Pests

It is the responsibility of all land occupiers to remove or destroy pests on their property, by either dealing with the matter themselves or by contacting a pest exterminator. If found on council land, contact us on 03 6217 9570 or by using the Report It form.

Rats and mice

Rats and mice are pests that spread disease. Generally they stay outside, but when their food supplies start to run out or when cold, wet weather sets in, they seek better shelter and may enter houses. As they can reproduce several times a year having multiple babies, they can grow rapidly becoming a significant issue. They are attracted to easy food sources such as fruit trees, vegetable gardens and poultry runs and pilled grain in aviaries and hutches.

To prevent rats and mice making your place their home:

• Don’t leave sources of food around including food waste, fallen fruit from fruit trees and leaving to much pet food out;
• Keep your yard tidy, keep grass mown and minimise areas where they can shelter such as in timber piles, rubbish heaps and machinery.
• Block up any gaps in your home where rates and mice can enter with something they can’t chew or dig through such as steel wool.

If you find dead rodents on your property, discard of them immediately to reduce the risk to predatory animals

Rats and mice are creatures of habit and will travel close to walls and fences, normally following the same path. The use of commercial wax bait blocks placed along the rat/mice path can be effective in controlling vermin.

Below is a diagram of a type of outdoor bait trap that can be made with a piece of drainpipe about 600mm long and 100mm in diameter. Secure the wax bait in the centre of the pipe with a piece of wire pushed through a hole drilled in the top side of the pipe. Place the pipe close to a sheltered wall or fence. Several bricks or stones can be used to hold the pipe in place.

CAUTION: Read and follow the instructions on any chemical or poison container before use. If you have any doubts, contact a pest control contractor. When handling the bait trap and any dead rates and mice, wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly straight after.

If your neighbour has rats or mice that are causing you issues, first speak with them about the problem. If that doesn’t work, contact us on 03 6217 9570 or submit a Report It form with the following information:

• your name, address and phone number
• the nature of the problem
• the exact address/location where the issue is present

Invasive species

Information on invasive species can be found on The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment website.