The cold season can be a stressful time. With the constant chill, you might find yourself staying indoors more often than usual. That’s because the outdoor climate is less welcoming than the one inside. However, the lower temperature and dampness inside your home can create a breeding ground for creepy crawlies like moles, rats, and mice. If you’re ready to take back control of your home and keep rodents out, read on.
Perth winter is considered to be a major season for rodent control in Western Australia due to its warmer conditions that allow rodents to breed more easily inside buildings and structures. Simply put, rodents are more active during this time of the year than other times of the year so they have a better chance of finding their way into human spaces undetected.
There are several factors that make Perth winters particularly favorable for rodents:
- low humidity levels and constant cooling from the sea
- high levels of vegetation and green spaces
- abundant food sources like grains and seeds
- poorly sealed external openings such as windows, doors, vents or chimneys
- dark areas with little natural light
- weak structural integrity of buildings (e.g.: old timber houses)
- lack of routine cleaning activities by humans or pets
- and insufficient trapping methods or pesticide use in gardens or lawns to kill off potential pests before they can enter buildings.
What types of rodents live in Perth?
Rats and mice are two of the most common species of rodents found in Perth. Rats are found in urban and suburban areas, while mice are found in rural and rural/suburban areas. The common rat and mouse species in Perth are the Norway, roof, Australian, and Chinese warehouse rats (i.e.: R. rattus, Mus. sciaphus, A. agrarius, and Mus. domest., respectively).
These pests usually feed on a variety of crops including vegetables, grains, fruit, and nuts. However, they invade homes as winter approaches in Perth. In order to prevent rats from invading your home or business premises, it is necessary to get rid of them immediately.
The first step is to find their entry points into your property and plug them up with steel wool or metal mesh. You should also check for rat holes around your garden and fill them with a mixture of soil, grass clippings, cement, and lime mortar. You should be careful not to scatter rodenticides in areas that are accessible for pets and children as they may accidentally ingest these poisons.
You should also keep an eye on your food storage areas as rats and mice love to feed on stored food items such as cereals, grains, nuts, and beans. If you see any signs of infestation in your home or business premises in Perth, you should contact our professional pest control team immediately so that we can diagnose the problem at hand and provide you with effective solutions.
Dangers of winter rat and mouse infestations
The harsh winter months can be stressful for pet owners, and animals may be more likely to get sick. During the coldest months, rats and mice will seek shelter inside buildings and in attics. They can cause damage to homes by gnawing on insulation, electrical wires, and pipes.
Mice also spread disease, so it’s important to keep your home clean and your pets indoors. If you suspect that a rat or mouse has made its way into your home, contact our pest control professionals immediately.
Rodents pose a serious threat to public health and safety and can transmit many diseases. Rodents can contaminate food, spreading viruses such as salmonella and E. coli.
They can also contaminate water, spreading germs such as giardia and cryptosporidia. Because they are nocturnal and move around at night, they are also at risk of injuring or killing pets or humans. And when they breed in or near residential buildings, they create a fire risk.
You can reduce the risk of rats or mice entering your home by regularly checking for openings in your property and sealing any potential entry points with weatherproof tape or caulk.
You should also maintain a clean environment with food and water sources that are constantly monitored for pests. We offer rodent control services that include baiting stations that attract rats and traps that capture them.
How do you deal with a rodent problem in Perth?
There are many pests that can cause problems for both businesses and homeowners, especially in urban environments. Rats and mice are two common pests that can cause damage to buildings, infrastructure, and other areas of a building. If you notice a rodent in your home, act fast. Contact our pest control experts and make sure to seal any potential entry points.
These pests often damage food and contaminate it with bacteria and parasites, which can lead to foodborne illness. So, keep garbage cans covered and closed at all times.
Seal holes and gaps in your walls/floors/ceilings with caulk. Store food and beverages in tightly sealed containers. Keep pet food, birdseed, and other feed away from areas where rodents can access it. Keep your garden, lawn, and shrubbery clean.
Rats and mice are also known for their ability to chew through electrical wiring, which can lead to fires or electrical shocks. In addition to electrical damage, rats and mice can also chew through pipes, which can cause flooding issues. The best way to prevent infestation is by calling for professional help.
What are the signs of a rat or mouse infestation?
If you notice any unusual odors in your home or hear noises that seem out of the ordinary, it is worth investigating. Possible signs of a rodent infestation include:
- Rodents gnawing or chewing on wood or plastic.
- Rodent droppings or scat.
- Mud or dirt excavated by rodents.
- Weakened or damaged structural elements or soiled insulation.
How Do You Keep Rats And Mice Out Of Your House During Winter?
The most effective way to keep rats and mice out of your house during the winter is to keep them out by sealing all entry points. If you live in a cold climate, there are many options for insulating your home: spray foam insulation, double-pane windows, and exterior siding that is weather-resistant.
Additionally, you can use exclusion devices such as exclusion boxes, snap traps, and glue boards in areas where you know rodents have been seen. Finally, call for our professional pest control experts to have the most effective solutions to your rodent problems.
- Check your home for rodent easy entry points
Foraging rats and mice are drawn to easy access points into your home. These may include cracks in your foundation, gaps under doors and windowsills, or even openings around pipes and wires underneath your floor. If you find any of these, then you can greatly reduce their chance of entering your home.
Cracks in your foundation, especially those around water pipes, are a popular entry point for mice. You can install caulk to repair them (or fill them with concrete), cover the pipe with a plastic bag to keep it from freezing and caulk the bag with the bag-capper to prevent the bag from sticking to the tubing.
Gaps under doors and windowsills are also commonly used by these pests. You can close these with metal screens, expanding on the screens by using a zip-tie at the overlap. You can also use metal brackets to hang the screens above the gaps. Pipes can become breeding grounds for rats. If you have a water source in your home, then you need to be extra diligent about keeping it clean.
- Thoroughly inspect for cracks and crevices
Finding a rat or mouse entry point may be helpful; however, it does not mean the pest is not already inside your home. Another way for these rodents to get inside your home is by squeezing through tiny cracks or crevices. Therefore, the first thing you should do is look for any small openings in your home.
You may want to hire a professional to do this for you, or you can try to find them yourself. However, it may be a painstaking task only experts can effectively carry out. When inspecting for these cracks and crevices, look for places near walls, floors, and ceilings where a small hole or gap might exist. You’ll likely find that rats and mice have made their way through these paths.
There are several places where these pests could enter your home. The first place they may enter is around your basement or foundation. The next place they may enter is around your home’s exterior.
- Make sure food is stored away from your home’s exterior
If you have any food outside your home during winter, then you need to make sure that it is kept inside. The best way to do this is to store your food inside your home. At the very least, make sure that your trash can is kept inside your home. Rats and mice could also be gaining entry through small openings in your home that lead to areas where your outdoor trash can is kept.
- Clean up and discard all of your trash regularly
As mentioned, another way that rats and mice are entering your home is through your trash cans. To keep these pests out, make sure that your trash cans are kept inside your home, and that they are not leaking.
Seal all potential leaks, such as the hole around the can’s rubber gasket, as soon as you notice them. You can also consider putting a piece of tape over the hole while it is still soft to prevent any mice or rats from getting inside. You can also seal off potential pathways for these pests in your home.
For example, you can seal off holes in your home’s exterior with caulk, cover pipes with metal mesh, or cover wires with mini-blinds. Another important thing to do is to regularly discard any food scraps and other food items that you may have lying around. These could be a potential food source for rats and mice.
- Consider a pet cat
Pets can be a great way to keep rats and mice away during winter. Cats are natural predators, so they can help keep rodent populations in check. They’re also an excellent source of entertainment, so it’s great to have one around.
If you want to go the extra mile, there are also plenty of cat-friendly products on the market that help to keep rats out. For example, you can get cat doors that allow your cat to easily enter and exit your home without disturbing you or other family members. These are great for keeping rat-related damage to a minimum.
You can also invest in a pest repellant collar for cats that contains a scent that drives away rodents. It’s important to note that cats should never be left unsupervised outside in winter as this could lead to them freezing to death if
they encounter a rodent or stay out too long in cold weather.
- Contact a professional pest control company
The cold season is a challenging time for many homeowners as the temperature drops and the pests begin to multiply. One of the most common invaders at this time of year is the rat, which can cause significant damage to your home as they are attracted to food sources and will often find their way into attics and walls.
In addition to causing structural damage, rats can also cause a number of health issues, including ear infections and allergic reactions. To prevent them from entering your home during winter, you should get in touch with a pest control specialist as soon as possible. By hiring a professional, you can ensure that you are getting high-quality pest control services that will help keep your property safe from rodents.
Where To Get Effective Pest Control Services in Perth?
Xterminate offers professional pest control services in Perth. We are proud to be the leading pest control company in the area and we are your best choice when it comes to eliminating all kinds of pesky creatures.
We can help you make your home safe and secured from unwanted little guests. We provide you with the best of our services at affordable prices. To know more about our offers, get a quote online or call us at 1300 455 163.
Our rat and mice pest control in Perth near me page reflects how much we value your family’s safety and security! Check out 5-star reviews from our happy customers.
