Rats and Mice [Rodents]
Cairns, Innisfail, Atherton Tablelands, Mossman and Port Douglas Clients should be aware that rodents will enter buildings to look for a nesting site that is close to a food source seasonally, often in Autumn and Winter. However, it is important to keep a keen eye out all year long for rodent indicators of infestation. Rodents through their continual chewing can do a great deal of damage in a very short amount of time.
Rodents live near us to gain access to food and shelter. Have you ever been woken up in the middle of the night hearing scratching, in your ceiling? Alternatively, maybe you have seen a rat or a mouse in your yard or shed and wonder if you should be concerned?
Yes, as rodents reach sexual maturity ranging from six weeks for mice and three to four months for rats. With the average litter, the gestation period is between nineteen days for mice and twenty-three days for rats. When considering the average per litter of five to six for mice one pair of adult mice could produce up to one hundred and fourteen offspring per year. At the same time, an adult pair of rats with an average litter of six to ten could produce up to one hundred and fifty-eight offspring. With rodents being able to reproduce so quickly, it can lead to a whole lot of problems for a homeowner if they do not get on top of a rodent infestation.
What are the indicators of a rodent infestation?
Peter & Paul’s Pest Control technicians are trained in the detection of rodents in your home.
The following are some of the indicators of rats and mice:
Droppings, burrows, gnawing’s, nests, tracks, urine stains, the disappearance of food, sounds in your roof, odours, visual sightings, runways.
Do Rodents transmit disease?
Many diseases that rodents carry and spread are life threatening such as leptospirosis. Approximately 100 cases of leptospirosis are reported in humans each year in Queensland. That is around 4 cases per 100,000 people. Other diseases are including Murine typhus fever, Rat-bite fever, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis, Poliomyelitis, Favus.
What other problems do Rodents cause?
Rodents eat and contaminate twenty billion dollars of food every year. They cause significant damage as they have very sharp incisors which keep growing which causes them to gnaw continually. They can cut through lead, aluminium, wood, mortar, plastic, and yes electrical and telephone cables. The gnawing can cause house fires and flooding. With the significant farming land from Mossman and Port Douglas through to Innisfail including the rich fertile areas of the Atherton Tablelands gives rodents ready access to food and water. With plentiful supplies, rodent populations can get out of control quickly.
What can I do to help reduce rodents in and around my home?
Rodents can chew through bags and boxes to gain access to foods such as chips, nuts, cereals, bread, grain-based foods and pets foods. Make sure all foods not in a jar or can, are placed in a heavy plastic container or the refrigerator. Repair any holes in walls, around skirting boards and doors, repair any holes in fly screens, etc. Take note of areas that you see signs of rodents. Have a clean-up of areas in your yard and shed that may be harbourage areas for rodents. Make sure rubbish is put in bins daily, and that rubbish bin lids are down and not open. As rats and mice are competent climbers repair any holes where they can gain access to your roof void.
Treatment preparation.
Homeowners should let their Peter & Pauls Pest Technician know if they have seen rodents or any of their indicators in or around their home.
Treatments.
Peter & Pauls Pest Control Technicians use a range of strategies, including baits and traps. Our bait stations are lockable for the safety of children and pets. Ask about our decontamination service, using antimicrobials, high-pressure cleaning and industrial drying gear to sanitise and restore your property.
Get a free quote for your Rodent Treatment