Vermin

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.

Read Healthy WA's rat fact sheet

Read the City of Belmont Health Local Laws 2002