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black rat

Black rats

The Black Rat (Rattus rattus) is an introduced pest found throughout Australia and can infest residential and agricultural areas and transmit disease.

Often found in urban environments, Black Rats are versatile and may be found in buildings (in walls or ceilings, under floors and behind or under cupboards and bathtubs), in sheds, rubbish heaps, wood piles, thick vegetation and animal enclosures. They feed on rubbish, human and pet food, compost, fallen fruit and dog faeces.

Under public and environmental health legislation, it is the responsibility of owners and occupiers of premises to prevent rodents from living and breeding on their property.

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Control

 

Family of five with a dog in a circle

Trapping

Control

Private Properties

There are a number of things people can do to avoid rodent problems including:

  • Dispose of food scraps promptly
  • Block potential rodent entrances
  • Ensure rubbish is not accessible by rodents and is regulary emptied
  • Stack materials such as wood and bricks at least 30 centimetres (cm) above the ground to reduce available places to hide or nest
  • Clean out sheds and storage areas frequently and dispose of unwanted items;
  • Remove unwanted undergrowth
  • Dispose of fallen fruit, seed and waste from aviaries and chicken pens and pet faeces;
  • Do not use open compost heaps
  • Do not compost any animal products (fish, meat, chicken, cheese, butter) or pet faeces.
  • Do not leave out extra pet food
  • Store pet food in vermin proof containers
  • Cover rainwater tank openings and floor vents with wire mesh no coarser than 1 millimetre (mm) and check and maintain these regularly

A broad Black Rat control program may include chemical control, trapping and poison baiting.

Chemical Control

As part of a broader control program, the use of some chemicals can be effective. The City recommends being mindful if choosing a rodenticide as some anticoagulant (blood thinning) rodenticides (rat and mouse poisons) can take a long time to break down, causing secondary poisoning to pets and wildlife, such as hawks and owls, that eat the poisoned rats.

Products containing brodifacoum, bromadialone and difethialone should be avoided as they are long-lasting second generation products and are much more likely to unintentionally poison wildlife. Warfarin and coumatetralyl are “first generation” anticoagulant rodenticides which break down much faster and are less likely to cause secondary poisoning. Check the ‘Active Constituent’ on the labelling of baits to find which rodenticide it contains. Be sure to follow the directions on the label to help reduce the risk of unintentionally poisoning wildlife and pets.

Trapping

Choose a trap suitable for Black Rats as traps often vary is size and strength. Multiple traps used at once are more effective. Traps should be checked daily.

Speak to a licence pest control operator if you have any questions regarding the control of Black Rats.

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