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Rodent Control on the Sunshine Coast:
Q. Who should I hire to assist me in ridding my home or business of rodents?
With over thirty years of experience on the coast, Sunshine Coast Pest Control, have developed an extensive knowledge of how and why rodents enter structures. We are truly expert at controlling them and are well versed in structural maintenance and construction practices.
Wherever possible we achieve long-term solutions to rodent problems and provide ongoing maintenance services to ensure success. We are professional, economical and discreet and we guarantee our results.
Q. Why should I worry about rodents?
Obviously there are many reasons to deny rodent activity. Their capacity to cause human suffering through loss of property and health cannot be overstated.
We commonly encounter situations where rats, mice and squirrels are causing literally hundreds to thousands of dollars worth of damage. In extreme situations, occupants report symptoms of ill health and anxiety and often express a desire to “live anywhere but here”!
Q. Why are rodents such a problem on the coast?
Our heavily forested and rocky coastline provides an abundance of hiding and nesting places for rodents. Food is often readily available as a consequence of our mild winters and warm summers and in our experience, rarely a factor in limiting rodent success. Add to this the fact that many of the homes on the Sunshine Coast were built prior to implementation of strict building codes or are situated in areas where the terrain is rocky, steep and uneven it is not surprising that rodents have done so well. To check for your area click here.
Q. How is the ongoing development of our coast affecting rodent populations?
Over the past thirty years we have seen a decline in semi-commensal rodent activity and an increase in commensal rodent activity. Commensal rodents such as roof rats, Norway rats and house mice have been steadily increasing in number whereas semi-commensal rodents such as voles, squirrels, wood or pack rats and, to a lesser degree, deer mice have been decreasing.
Although there are several reasons for this, the main ones are that much of the habitat of indigenous species is being destroyed by development and introduced species are more competitive. The term commensal means to “share with” so it stands to reason that rodents that like to share with us will be more successful than those that never or only occasionally share with us.
Q. What do I do if I suspect rodent activity in an undesired location?
The worst thing you can do is to ignore it. Rodents have a very high reproductive rate and two can quickly become several so it is important to act promptly to prevent this. Thorough inspection of attics, crawl spaces, ceiling and other voids as well as living quarters will usually verify your suspicions. We frequently are told by clients that they “heard a noise but thought it came from outside”. Our best advice is to check out unexplained sounds, odors and occurrences even if you are pretty sure it is nothing – be proactive to protect your health and home.
Q. What do I look for if I suspect rodent activity?
Visual signs of activity are things like droppings, burrows, gnawed or chewed items, nest sites and footprints. Droppings are often found in attics, basements, crawl spaces, closets, under and behind appliances and shelves and all manner of voids in walls, floors and ceilings. Burrows and nest sites commonly occur in the ground in and outside of homes as well as in insulation in walls, floors, crawl spaces and attics. Gnawed or chewed items may be encountered anywhere but are typically most often viewed in kitchens, laundry rooms, service rooms, crawl spaces and attics. Footprints are most readily seen on dusty surfaces in attics, basements, service and utility rooms. We regularly find tracks on dusty pipes, wires and hot water tanks in these areas.
Q. Are there any other ways of knowing whether I have a rodent problem?
Yes. Strong ammonic and decay odors emanating from walls, floors, ceilings, attics and crawl spaces is indicative of potential rodent activity. The “old house smell” people often describe usually has more to do with rodent activity than it does with the age of the home. Squirrels are particularly odorous when nesting within buildings since they tend to do their “business” in one or two areas. Rats and mice are far less discriminating but as their fecal material and urine accumulates, they too produce unpleasant odors.
Q. How do I control rodents living in my home or place of business?
Over the years we have developed many strategies to control rodents and have found that in most cases, monitoring and control is most effectively and safely accomplished using humane traps, non-poisonous baits and exclusion (proofing).
Q. What types of traps should I use to trap rodents?
In our experience, live capture traps work well in heavy infestations but are only marginally effective where populations are small or well dispersed.
Traditional wooden and plastic snap traps work well for both rats and mice whereas plastic or metal clamshell traps are less effective for either but definitely more effective for rats. We do not recommend the use of glue boards or glue traps for rodent control as they are certainly not humane!
Q. What types of non-poisonous baits should I employ to determine if I have current rodent activity?
Peanut or almond butter spread inside a lid or onto an old plate or like object that will not be reused are very effective. Solid bar chocolate or soap made from animal fat and secured by wire to the structure are also good examples. Secured and commercially manufactured non-poisonous baits are usually the most effective as they contain products that rodents are most fond of.
Q. Should Poisonous baits be used?
Poisonous baits should never be used where a risk of poisoning non-target animals exists. If you have pets, small children or live in an area teaming with wildlife or are located where these situations are close by, we recommend never using poisonous bait. Use of bait in food storage and production areas is also considered to be ill advised. If you must use bait, use only that approved by a licensed retailer and be sure to carefully follow all instructions including those on the product label. Better still, leave the decision to use bait to a professional who has exhausted all other options and is well versed on all of they safety precautions that must be taken.
Never apply bait out in the open or in any situation where anything other than rodents can access it. By law, all bait must be secured in tamper proof bait stations that are secured to the ground in such a way that they cannot be moved or tipped. The station must be labeled with its contents as well as certain toxicological information and the name and phone number of the person or company that placed it.
Q. Why are rodents so hard to keep out of buildings?
These animals are unerringly proficient at finding or creating ways into homes and businesses. Their teeth are strong enough to penetrate steel, they operate primarily at night and they can squeeze through very small openings. They can quickly burrow into open ground and are capable of climbing most objects with ease – even vertical surfaces! Their eyes are adapted for night vision and their acute senses of smell, taste, touch and hearing serve them well in determining where best to live.
Q. How large of a hole can a squirrel, rat or mouse get through?
Both rats and squirrels can fit through openings as small as a “twoonie”. For mice, holes the size of a dime suffice.
Q. Do rats and squirrels need existing openings to enter structures?
No. Rats and squirrels can easily gnaw through wood, vinyl, plastic, nylon, and aluminum. . We personally have seen rats chew through lead and copper pipes, layers of roofing, two-by-fours, galvanized metal flashings, solid concrete and many other objects that would destroy the teeth of most other creatures.
Q. Ordinarily, where are rodents most likely to get in?
We regularly find rodents entering structures through open and inadequately screened doors and windows; plumbing, electrical and vent chases, open pipes and vents, improperly installed soffits, unsealed eaves, roof/sheathing margins, metal and shake roofs that are strapped, pet doors, chimneys and any other openings they can squeeze through.
Q. Is it possible to prevent rodents from getting in?
Preventing rodents from entering structures often requires an extensive knowledge of building practices and rodent abilities. How a building is constructed, its age and location all influence its accessibility to rodents and determines just how much effort will be required to exclude them. Homes open to the ground, with shake or metal/strapped roofs or at an age where structural decay is advanced can be particularly difficult and costly to rodent proof. Everything is however ultimately “proofable” even if it is not always cost effective.
Q. Do I need professional help to successfully exclude rodents?
Generally speaking, almost anyone can rodent proof. Success at these endeavours will ultimately be decided over time. We strongly urge our clients to “seal up what they can to the best of their ability” and to use experts where their efforts fail or the scope of repair is beyond that to which they are capable.
We are undeniably highly skilled at rodent proofing and have certified construction experts working with us to ensure that we provide an unparalleled level of service.
Summary:
Rodent control and exclusion are two important ways of preventing rodents from over running and destroying our buildings and lives. They are not however, the only requirements and everyone should take it upon themselves to do what they can to discourage rodents including maintaining their homes and businesses. Proper building maintenance and sanitation are crucial in long-term rodent control. .
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