Rats reign

By Casey Neill
PEST experts have labelled Ferntree Gully Victoria’s most rodent-ridden suburb.
Amalgamated Pest Control data last week revealed the town trumped Hoppers Crossing, South Melbourne, Yarraville, Blackburn, Altona, Ascot Vale, Brighton, Richmond and Northcote for the number one spot.
Upwey pest controller Simon Davies was not surprised Ferntree Gully had topped the list.
He said a giant sewer line ran beneath the suburb, providing a rodent haven.
“But no area is worse than any other,” he said.
“Everyone’s got them.”
Mr Davies said rodent numbers had skyrocketed this winter, following higher than average population levels invading homes during summer.
“They’re breeding right through the year,” he said.
Mr Davies said winter was the worst season for mice and rat infestations.
“We keep our houses warm and mice and rats climb into the roof where we can hear them,” he said.
Mice have litters of 12 pups every few months and can breed from the time they are just over a month old.
“As soon as you spot one, you’re never going to have just one,” Mr Davies said.
“There’s a whole family sitting there that you can’t see.”
“And you never really have just one family either.”
Mr Davies said rodents chewed through computer cables and electrical wiring.
“They can chew through a power cable and cause a fire,” he said.
“And they’ll eat anything in the roof.”
He said mice and rats carried dirt and disease.
“If you find mice in your cupboard you pretty much have to throw everything out that’s not sealed,” he said.
Mr Davies said chickens and other birds attracted rats and mice because they provided access to seed.
He said removing food sources was essential to remaining rodent free.
“Cleanliness is the main thing – inside and out,” he said.
Mr Davies said rats and mice used branches against homes to access the roof space.
“Keeping shrubs and trees pruned will minimise the chance of a bad infestation,” he said.
He encouraged homeowners to seal all gaps – a rat can fit through a thumb-sized hole, while a whole the size of a pinky finger is enough to let a mouse inside.
“And they can eat their way through almost anything,” he said.
Mr Davies recommended placing steel wool in troublesome holes. The rodents cannot digest it and die.
“But it’s not to say they won’t go a different way,” he said.
He said regularly using bait in floor and roof spaces was the best way to avoid an infestation.