Preventing Rodents

There are ways to deter rodents or bait them safely and effectively.

Providing baits to residents is a practice that is not commonplace in the Shire and it is the responsibility of owners and occupiers of premises to prevent rodents from living and breeding on their property. Rodents are well adapted to living in human environments.

To reduce their numbers on your property you can:

  • Remove accumulations of disused materials and junk including building materials, woodpiles and old furniture etc.
  • Prune and remove overgrown vegetation
  • Remove fallen fruits and nuts from trees and rotting vegetables from vegetable gardens to reduce food sources for rats (this also assists with fly prevention)
  • Ensure compost heaps/bins are covered and protected from rodent access
  • Keep pet food dishes clean and only feed pets (including birds) enough food for the day
  • Store pet food, poultry and bird feed in sealed air tight containers
  • Clean out chicken pens and aviaries on a regular basis
  • Set traps in areas of suspected harbourage
  • Block any potential access points/holes around your home, such as around air conditioning services or electrical conduit entries into the roof cavity (please ensure that you do not seal up 'weep-holes' or other ventilation bricks required to remove moisture from your home cavities).
  • Older properties in the Shire may have open eaves; chicken wire is a common method of preventing entry by rodents and other pests.

Alternatively, a licensed pest control operator may assist by completing a pest control treatment.

Further information is available on the Department of Health’s website below; https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Protect-your-health-keep-rats-under-control

Baiting safely and effectively  

The major problem with many rat baits is they cause secondary poisoning to many native animals and birds and of course our pets. Unfortunately, secondary poisoning has been detected in several species such as bobtail lizards, snakes, and dingoes and birds of prey.

The Shire recommends the following;

  • Use traps rather than baits to control rats and mice without harming wildlife.
  • Use only the less harmful baits containing the active ingredient coumatetralyl (e.g. Racumin) or warfarin and carefully follow package instructions.
  • DO NOT USE ‘second generation anticoagulant rodenticides’ with difenacoum, brodifacoum, bromadiolone or difethialone.
  • Take great care with storing and placing baits so that pets and wildlife such as possums in your garden can’t reach them.
  • Live traps rather than lethal traps enable release of any unintended wildlife captures.

Fact sheets

BirdLife Australia's brochure for information about bird-friendly rodent control

DBCA’s Fauna Facts for Rakali

DBCA’s Fauna Facts for Quenda

For further information relating to rodents, please contact Health Services on (08) 9526 1111 or by email info@sjshire.wa.gov.au