerable areas that may also provide entry.

We then block the entry points and install a one-way door. The one-way door allows the possum to exit through it but not re-enter. Pretty clever! Once the possum is out and you’re satisfied it hasn’t got back in we’ll return to remove the one-way door.

Now we can’t control where the possum might go. They might even move next door into your neighbour’s roof. But at least we’ve complied with the law and made the eviction as least stressful as possible for our native possum.

So if you’re hearing noises in your roof be sure to call us on 1300 665 573 before whatever it is causes you untold grief.

POSSUM REMOVAL BAYSWATER

POSSUM REMOVAL BAYSWATER

Bayswater in Melbourne’s east is home to beautiful Australian wildlife, with possums at the top of the list. The problem is that we’ve done our best to remove the natural habitat of the possum. We’ve cut down trees to build homes. Where else is the possum to go but into our roof cavity? We’re Melbourne’s premier possum removal company. We use ethical methods to remove possums without causing any harm.

A possum is a curious creature. They will investigate your home to search for potential entry points into a nice and cosy part of your roof. Once a possum has gained entry they won’t leave without human intervention. We have assisted hundreds of Bayswater homeowners with possum removal so call us if you suspect you’ve got an unwanted visitor.

Signs that a possum is in your roof include:

• Scratching noises;
• Urine stains on ceilings & walls;
• A pungent odour;
• Thumping in the roof as they enter and exit the roof;
• Rub marks at the entry point into the roof; &
• Droppings in the roof cavity and gutters.

Another sign that a possum may be onsite is agitated pets. Cats or dogs will display increased anxiety and may sit in front of a wall where a possum may be close by.
It’s also common for a possum to lodge itself in a wall cavity to sleep. As they move around in their sleep, the possum’s claws will scratch away at the plaster wall. Soon enough the possum will create a hole in the wall and will be clearly visible.

At this stage it’s time to call in the professional possum removal specialists. We promptly attend to confirm that the intruder is in fact a possum. We’ll then identify and close off the active entry point. We also audit the entire home to identify and close off any potential entry points. If we don’t do this it will only be a matter of time before the possum finds this new way into the roof cavity and the process continues.

Now you must be thinking that we’ve trapped the possum in the roof cavity by sealing the points of entry right? Well you are right. The possum will be sound asleep as we need the daylight hours to safely find and block the entries. To avoid a gruesome death though we’ll now install a one-way door.

The one-way door is usually installed over or as close as possible to the entry point. The possum will then venture out at night via the one-way door. The idea of the one-way door is self-explanatory. The possum can exit but not re-enter.

Ideally the possum exits the first night and worst case, the next. We then contact you a few days later to confirm the possum has been removed from your Bayswater home. We’ll then return and remove the one-way door. Job done!

Contact us now for safe and ethical possum removal in Bayswater. Our contact number is 1300 665 573.

POSSUM REMOVAL KILSYTH

POSSUM REMOVAL KILSYTH

We’re the possum removal specialists servicing Kilsyth in Melbourne’s east. While many people consider possums cute and cuddly, their attitude toward these furry creatures soon changes when they gain entry into your roof cavity! Possum removal Kilsyth is one of our most common services. Contact us now to begin the process of removing your unwanted possum from your roof in Kilsyth now!

Possums are nocturnal. This means that they’re awake and active at night when we’re trying to sleep. A possum will live in your roof space and venture out after dark in search of food and other possums. They’ll come and go from your roof and pay no consideration to your need for sleep!

We’re Kilsyth’s best possum removal service for a reason. We use ethical methods to remove possums that comply with Victorian law. Possums are native to Australia so legislation governs how we can and can’t remove possums from your Kilsyth property.

Possums are territorial. This means that once they’ve established a home in your home, they won’t leave without some form of intervention. An eviction notice won’t work for possums so that’s where we step in.

Our team of possum removal specialists will attend your home and confirm the presence of a possum. People hear noises in their roof and immediately think it must be a possum. This isn’t always the case as many other animals – rats, mice, birds and even bats will inhabit a roof space.

We confirm the identity of the said intruder firstly by inspecting the roof cavity. We look for signs of the presence of a possum and this includes:

• Paw prints;
• Odours (think of a smell similar to a wet dog);
• Droppings;
• Nesting materials;
• Live possums.

Possum Removal Kilsyth
We recently blocked out a possum in a Kilsyth home and when we returned to remove the one way door we found him living in the guttering! Another successful possum eviction.

It’s not uncommon for us to be inspecting a roof space and to then find a possum sleeping soundly. Once they are aware of our presence though they will run to avoid capture. We’re not too sure we’d like to catch a possum by hand though. A brush tail possum can be quite aggressive. They have sharp claws and very sharp teeth.

Another telltale sign that is living in the roof is urine stains. The stains may appear on the ceiling and down internal and external walls.

It’s also not uncommon for a possum to nest in a wall cavity. A wall cavity is cooler than a roof cavity in summer and warmer than a roof cavity in winter. Like us, possums toss and turn when they sleep. Unlike us though, a possum has sharp claws.

When the sleeping possum tosses and turns they scratch through the plaster wall. The possum will be clearly visible through the hole and we often get panicked calls from homeowners who swear the possum is trying to enter their home to attack them! We can assure you that this is not the case.

Now that we’ve confirmed that the intruder is a possum we need to find the entry point. It’s also important to identify any other potential entry points.

To find the entry point we need to start from the bottom of the structure and work our way to the top. A possum may enter via a missing brick in an exterior wall, work it’s way up a wall and then into the roof cavity.

Other entry points could be a missing or broken roof tile, rotting timber fascia boards that allow easy access or even through lead flashing that is easily moved by possums to gain entry. Other common entry points on flat roofs are box gutters and rain heads.

Once we identify the entry points we need to block them. We use metal flashing or metal grill cut to size. We use metal as possums cannot chew threw it like they can through timber or plastic. We do this during the day whilst the possum is sleeping in the roof space.

This does trap the possum within the roof but what we do next is install a one-way door. The one-way door is best installed over or close to the active entry point. We use food, such as apple or banana, to attract the possum to the one-way door. The possum should then exit via the door.
Once the possum is out it should not be able get back in. That’s not to say that it won’t try! Our clients report that the possum moves around the house in search of a new entry. If we’ve done our job correctly then there’s no chance the possum will re-enter.

We communicate with our client and in a perfect world, we are told that the possum exited the first night, tried to get back in but soon gave up and moved on. We return and remove the one-way door after confirmation that the possum is evicted.

If you suspect a possum is in your Kilsyth home then contact us on 1300 665 573. We’re Melbourne’s premier ethical possum removal specialists so contact us now.

Rats Melbourne | Mouse Exterminator Melbourne

Rats Melbourne

INCREASE IN RODENT ACTIVITY IN MELBOURNE

We’re riding the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Melbourne and it seems the local rodent population is riding the wave with us. Tim Clinnick, of the Pest Control Empire , notes a dramatic increase in rodent activity in Melbourne. Tim says, “If the current number of enquiries continue then it’s going to be a bumper season for rats and mice in Melbourne”.

There are many reasons why rodent activity has increased in Melbourne. Social distancing and working from home may be a major factor.
Tim continues: “It may not actually be that rats and mice are in higher numbers this year. I believe the closure of cafes and restaurants, particularly around the Melbourne CBD, may have resulted in a drop in food for rodents. The lack of people in the Melbourne CBD has also likely decreased the amount of litter that the local rodents would normally feed on.”

Rats Melbourne

Tim notes that a scarcity of food may have resulted in rats and mice venturing further in search of a meal. He also notes that rodent sightings during daylight hours have increased.

Tim explains: “Rats and mice are nocturnal so they usually search for food at night. The fact that many people are sighting rodents during the day indicates to me that food is scarce and they’re getting desperate.
However, it could also indicate that the population level of rodents is high at present”.

It’s imperative that the pest control industry operates as normal during COVID-19. Could you imagine a city overrun by rodents? This could be the reality is the pest industry is crippled.

Professional pest companies in Melbourne for the following reasons should control rats and mice:

• Rats & mice spread disease;
• Rats & mice contaminate food;
• Rats & mice damage property.

Tim says: “Rats and mice need to gnaw of solid objects to wear their teeth down. If they didn’t gnaw their teeth would grow so large that they wouldn’t be able to eat. Generally, rats and mice will gnaw on timber to grind down their teeth but it’s also very common for them to gnaw on cables. It could be an electrical wire or your Internet connection that they destroy. Rodents are quite often the cause of an electrical fire!”

Find this clip during this Covid 19 period

Melbourne’s outer suburbs are also experiencing a surge in rodent activity. As the temperature cools in Melbourne it’s common for rats and mice to venture closer to our homes in search of warmth. Common locations for rodents to live include:

• Roof cavities;
• Wall cavities;
• Subfloors; &
• In the case of mice, they will live behind the fridge, dishwasher, or under the kitchen sink.

Tim notes that mice are brazen in nature as opposed to the rat that has more of a shy disposition. “Rats have an established fear of people. For some reason they think we don’t like them and that we’re trying to kill them! Rats have been around for millions of years and will always thrive where people are in close proximity. We’ll never get rid of them totally and generally, we rarely see them so our phobia is less for the rat than the mouse.”

Tim continues, “A mouse sighting is enough to make a grown man shriek in fear! Mice are brazen and inquisitive. They’ll live inside our homes and venture out in search of food within our view. I guess they know they’re quicker than us and able to fit into gaps we can’t access”.

Contact Pest Control Empire on 1300 665 573 to discuss your Melbourne rodent control options. We operate in every Melbourne suburb. If you require rat or mouse elimination in Melbourne then we’re the team for you.

Melbourne Pest Control | Dead Animal Removal Melbourne

MELBOURNE PEST CONTROL

MELBOURNE PEST CONTROL

Melbourne is home to more than 5 million people. That’s a lot of people for a relatively small area. As in most heavily populated parts of the world, where there are people, there are also pests. Rats, mice, cockroaches, ants, and spiders are usually found living side by side with people.

If this is the case for you then you need a professional Melbourne pest control service. We’ve established ourselves as one of Melbourne’s best pest control service providers. Our rating on Google is second to none in Melbourne pest control.

Melbourne is an ever-growing sprawl of new suburbs. New estate areas are particularly prone to pest infestations. Mice are a major issue for newly established Melbourne suburb residents. Tim Clinnick, the owner of Pest Control Empire, explains why:

“Mice are commonly referred to as field mice as they are associated with living in open fields and feeding off the land. However, as our population increases, we’ve had to build more Melbourne suburbs. As such, we’re removing the natural habitat of mice by building houses where open fields previously were”.

Tim continues, “Mice also prefer a warm climate and as any Melbourne resident knows, it can get quite cold in autumn and winter. Now put yourself into the ‘shoes’ of a mouse, would you rather live in a cold and wet field or in a dry Melbourne home with heating and quite possibly a regular source of food?”

If you hear noises in your roof or walls, mainly at night, then the likely culprit is rats or mice. Rats will more than likely avoid human interaction at all costs. For some reason, they think we’ll try and kill them! They’ll use the roof, walls, or subfloor of our Melbourne homes as someone to live and breed. They’ll then come outside at night in search of food.

Mice are more brazen and prefer to find a way into your home. They’ll scavenge through your pantry or fruit bowl and eat anything that isn’t in a sealed container.

Mice are commonly found in Melbourne homes with young children. As a parent we know that kids are messy and keeping on top of the cleaning can be difficult. Mice love to pick off the crumbs our kids drop on the floor. If evidence of mice is found in kids’ bedrooms, it’s likely because the kids have been eating or sneaking food into their rooms.

Common sources of food for rodents in Melbourne include:

• Fruit trees (olives and figs are very popular);
• Veggie gardens;
• Birdseed from aviaries; &
• Pet food left in bowls outside.

A major attractant for rodents is also chickens. As many residents of Melbourne try to be as self-sufficient as possible, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in chicken ownership. Tim continues:

“Most Melbourne chicken owners prefer them to be free-range rather than confined to a locked coup. When owners feed the chooks they don’t stick around to ensure it’s all consumed. Any leftovers become easy pickings for rats and mice. A Melbourne chicken owner will usually be the cause of increased rodent activity in the near vicinity. This doesn’t usually make them popular with the neighbours!”

When the usual sources of food are scarce a rat or mouse will adapt and eat garden pests including slugs and snails.

Rodents are a major disease carrier and contaminate many Melbourne homes and businesses. Melbourne pest control is essential to manage rodents and other pests so contact us now for a quote.

Spiders are also very common in Melbourne homes. Web spinning spiders feed on insects and their webs are usually found near exterior light fittings. Flying insects are attracted to these lights and become tangled in the spider’s web. They then become a tasty meal!

Whilst we are most familiar with web-spinning spiders like the redback and black house spiders, there are also spiders known as ground-dwelling spiders. Many of these live in a burrow in the ground and wait to pounce on any unsuspecting prey. These types of spiders include the funnel-web and trap door.

There are also ground-dwelling spiders that are nomadic and keep on the move in search of prey. These spiders include the much-maligned white tail and the huntsman. Huntsman prey on insects and the whitetail is a cannibal and prefers a diet consisting of black house, redback, and daddy longlegs spiders!

We offer Melbourne’s best pest control that will manage the spider population in and around your home so contact us for a quote.

German cockroaches are another pest that causes havoc in Melbourne homes and in particular, cafes and restaurants. Melbourne’s cafes and restaurants must adhere to legislation that their work-place must be pest-free. Pest control for Melbourne cafes and restaurants is therefore essential.

German cockroaches are considered a hygiene pest. This means that if you keep your home or workplace clean, then an outbreak is highly unlikely. Once they find a food source they breed and their numbers explode. By this stage, you will not be able to resolve the issue without a Melbourne pest control service.

When they are out of control German cockroaches will be found within your home in the following areas:

• In the fridge lining and around the motor (for the warmth);
• In and around a coffee machine;
• In the dishwasher lining and motor (for the warmth and moisture);
• In cupboards around hinges; &
• On cornices.

We find that people with German cockroach issues may be doing the following:

• Dirty dishes left out overnight;
• Internal bins not cleaned and garbage is not put outside often enough;
• Food spills not cleaned; &
• Kitchen splashback not cleaned after cooking.

We also find that German cockroaches may be in a vacated rental property and the new tenant inherits the problem. It is likely that the property has not had a Melbourne end of lease pest control service. We offer this Melbourne Pest Control Service to Melbourne properties. German cockroaches may also spread between units in an apartment complex.

No matter the cause of the problem our Melbourne pest control services will manage the pest problem. For a list of our services please review our website and be sure to call us for your chance to experience Melbourne’s best pest control service.

Pest control Melbourne is what we love. For all your pest management needs be sure to call us on 
1300 665 573 or lodge an enquiring via our Contact Us page. We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your needs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rat Control in Melbourne

Melbourne is home to all kinds of pests, including:

• Rodents (rats & mice);
• Possums;
• Flying insect pests;
• Crawling insect pests; &
• Birds.

Tim Clinnick is the senior pest manager at Pest Control Empire, a major player in the Melbourne based pest management space. Tim says, “Far and away the most common complaint we have involves rodents. Rats and mice are absolutely everywhere and no suburb is immune”.

Rat Control Requirements

The three types of rodents that require pest control in Melbourne are:

1. The common house mouse;
2. The Norway Rat; &
3. The roof rat.

Rat Control | The roof rat
The roof rat is identifiable via its large ears and strikingly long tail

The common house mouse has adapted well to living among humans. Mice are smaller than rats and are far more likely to enter an occupied home than their more cautious rat relatives.

Due to their small stature mice are able to enter tiny gaps to gain entry into a home. Common entry points for mice into Melbourne homes and offices include:

• Weep holes;
• Gaps around pipes;
• Trees that overhang a roofline; &
• Gaps under doors and around windows.

Tim continues, “Our clients are quite often perplexed as to how a mouse or mice have found their way into their homes. I simply explain that if you can fit a pencil into a gap, then that’s more than enough space for a mouse to enter. I also explain that mice can actually scale vertical walls. If I hadn’t seen it I wouldn’t have believed it but it’s true!”

Mice are brazen and can often be seen scurrying around a lounge room or kitchen in search of food. Tim adds, “Mice are very confident if not cocky. I’ve had a few elderly clients that like to eat in their rocking chairs. They often relay stories of mice living under the rocking chair and pillaging food direct from the client’s plate!”

Mice are also inquisitive. It’s this trait that pest control managers in Melbourne use to bring about their demise. Tim says, “We try as far as possible to eliminate any possible food source. This includes putting all food packages into sealed Tupperware style containers, sweeping up all spills, keeping fruit in the fridge and other vigilant hygiene practices like taking internal garbage bins outside daily. We then add rodenticide in locked style bait stations and place them in strategic locations. The inquisitive nature of a mouse will lead it to investigate and feed within the bait station. The rodenticide we use is very effective and will soon lead to the death of the mouse and all his rodent friends.”

The Norway rat also is known as the common rat, street rat, sewer rat, Hanover rat, Norwegian rat, Parisian rat, water rat, or wharf rat is a very common pest in Melbourne. In fact, it’s the most successful mammal on the planet, behind humans of course!

The Norway rat lives hand in hand with humans and their preference is to dig long and continuous tunnels to provide harbourage from the weather and predators. Tim adds, “Often we receive a call from a client advising that a rat or rats are seen scurrying under their deck. When Norway rat is startled it will run to its burrow. In instances where clients have a deck, it’s very easy for a rat to create a burrow system underneath. At some very infested homes, I’ve crawled around subfloors and observed hundreds of burrows. It’s quite a sight to behold!”

To control the Norway rat we can add locked bait stations around the area where they are tunneling. We can also add tracking powder into each accessible burrow. The powder attaches to the body of the rat. Rats are social and live in groups. They groom other rats as well as themselves. A rat contaminated with tracking powder that gets groomed or grooms itself can lead to death to the colony.

The roof rat is Melbourne’s biggest pest control issue. As the name suggests, these rats inhabit roof cavities. Tim notes, “Our clients call and say it sounds like there’s a party going on in their roof space! Instantly I think of the roof rat. Due to their nocturnal nature, this rat is particularly annoying as it keeps Melbourne homeowners awake at night”.

Signs that you have a rat issue in your Melbourne roof space include:

• Noises at night;
• Scurrying sounds;
• Chewing or gnawing sounds;
• Fighting or mating sounds; &
• Musky odours.

Tim concludes, “A telltale sign of a rodent infestation is an agitated cat or dog. If there’s a rat or a mouse sleeping in a wall, a cat or dog will sit in front of that wall, often for hours on end. This is a dead give away that your Melbourne house is home to rodents”.

We’re a respected provider of rat control and pest control services in Melbourne and surrounding areas. Melbourne is home to many pests and we can help you with them all. Contact us on 1300 665 573 for a quote on your pest control Melbourne needs.

Spiders That Require Pest Control in Melbourne

SPIDER CONTROL IN MELBOURNE

Melbourne pest control season is in full swing so it’s an ideal time for us to provide you with a guide to the most common spiders you will likely encounter in and around your home. Melbourne is home to all types of spiders: deadly and dangerous, poisonous and painful and those that pose little to no harm to you or your pets. We’re a Melbourne pest control company that specialises in eliminating pests from your home and place of business. Contact us on 1300 665 573 for any pest control Melbourne service.

 

Deadly & Dangerous Spiders in Melbourne that require Pest Control

Spiders control | Red back spider in web
The red back spider injects venom and commonly live among us.

The red back spider is a highly venomous species that is found throughout Melbourne. The red back spins a messy web and is commonly found around our homes. They live on outdoor furniture, logs and rubbish such as old car and truck tyres.

The adult female is recognisable by the prominent red stripe on the upper side of her abdomen. Females have a body length of approximately 1cm. The male is far smaller and does not have the red stripe. After mating the female often cannibalises the male! The egg sac of the female can obtain around 250 eggs. Now that’s a lot of red back spiders.

The red back can be seriously harmful to humans. The estimate for red back spider bites to humans annually ranges from between 2000 to 10,000. If bitten, you will experience pain around the bite site. It will become more severe and will progress up the bitten limb. You may experience sweating, patchy skin, nausea, vomiting, headache and agitation.

The good news is that anti-venom has been available since 1956. Further good news is that we can treat your home or office for these biting pests in Melbourne. We offer pest control Melbourne spider sprays that will knock down the red back and then deter others from inhabiting your property.

 

Pest Control Fraser Rise | Plumpton
The female white tail is larger than its male counterpart.

The whitetail spider is so named because of the white tips on their end of their abdomen. They have a slender body about 1.8cm long. The whitetail spider is prominent in Melbourne. It preys on other spiders and is considered a ground dweller. This means that rather than spinning a web, it keeps on the move in search of prey.

These types of spiders are found in your garden, under bark and rocks and will often wander indoors. It’s common for whitetail spiders to be found under bedding, clothes on your floor and in shoes!

 

Whitetail spiders commonly bite humans and pets and symptoms include localised pain to the bite site and a red mark with swelling and itching. Ulcers and necrosis have been attributed to this spider but evidence by medical researchers tends to disprove this.

Our pest control Melbourne service at your home will target spiders. We spray your home to kill all the spiders living onsite. As spiders prey on other spiders we therefore reduce the likelihood of these pests coming to your home is we remove their food source.

Other spiders that are found around Melbourne homes and require pest control include:

  • Mouse spider;
  • Black house spider;
  • Wolf spider;
  • Trap door spider;
  • Huntsman;
  • Orb-weaving spider; &
  • St Andrews Cross Spider.

We hope we haven’t scared you too much! Thankfully Australia’s deadliest spider, the Sydney funnel web, isn’t established in Melbourne. For Melbourne pest control to the highest standard be sure to call us on 1300 665 573. We’re highly trained and experienced in eliminating pests in Melbourne.

 

 

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