Rats and Mice

It is common to see rats and mice on your property or hear them in your roof, especially during colder months. Fortunately, there several cost-effective ways you can deter or safely bait rodents.

Discouraging Rats and Mice

To discourage rodents from your property:

• stack firewood uniformly, store it off the ground, away from sheds and fences
• reduce the amount of garden waste in your yard and sheds
• trim shrubs, hedges, undergrowth, and dead branches, especially from palm trees
• strip trees and vines of their fruit or nuts as soon as they are ripe and again at the end of the season
• block holes and other potential building access points
• store pet food in sealed containers, and clean pet dishes and bird cages regularly
• ensure compost containers and rubbish bins are sealed
• do not include meat scraps in compost.

Safe and Effective Rodent Baits

If rodents are a problem on your property, you can use baits or traps. Every year the City makes a limited number of free rat baits available to our residents, which can be collected from the City of Belmont Civic Centre.

Here are some tips to help with safe and effective rodent baiting:

• always read and follow bait instructions
• place baits in an area that is away from children and pets
• place baits in an area where there is evidence of recent rodent activity
• place baits in an area that is protected from moisture or rain, unless the instructions state that the bait is waterproof or weatherproof
• as much as possible, avoid touching the baits with your hands
• check baits regularly and replace them if they've been eaten
• when placing baits in roof cavities, make sure they are close enough to the manhole so you can check and replace them easily.

Traps

With a wide range of designs to suit different situations, traps are an effective way to control rodents. Rat traps are available at hardware stores and supermarkets.