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.
There are a number of things people can do to avoid rodent problems including:
A broad Black Rat control program may include chemical control, trapping and poison baiting.
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.
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.
back to index